February 1, 2013

Oroville Mercury Register
January 31. 1952
News From Oroville Men In The Service
Maintaining and repairing the huge Martin “Mariner” seaplanes is the job of Peter A. Ralatos, aviation electronics technician, second class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Reid of Oroville, serving with Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 110 based at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, Calif.(Stu- I think one came to our Lake)

Serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex operating in Korean waters as a unit of Task Force 77, is Norman H. Andoe, gunner’s mate, third class, USN, husband of the former Miss Pauline Lowery of Wayne Avenue, San Leandro and son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Andoe of B St., Oroville. Carriers from the Task Force are providing a large portion of the UN air action against communist supply routes and troop buildups in North Korea.

Vernon J. LaClear, damage control man, first class, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. J. LaClear of Route 3, Paradise, has reported for duty at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Kingsville, Texas, home of naval air jet training. LaClear enlisted in the Navy in 1945, and has had almost six years of sea duty. Before reporting to Kingsville, he was stationed at the Naval Air Station, Kodiak, Alaska.

Joe Woods, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods, of Bangor, is serving in the carpenter’s shop at Pearl Harbor. He holds the Navy rating of seaman.

PFC Lawrence Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Martin, Montgomery Street, Oroville, recently arrived in Japan from Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division. The division, now assigned to security duty on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, was the second U. S. division to enter the Korean fighting, making an unopposed amphibious landing at Pohangdong in July 1950. Martin, a radioman in Company A, 7th Cavalry Regiment, had been in Korea since Oct. 7, 1951. He wears the Korean Service Ribbon with one campaign star and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He attended Chico State College.

Oroville Mercury Register
January 31. 1952
Daughter of Flier Killed In WWII Tries To Enlist at Age of Eight
San Francisco – (U.P.)- The Daughter of an American World War II hero decided today that she will just have to wait a while before she can join the armed forces – at least eight and one half years anyway. Marsha Hoit, daughter of Mrs. Marguerite Somers of San Francisco, was regretfully informed by the Air Force yesterday that it was forced to turn down her application because of her birthday. She was born in 1942. Her letter of application, addressed to “WAC, Air Force, Washington 25, D. C., read: “I want to be a WAC in the Air Force. I am only 91/2 but I can carry papers and I can do other things. My father was a first Lt. Garner C. Hoit. His grave is in the Golden Gate cemetery. Please take me.” WAF SGT. Helen Kyte and WAF Patricia Fabianski from the local Army and Air Force recruiting station visited the fifth grader and explained why she wasn’t eligible. Marsha was born at Letterman Army Hospital while her father was in Alaska with the 250th Coast Artillery. He later was sent to Germany where he was killed in 1944 when his plane was shot down. The youngster, well schooled in the ways of the Army, submitted one provision with her application. “There’s just one thing I don’t want to do in the Army,” she said, “I don’t want to do dishes.”
(Stu- This story is for Jan & Joan, who lost their father in WWII.)

Stu’s Notes: One year ago, almost to the day, February 3, 2012, I wrote in this column of Norman and Garland Andoe, a story sent to me by their brother Dean. The above young men served their Country well. Norman in 1952 had about 11 years of Navy under his belt and 19 more to go before he retired, he passed a way at 75 years old. From Dean’s letter it sounds like Garland is still alive but will not tell his story. I’m guessing it is amazing. Maybe he will tell it one day. He served on the Submarine USS Tautog from age 18-22. Most of the men in that sub are probably gone now and can’t tell the ship’s story, so it is up to those that are left. I think Dean still reads my articles, maybe he can find me more. Also in that article was a story about a man lost in WWII Corporal Melvin Rowe, Oroville named a street after him and then it was taken away. We need to find that man from Oroville who gave his life for us a street. How about it Contractors, things are going to turn around, Sacramento houses are selling fast, the recovery will come to Oroville, streets will be built. Please name one for Melvin. By golly that is the least we can do. I lost contact with Melvin’s brother this past year Michelle Rowe said he was coming back to Oroville.