October 31, 2003
OROVILLE MERCURY REGISTER March 22,1945
PFC. ROSE TAKES PART IN TOUGH ASSIGNMENT
Pfc. Vernon L. Rose, formerly of Cherokee and Oroville is
one of the Americal Infantry veterans participating in a drive in
the Philippines against strong Japanese positions where only foot
troops can find and hit the enemy. A rifleman, he is working in
terrain where supplies must be carried in packs. The drive is the
Americal Division’s third campaign against the Japanese. The infantrymen
met the enemy for the first time on Guadalcanal and fought again
on Bougainville before coming to the Philippines. Rose is the son
of Mrs. Ethel Staub of Cherokee. He is about 21 years of age. For
several years he came down from Cherokee to pick fruit in the Oroville
district. He lived in Oroville prior to his military service. He
was a close friend of the Worthy brothers, the late Alphie (Tex)
Worthy of the U. S. Navy, Bobby Lee Worthy of the navy
now taking an electrical course at Gulf Port, Miss; and James
Worthy, honorably discharged from the navy.
JAPANESE SNIPER THREW A SLUG AT STRAM
Mr. and Mrs. Milo Stram have received a letter from their son,
Lawrence, written by a Red Cross worker and dated March 9,
in which he informed them that he would be evacuated within a few
days from a hospital in the Marianas to some place nearer home.
The Navy Pharmacist’s Mate 3-C was wounded according to his letter,
“when a Japanese sniper threw a slug at me yesterday morning.” The
letter continued, “It isn’t serious, just a small hole in the upper
right arm, and I should be as good as new in no time. The boys are
doing a great job on Iwo Jima but it hasn’t been easy, I wish I
were still there and not laid up in this hospital.”
LOCAL JAPANESE FIGHTING IN TOUGH AREA
Two Japanese men of this locality get special mention in an army
bulletin. They are Sgt. Mamoru Sakuma of Oroville and
Sgt. Tim. T. Tokuno of Palermo, who are fighting with the Allied
Forces in the European area. Sakuma is with the 2nd Battalion
of the 442nd Infantry composed of Americans of Japanese
ancestry and has been engaged in frontline combat high in the French
Alps along the Franco-Italian border. Previously, in the so-called
“Little Cassino” line, they fought over mountain heights so impassable
that even mules could not be used to transport supplies. Supply
men tied themselves together with their belts as they hauled water
food and ammunition to their fellow troops. Slugging their way through
southern France, they played a great part in the rescue of the now
famous “Lost Battalion” of this war. Over 1,000 Purple Hearts, some
with Oak Leaf Clusters, have been awarded to these troops. Fourteen
Distinguished Service Crosses have been awarded, 54 Silver Stars,
51 Bronze Stars and 70 division citations for individual members.
Sakuma attended Oroville High and was an outstanding student in
political science and history. He was a speaker at the graduation
ceremony in 1936 and was studying law at University of California
when he entered the service. Sgt. Tokuno, known to his many friends
as Tony, was manager of the high school football team for two years.
He graduated with the class of 1934. He is a member of the 3rd
Battalion of the same regiment. At one time this group took part
in breaking a fanatically defended German position, routing the
Germans and breaking a stalemate that threatened to hold up the
entire American advance in that sector.
Stu’s notes: October 3rd I wrote about Frank Fenley;
could this be my Thermalito School Principal about 1952-53? He was
also our scout-master. He would sing at our school assemblies. I
remember one song very well, The Strawberry Roan. Mr. Fenley, if
you read this call me. I think he worked at a travel agency in Oroville.
Oroville had so many Heroes that I never heard of growing up in
Oroville. It is such a shame Sgt. Manoru Sakuma and Sgt. Tim T.
Tokuno of the famous 442nd, why did I not hear their
stories? I even went to High School with Edmund Tokuno. My brother,
Larry, went to school with his brother Doug. Could they have been
related to Tim? “Some Gave All” The Worthy Brothers served their
country well. Alphie (Tex) Worthy made the supreme
sacrifice.