July 25, 2014

Oroville Mercury Register
November 4, 1943
In The Fight Cadet Hammett of Air Corps In Line For Pilots Wings Aviation
Cadet Harold Hammett, 20, son of H. D. Hammett, and brother of Mrs. John Fulk, of Oroville, entered military service last march, and is now stationed at Hemet Field, with the Army Air Corps. Cadet Hammett attended Oroville Schools and was graduated from high school with the class of ’41. He attended Yuba Junior college but enlisted before he had completed his studies there. While at high school he was prominent in football. Hammett has been soloing for the past month and hopes to get his wings soon. Delbert Murrish, seaman first class is now stationed at a Pacific coast embarkation point after having completed a 10-month technical naval training at Norman, Okla. While stationed at the Midwestern base, Seaman Murrish married Mary Lou Higgins of Oklahoma City on May 15. He was also visited by his mother Mrs. Anna Murrish of Oroville. The navy man’s bride accompanied Mrs. Murrish, St., on her return and in now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Arlie Barton, of Osage Ave., Oroville. Mrs. Barton is Delbert Murrish’s sister. Prior to assignment to the Norman training center, Murrish went through boot camp at Farragut, Ida. He entered the service Oct. 5, 1942 and was formerly employed at the Western Pacific R. R. roundhouse in Oroville. Pfc.C. Arlin Rhine, 18, of the U. S. Marines, who was graduated honor man from Radio Operators’ School at San Diego, having made the highest marks in his class, has entered a technical school of radio engineering at San Diego and will train there until March. Pfc. Rhine is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Rhine of Fifth Avenue.
(Stu – You had to be very brave to be a Radio man, the antenna was quite a target.)

Donald Speak Trains For Commando Work; Hopes Tigers Win
Pvt. Donald Speak hopes that the Oroville Tigers will beat Chico, according to a letter sent by him to the Mercury from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Speak now has medals as a sharpshooter and as expert with bayonet and hand grenade. With Private Speak in training have been Mike Wright, Vernon Rose, and Stanley Foss. The last has been transferred to Pittsburg, Calif., he said. Speak and his buddies are now training for commando or ranger operation, having completed their basic and advanced training. He has been attending radio and messenger schools as well. The soldier’s parents now live in Rodeo.

Stu’s Notes:
Pfc. Clifford Arlin Rhine, Hero of Oroville and the free world, gave his life for his country and his Buddies on Iwo Jima, a Island far out in the Pacific Ocean. The battle was 70 years ago this coming February. I’ve written quite a bit about young C. Arlin Rhine, through the years. Of course many of my readers know the road through our Memorial will someday, soon, I hope, bear his name, Already the levee road behind the Municipal auditorium was named for him long ago, recently I got the City Council and All Metals to add a Gold Starr to each street sign. I also, this year nominated him for a spot on the Oroville High School Hall of Fame, but he was not picked, maybe next year. He did so much for his country and the City of Oroville in his short life.

Donald Speak, this is all I know of him and also Cadet Hammett and Delbert Murrish, although I did an article, Feb. 4, 2011 in which I found that Anna Murrish was the Grandmother of Fireman 2/c of the Navy, L.W. Bidwell who lost his life in the South Pacific 71 years ago. The Nonie Buis Family are also Bidwells; Hi Micah.

Come and support the Oroville Veterans Memorial for all of Butte County August 9, at the Oroville Veteran’s Hall 2374 Montgomery ST. Oroville, CA Presented by the Oroville American Legion Post 95 Music from Chuck Berry to Katy Perry, Raffles, Door Prizes, Silent Auctions, Full No Host Bar, Dinner & Dance Tickets $15 pp in advance $17 pp at the door, Dinner Only $10pp, Dinner Served 1-7pm Live Music by DECADES, performance starts at 7:30pm Spaghetti and Meatballs Bread, & Salad, Catered by Sons of Italy. Tickets outlets Diamond W. 181 E. 2nd Street, Modern Dry Cleaners 730 Montgomery ST. Oroville, Marcozzi Jewelers, 1531 Myers ST. Oroville, Huntington’s Sporting Goods 601 Oro Dam Blvd. Oroville, Paradise Coin & Gift 6848 Skyway Rd. Paradise, Oroville Chamber of Commerce 1789 Montgomery St. Oroville. For more information & tickets Ron Scharbor of the American Legion Oroville 534-9889, Sons of Italy in Chico 682-5641.