These articles are from the Scrapbook of Dorothy Uren Hazleton,
Oroville Mercury Register In The Fight Florida Deflated
By Private Vernon Uren
Florida may be heaven in the winter to easterners but Pfc.
Vernon Uren, son
of Mrs. R. E. Uren
of Montgomery Street, still will take California as his choice.
“Florida is swampy and damp,” he said. “The mosquitoes are plentiful
and there are alligators running around. “Just before I came
home a milk truck ran over one four feet long in front of the mess
hall and killed it. It was only 50 yards from the barracks.”
Uren is in the army signal corps stationed at Drew Field, Tampa,
where he is a radar instructor. Uren was graduated from Oroville
High School in 1941. He was a guard on the Oroville
high school varsity basketball team for three years and played right
field for the Oroville High school baseball team last year.
Later he attended Chico State Teachers College. He was employed
at Johnson and Openshaw’s and at Kilpatrick’s before going into
the service April 1. His two brothers, Sergeants
Jack Uren and
Harold Uren also
are in the army. Jack, an armorer in the army air corps, is
in the Solomons. He was an elementary school teacher at Lincoln
school in Yuba City before starting military service. Harald
is in charge of the print shop at the Presidio of Monterey.
The three brothers all worked as Mercury carriers during their school
days here.
Also from Dorothy, from ‘The JEEP’, Reception Center Presidio of
Monterey California, Saturday, March 24, 1944 Scores High
as EM End Rifle Marksmanship During the two week period, 1
March-13 March 1944, 118 of the station complement’s ‘Remington
Rangers’ received instruction and fired for record with the Springfield
.30 calibre rifle. Under the very able tutelage of Lt.
Earl R. Baragar,
Battalion Training Officer, who was assisted by the two ‘deadeyes’
from the M. P.S. Sgt. Thornsberry
and Sgt. Gates, 102
men of the 118 qualified as marksmen or better. The competition
produced four experts, 23 sharpshooters, and 75 marksman.
The experts were: Sgt. Uren (Post Hq.) 182,
Pfc. Menard (C&A)
176, Pvt. Chassange
(QM Det.) 174, and Pvt.
Melluish (C & A) 172 out of a possible 195. Perhaps
the outstanding performance was that of Sgt. Uren, who fired left-handed,
and if you remember that Springfield bolt action, you know the gangling
Sergeant had to reach the bolt handle- but rapidly. The majority
of the boys felt they could have done better and it is hope that
in the near future “Maggie’s Drawers” will again be the nemesis
up on ye olde range.
Again from Dorothy’s scrapbook Pfc. Vernon F. Uren
Oroville, Calif. – Like most of the soldiers away from home.
I like to dream of the good times that I had back home. Of
course the one that is most vivid is when we can change the khaki
for a blue serge or gray tweed and get back.
A letter from Dorothy Uren Hazleton
Harold Rodney Uren
was born March 15, 1915 in Oroville CA, Occupation- Mercury Newspaper
as a Printer. Belonged to the Oroville Volunteer Fire Department,
Oroville Rifle and pistol club, and Oroville Order of DeMolay.
He was inducted into the Army Presidio of Monterey in 1943 and served
as a printer for The Army Newspaper. He was sent to Okinawa
in Dec. 1944 and served (233rd Gen. Hosp) until discharged
as Staff Sergeant. Discharged from Camp Beale, Feb. 13, 1946.
He owned a farm in Sutter Co. Grew peaches and prunes, where he
lived with his wife and son until he died April 21, 1974.
He also was principal at a Sutter Co. School called Terribaina.
He also won medals for expert rifle marksmanship while in Monterey.
Feather Falls Boy Writes From England
Somewhere in England Pfc.
Robert D. Price,
With the U. W. Engineers, has written his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Porter Price,
at Feather Falls, that he has been trying to locate
Robert Land, reported
stationed near Price’s base. Price, who has been in Britain
for 7 months, stated that he found the English very hospitable and
the country to his liking. Entering the service on April
8, 1943, Price has not been home since his induction. Sent
for training to Louisiana, he left for overseas in three months.
The soldier is a former employee of the Feather River Pine Mills.
Two years of work with that firm were preceded by attendance at
the Oroville Union high school.
Stu’s Notes: Thank you so much Dorothy for letting us know
a little about the life of an Oroville Hero, who served his country
so well. Dorothy also had other news clippings of other Oroville
heroes, some I did not have in my file. Such as Al McLain, Jerry
Walker, Harry Meeker and Don Cassagrande, stay tuned.
The Jeep was a paper put out for the military personnel stationed
at the Presidio. One thing about small towns USA, most of the boys
grew up with guns and could shoot well. I grew up with guns
around the house and we learned how to respect them and lucky, did
survive, although I remember a few close calls in the field.
I think Maggie’s Drawers means they missed the target.