February 7, 2003
Oroville Mercury Register February 17th 1945
Blood Donors To Make Trip
Residents of Oroville and surrounding communities will have another
chance to contribute to the American Red Cross Blood Bank next Saturday
when a free bus trip to the Oakland center will be Sponsored by
the local Tau Phi Lambda Sorority. Accommodations for 35 persons
will be available. The bus, donated by Oroville High School, will
leave Saturday at 7 a. m. from Matthews' Garage on the corner of
Montgomery and Downer Streets. The free blood bank trip project,
originally sponsored by the Feather Falls Women's Community Club,
was taken over recently by the sorority. Gasoline and oil expenses,
and wages for the bus driver will be paid by the sorority. Registrations
for the trip may be made before Feb. 22 by contacting Mrs. Calvin
Onyett, executive secretary of the local Red Cross chapter, Mrs.
Louise Brandt, sorority president, 494W; or Mrs. Mildred Dart, 792W.
Both men and women are invited to sign up for the trip. Those under
21, cannot be accepted without written permission from their parents.
Reservations cannot be accepted from children under 18.
LOCAL WOMAN LEARNS BROTHER A PRISONER
Sgt. Doyle Hamm, reported missing in action since Nov. 7, in Holland,
is being held prisoner by the Germans, according to word received
today by his sister, Mrs. B. E. McLemore of B street. The former
Feather River Pine Mills employee was wounded in the chest during
the action that preceded his capture. In a letter to another sister
in Oklahoma, Hamm told of his wound but added "I'm O. K. now." Mrs.
Lemore learned that her brother was a prisoner through a letter
from the sister in Oklahoma.
TWO OROVILLE GIRLS IN SERVICE OF U. S. MARINES
Misses Lorena Mae and Louise Marcia Whitlock, daughters of Mr. and
Mrs. Bert Whitlock of Lincoln Street, are serving in the U. S. Marine
Corps and are enthusiastic about their work, much impressed by the
opportunity to be of service in war time. Pfc. Louise Whitlock enlisted
in November 1943, and trained at Camp Lejeune, N. C. Prior to entering
the service, she was employed by the Western Pacific Co., at Sacramento.
She is doing secretarial work in the quartermaster's corps. Pvt.
Lorena Whitlock enlisted in March, 1944, and also trained at Camp
Lejeune. She was later stationed in San Diego and was a member of
the Halls of Montezuma mixed chorus that broadcasts from that city
Saturday afternoons on a marine program. She was employed by the
State Personnel Board, in Sacramento, at the time she entered the
service and is doing the same type of work now. The sisters both
attended Oroville High School.
Stu's notes: Last week I wrote about two young ladies that wore
combat boots and drove trucks for the Army. My daughter 20 years
in service to her country and Mertez Jones, Well one of my loyal
readers, Chet Ramsey, called and said 'Hey, Stu, Mertez was my wife
of 52 years. " Chet met her before he went to war. So the story
goes he, being a game warden, picked up her brother shooting at
something not in season, etc., took the boy home and met Miss Mertez
Jones, lucky for Mike. More on Chet 's war stories later. Giving
blood is a lot easier today. A trip to Oakland back then was not
so easy. The roads followed the river, only two lanes. Old buses,
probably cold or hot depending on the season. But the lives of many
young soldiers were saved by the effort.