October 6, 2006
Looking Back On Oroville's Heroes
By Stu Shaner (533-8147)
Bill Connelly and I are Co-Chair of the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee. Please check out our web site by webmaster Daryl Autrey at www.orovilleveteransmemorialpark.org to see what is happening with our project. If you would like to have a speaker at your club or organization, Ted Grainger and I would be happy to come and speak about our project, call me at 533-8147.
Oroville Mercury Register August 30, 1951
“Some Gave All”
Oroville Cadet Killed In Crash
An Oroville Air Force Cadet was killed yesterday when his plane crashed at the Craig Air Base near Selma, Ala., while on a routine training mission. He was Howard D. Peterson, son of Mr. and. Mrs. Petrus Peterson, of Oroville. Cadet Peterson was born Sept 21, 1929, at Bertrand, Neb., but moved to Richvale with his parents at the age of 11. He is also survived by four brothers, Willis, of Oroville: Sgt. Dwayne serving with the U. S. Army in Korea: and James and Charles of Richvale. The body will be shipped to the Huddleston Funeral Home in Chico for funeral arrangements.
RECOLLECTIONS FROM ARMY DAYS, by Robert C. Brooks (continued)
More recruits came in, and training went on. Our company, Hq. Co; a “heavy weapons” company, had several different platoons. We were to support rifle companies, as a situation required. I was assigned to the Machine Gun Platoon. We had the 30 caliber guns with tripods. There was also an 81 mm. Mortar Platoon, and the Company Administrative Section, with Motor Pool, Cooks and Weapons Maintenance Section. The training became more specialized in each platoon. Field training went on- weapons training and instruction about use of equipment and vehicles. Cooperation and teamwork developed. We got to know each other pretty well. Clarksville, Tennessee,, was a few miles away, maybe 25 or 30 from camp. Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was about the same distance from camp. The people were hospitable, through some G. I’s did get wild at times. But the M.P.’s took care of soldiers who got out of line. Those guys had to serve company punishment – or if bad enough, a Court Martial. There was some kidding between fellows from different parts of the country – north, south, east and west. Most of the fellows took it all right and joked back.
One of my buddies was Homer Peterson. He came from the hill country, near Burnsville, North Carolina. Homer hadn’t learned to read or write, but he had good natural intelligence. His girl back home, Maggie, wrote to him, always in green ink. He had me read the letters to him, and told me to answer them the best I could. However, he went to a night school at camp, and in less than a year could read and write his own letters. (More or Homer coming soon.)
Stu’s Notes: Lynn and I had a great time at the Redding Air Show on Saturday. The planes were great the show was great but the best thing was getting to talk to three WW II Veterans. One of them from Oroville, A Tuskeegee Airman, Samuel Broadnax. There was a second Tuskeegee Airman with him LeRoy Gillead. Also sitting at the booth was a 93 year old, Retired Lt. Col. Boardman C. Reed. Sam Broadnax left Oroville High in the Fall of 1943, not 1944.
Remember everyone is invited to the All Class Reunion October 13, 14 and 15 in down town Oroville. The Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee is sponsoring a “Sock Hop” At the Veterans Memorial Building (the Teen Center of the 50’s) at 2374 Montogmery Street, Friday, October 13th at 7PM.. Tickets are $10 each or $15 per couple. All proceeds benefit the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Project. Your donation includes: Dancing to the music of Disc Jockey Jim Mangus, Pizza and Root Beer Floats provided by Gold Country Casino. There will also be a silent auction. The American Legion Commander Ron Sharbor will man the bar at the Sock Hop.
For over 5 years I have been searching for those that died while serving our country. You would think that by now we would have heard about everyone, obviously not. While searching for an Oroville Mercury Register that would have a lot of our history, to be framed for our Silent Auction at the Sock Hop, I found the little news clip about Cadet Howard D. Peterson. I know we will find more even after our Memorial is completed.