November 15, 2002

Oroville Mercury Register January 20, 27 and 30, 1945

1300 POUNDS OF FAT FOUND
The recent waste-fat drive by the children of the three Oroville schools netted close to 1,300 pounds of this essential article. Bird Street school brought in the largest amount, the intermediate grades there leading all others. The fat was taken to the schools and from there was turned over to the Openshaw Market. They sent it in the original containers to the Butte Tallow Co. in Chico. From there it will find its way to the essential industries that need it. The amount obtained in this drive was not as great as that netted by other drives. This is thought to be due to the fact that local surpluses have been used up and only current amounts are available and also to the fact that housewives cannot buy as many of the commodities that produce waste fat.

DON BARTLEY TO TAKE PRE- FLIGHT TRAINING SOON
A/S Don Bartley has returned to St. Mary's College after spending nearly three weeks at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bartley of Thermalito. He will be assigned to preflight training, probably in Oklahoma. His brother, Lt. JG Bob Bartley has been with a destroyer escort on the Atlantic for a year. He has been acting as a full grade lieutenant but has not yet received his official rating. He has not been home for two years.

EZRA CALDWELL PROMOTED TO TECHNICAL SERGEANT
An VIII Air Force Service Command Station, England. The promotion of Ezra E. Caldwell, whose wife, Mrs. Margaret Mary Caldwell, lives at Route 1 Oroville, Calif., from staff sergeant, to technical sergeant has been announced by the headquarters here where he is a non-commissioned officer in charge of the officers personnel section and assistant sergeant major. Prior to his entry into the military service January 28, - 1942 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, he was a student at East State Teachers "College,” Richmond, Kentucky. Caldwell has been stationed in the European theater of operations since May, 1943. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ir T. Caldwell, live at Dry Ridge, Kentucky.

HEARS FROM BROTHER
Mrs. Earl Turner recently received a cablegram from her brother Harley J. Luke, who is a civilian prisoner of the Japanese interned at Kobe, Japan. He was formerly employed at Guam. The state department received the message which was dated Dec. 21 from the American Legation at Bern, Switzerland through official channels as follows: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everybody. Fairly well, November, received the Red Cross supplies, always greatly appreciate such much needed gifts. All long for repatriation reunion with families and friends. Mrs. Turner has also received word that her nephew John D. Young has been reported missing in action in France since Dec. 1. He was with a scouting expedition. Young is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Young of Vallejo, formerly of Oroville and Chico. He was a member of the National Guard while attending high school in Chico.

Stu's notes: Hopefully in the future we will hear of a happy outcome of John D. Young and that Harley J. Luke gets home safely, over 40 percent of these prisoners did not. Mrs. Bartley was my 7th grade teacher at Thermalito Grammar School on Sierra Avenue. She was a most wonderful person.