February 4, 2005

Mercury Register March 31, 1945

Pictured here:
CPL. CLIFFORD ARLIN RHINE who died in the courageous capture of Jap stronghold.
Cpl. Rhine had expressed his satisfaction that his long training period was over and now “at last I can do something worthwhile.” He enlisted in the Marine Corps April 10, 1943, while still in his freshman year at the University of California at Berkeley, and went overseas in September, 1944. Cpl Rhine was graduated from the local high school in 1942. While a student there he was prominent in all student body affairs. He won his letters in tennis, basketball and football. With Walter Mitchell, now a private in the army, he organized the high school Royal Tigers Orchestra. At the university he was pledged to the Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity and was also a member of the freshman basketball and football teams.

MENTIONED IN LETTERS
While training at Camp Pendleton and while based at Hilo, Hawaiian Islands, he played in the marine regimental bands. In San Diego he was graduated Honor man from Radio Operators School, having made the highest marks in his class. Cpl. Rhine's” parents had received no word from his since his landing on Iwo Jima after the invasion. Their first news that he was there came through military dispatches that the Fifth Division had landed on the island and through letters from two of his comrades, formerly his classmates at school, telling that the had seen Cpl. Rhine. Besides his parents his survivors in Oroville include a sister, Pamela; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Morganthaler; his great-grandfather, C. A. Coykendall; and an aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Grafe.

Stu’s Notes: 60 years ago Iwo Jima, Oroville lost a lot on that small Island. At least 3 of our finest, more were wounded from here. As you read it was a terrible place to be. The road on our levee is called Arlin Rhine Drive, it should read Arlin Rhine Memorial Drive. Most people don’t know what it represents. Many other streets in Oroville are named after those who died in WWII. I have talked to people living on these streets and they do not know why they are named. Maybe we could place a Gold Star on the street signs.

Our Memorial Park Plans show that Arlin Rhine Drive will go down the levee and come out on Montgomery, creating about 60 new parking spaces in the area. This will help the Monday Club, The Pioneer Museum, which I hope will be expanded some day, then they could have more room for the History of our Veterans. Today there is some in the basement. I urge all to see what they have. We had more attend our Memorial meeting last Monday then ever. Our project is slowly moving forward. Let’s hope we can dedicate our memorial next year, as we will be celebrating Oroville Centennial. We will also be celebrating the 100 year Reunion of Oroville High and Las Plumas High Schools. Everyone from all these classes will be invited to a Big Party in October 2006.

Thank you. Thank you, Oroville Veterans Honor Guard, Stan Rinehart our Secretary and committee member from the start, presented us with a $1000.00, check Monday night. Stan is one of the men to see if you need a Veterans Honor Guard, they do a beautiful respectful service for our veterans when they pass on. I have been to some of these services. This money comes from donations to their group from the families. I also wish to thank them. If you see a Veteran or Active Service man or worked with one, say THANK YOU, we owe them so much.