August 13, 2004
Oroville Mercury Register May 14, 1945
Rites Held For Lt. Tieck
Military funeral services for Lt. Robert H. Tieck, who died
in a plane crash, were held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of
the Palms at the Thomas Funeral Home. The rites were conducted by
the Chico Army Air Field with Chaplain W. A. Briggs officiating.
Sgt. K. E. Cooper and Cpl. Rubke were the buglers. The casket bearers,
all first lieutenants, were; Lt. Byerly, Lt. Seltz, Lt. Minker,
Lt. Herrall, Lt. Eckstein and Lt. Nuft. Among those who attended
the services were the following; Henry C. Tieck of Mill Valley,
and uncle: Mr. and Mrs. Charles O. Fling of Los Angeles, Uncle and
Aunt; Mrs. Mable Simcoke of Los Angeles, aunt; Mrs. Pearl Thompson,
aunt who has been visiting with Lt. Tieck’s parents at Tieckdale;
Mrs. Susan Hurkett of Los Angeles, grandmother; Mr. and Mrs. William
Mumpower, father and mother of Mrs. Stella Tieck, Lt. Tieck’s widow
and Sgt. L. C. Mumpower, her brother, of Las Vegas, Nev. Lieutenants
Taylor, Burket and Clark of Morana field, Tucson, Ariz., arrived
by plane at Chico Air Field in order that they might take part in
paying tribute to their former comrade and fellow officer. Cpl.
John Manolis, gunner in Lt. Tieck’s crew, drove here from March
Field, Riverside, for the rites. Cpl Manolis had been excused from
duty because of a Greek national religious holiday, on the day the
bomber crashed killing Lt. Tieck, pilot, and seven other crew members.
Among the floral tributes at the chapel was a family piece in the
form of a suspended airplane made of gardenias and roses. Cards
were received by the family from many relatives and friends unable
to attend the services because of transportation restrictions. Following
the rites, cremation was at Sierra View, Marysville.
Chico Soldier Killed
Paul L. Entler, T5, son of Mrs. Elsie M. Entler, Route 1,
Chico , has been reported killed in action in the European area,
according to an official announcement of the Office of War Information.
Capt. Salzman Awarded Cluster
Capt. Stanley G. Salzman, serving in the European area, has
just had an oak leaf cluster added to his bronze star, according
to word received by his wife. The citation states that “he has maintained
the personnel of his unit in excellent dental condition- requiring
exceptional aggression and long hours.” The personnel has been widely
separated and he has had to travel long distances in covering his
work. Mrs. Salzman has also received word that her brother, John
C. Pearce, formerly a lawyer in Modesto, has been promoted to
the rank of Captain in the 82nd Airborne division.
Stu’s notes:
Every year, early in August there is a discussion on how terrible
the Atom Bombs were that we dropped on Japan. They were terrible,
but, the only other way to stop the War was the long planned invasion.
Top secret for 40 years, it was called Operation Downfall
up to a million young Americans could have been killed or wounded.
More lives lost on both sides than the bomb. Japan had plans to
fight to the bitter end, on the beaches with men, women and children,
in the air with thousands of Kamikazes. Many of those living in
America today would not be here because their Father’s and Grandfather’s
would have been killed in the invasion. I talked to a long time
friend Sunday, Rudi, who moved here long ago. Rudi was a P.O.W.
of the Japanese in the South Pacific. When I asked him what he thought
about the bomb, he said, right out, I would be dead if it hadn’t
happened. They had just finished digging many holes around their
camp and the Japanese told him if the war hadn’t ended so quick
they would be shot and in those holes. Early in the war he was in
a long line and the Japanese went down the line and shot every other
one, Rudi was to be one of those but a Guard liked him and he was
saved. Ten’s of thousand’s of P.O.W.’s were probably saved by the
quick end to the war after the atomic Bomb was dropped. The brutality
of the Japanese rulers is not as well known as what happened in
Germany, but it was just as brutal. It was a long and most terrible
ever war, the Japanese were given many opportunities to surrender,
which they refused. Last week’s article about Robert Tieck had his
name spelled wrong (no fault of Lynn) so I ran another story I found
of him. So sad about the Chico boy, so close to the end of the war.
This is all I know of him although there is rumor of a memorial
being built in Chico. Nick Krpan, OVMPC member, remembers a Sgt.
Miller, in his group was killed by one shot from a German tank,
May 7, 1945. The war ended the next day.
We will honor all P.O.W’s and M.I.A.”s on the steps of the Veterans
Hall, September 17th, 2004.