Oroville Mercury Register
September 23, 1950
Thermalito Soldier Hit By Shrapnel While Taking Part In Pusan
Defense
Hit by shrapnel in the Korean fighting Sept. 13, PFC. David
L. Nichols, (WIA) 18, army machine gunner from Thermalito, is lying
in a Tokyo hospital, awaiting possible transfer to the States. Nichols
has written his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Nichols of Sixth Street,
between Nelson and Plumas avenues, that “it wasn’t too bad.” His
letter arrived Friday shortly after a formal telegram from the adjutant
general of the army advising Nichols’ parents that he had been slightly
wounded in action in Korea, and informing them that he was hospitalized.
Nichols said he was struck in the left hand with a lead slug, and
that there was “a lot of shrapnel in his hand.” He was also hit
in the right hand, cut on the nose, received a piece of steel in
one eye, and was hit in the left leg. “I think they’re going to
take me back to the States to get fixed up,” he wrote. “They said
they would have to graft skin on my fingers.” Nichols said he was
flown from Pusan, Korea, to an airbase in Tokyo, reaching the hospital
within 48 hours after he was wounded. “They even have stateside
passenger cars over here now to carry the wounded from Pusan to
the airport,” he noted. Nichols, who enlisted in the army a year
ago, was a third year student at Oroville high school when he went
into the service.
Oroville Mercury Register September 8, 1944
In The Fight
Oroville Business Man Yeoman in U. S. Navy Robert N. Meier,
yeoman 3/c, has been attached to the Navy’s pre-embarkation barracks
at Treasure Island for the past 3 months. He was assigned to that
station after completing 2 months training in the boot camp at Farragut,
Ida. Meier, local insurance man, was a member of the last group
of married men over 30 years of age with children to be called from
Oroville to the armed services. He was inducted on March 27, 1944.
During his absence, Meier’s business is being managed by his wife,
Mrs. Jean Meier.
OMR December 13, 1950
Soldier on Leave Visits Home Here
Pvt. Donald Bradish, 18-year-old son of Mrs. Grace Bradish of
Safford Street, left Oroville Sunday for Seattle, Wash., where he
was scheduled to be sent overseas. Bradish spent a week’s furlough
here enroute from Georgia to Seattle. In Georgia, Bradish had taken
a four-month training course in clerical work. A brother, Frank
Bradish, 21, is scheduled to enter the service within a short time.(Sadly
his last visit home)
Oroville Mercury Register August 29, 1950
(Caption under picture) Buddies
Lawrence Kiefer, and Howard Hause, who attended Oroville high school
together –fished together and perhaps fought together- are now on
the way to fight side by side for Uncle Sam. They are enroute to
Japan, according to word received by their parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Howard Hause of Woodleaf Star Route, and Mrs. Charles Morris of
Quincy Road. Kiefer’s father is Glenn Kiefer of Oroville. Following
completion of basic training at Fort Ord, they recently spent two
weeks at home where they were the incentives for parties and other
entertaining by their friends.
Stu’s Notes: I grew up around Bobby and Carl Nichols. They lived
by the little creek on 6th St. just down the street from
the Stafford Kids, not far from the Burns’ kids. The Stafford’s
were Micky, Orval, Leonard, Emma and Annabel. The older Brothers
were in Korea, Charlie, Jackie and J. R. Mrs. Stafford was a most
wonderful lady who watched over us all. The Burn’s were Diana and
Joanie. We all played base ball in the cow pasture with cow patties
as bases and usually, maybe 3 mitts for 8 or nine kids. We slid
down a local hill on cardboard and gunny sacks. We made our own
fun. Looking back I’m sure glad we didn’t have T.V. or all the other
gadgets the kids have today. The older Nichols Brother was a Hero.
The older Stafford’s were also heroes in Korea, type in Stafford
to read their stories on our website. My close grammar school friend,
Leonard, Hero of Vietnam, sadly passed away last year. Near the
end of WWII our country was running out of young men so the older
family men were called and they went to war. Many died, some from
Oroville that I have written about. Two I remember are Elmer Ashley
and Carl Mason Robertson. Also a sad note, when I typed Pvt. Bradish’s
name into Daryl’s website, I found he was killed in action (KIA)
and Lawrence Kiefer did get into heavy fighting and froze his feet
in North Korea. If you type in Kiefer at the Orovilleveteransmemorialpark.org
web site you can read more about him.