February 20, 2004

Oroville Mercury Register April 15, 1945

FORMER SCHOOL GRID STAR EARNS PILOT’S WINGS FLIGHT OFFICER
Samuel L. Broadnax was recently awarded his wings and commission from the Aviation Cadet Corps at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. Broadnax hails from Danielson Street. He attended the local high school and was outstanding in football and track events. He enlisted in the service two months after the beginning of the school term in 1944, during his senior year. His brother Fred S. Boradnax is a sergeant in the armed forces.

AUDREY AISTON NAMED STUDENT BODY HEAD
Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Combes of Wilcox Ave. have just received word that their daughter, Mrs. Audrey Aiston, cadet nurse in Merritt Hospital in Oakland, has been elected president of the Student Body of Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. Approximately 150 cadet nurses are training there. Mrs. Aiston is doing senior cadet work now and is in the last six months phase of training. She has been at the hospital for three years. A member of the graduating class of 1940, Oroville High School, she held the office of secretary of the student body. She was also an active member of Job’s Daughters. Her husband is a chief radio-man located in the South Pacific. He left the States for the second time about six months ago.

Sgt. Deborah J. Shaner - Iraq 2004
“I had a great time on leave but I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to and some not enough, I will do my best to make up for that when I get back cause some of you owe me a beer or two! I am up late tonight at the tent listening to the radio, a man pack (portable field radio). We still have the occasional mortar attack through they are not very productive. We are running missions again and we no longer have to work at the CDC yard YEAH!!! I just returned a few days ago from a two and a half-day mission. On our route to the second destination we had a test fire of our weapons, which is always impressive. When we left the second destination we ran into another traffic jam due to an IED. They were in the process of detonating this one so we got to see the boom. We ran into one of our sister units from California. It was good to get home the next day to a hot shower and a real bed. The Iraqi people must have been having a case of spring fever because on the day we left it was a wonderful spring like day. Everyone was waving us on everywhere we went. It was very refreshing and gives us real reason for being here in Iraq. The kids are the best they go out of their way to run and give us a thumbs-up when they see our convoys. I hope you all had a happy Valentines Day. Don’t eat all your chocolate in one day, see ya all soon,”
Debbie.

Stu’s notes: I never knew till now that Oroville had a man in the famous Tuskegee Airmen, Pictured above. Although he probably never made it to the War in Europe, it would be nice to know more about him. This young man that Oroville can be proud of. Stuck in traffic! Not what a father wants to hear. As I’ve said before I truly believe the people of Iraq want freedom, as we know in our Country, it doesn’t come easy. The Commander in Charge of Debbie’s unit and the Roseville VFW put on a Pizza Party for the families of our troops. Thank you. Today Lynn and Stu have been married 32 years and granddaughter Jessica is 2.