September 30, 2005

Looking Backward Twenty five years ago (July 19, 1919)
Barney Gilmore, local boy had arrived in this city from the Presidio at San Francisco, where he received his discharge a few days ago after serving 11 months in France. Gilmore served 11 days in the Meuse-Argonne offensive…C. R. Clark of this city left recently for Merrimac, where he has accepted a responsible position with the Swayne Lumber Company…Thad Bolt of Gridley was a business visitor in Oroville yesterday.

Oroville Boy Helped Take Saipan Isle
Corp. Richard R. Warmack of Oroville was in the third wave of U. S. Marines that charged the tough Japanese defenses of Saipan, helped crack that island’s “little Maginot line”, and won for the U. S. the bloodiest battle so far of the Pacific war. Conquest of the island a key in Japan’s inner defense line, is regarded by many as a turning point in the war. Two letters from Corp. Warmack telling a little about the Saipan engagements, were received here Tuesday by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Randall Warmack. “The censors let up a little, so I can tell you I’m on the island of Saipan,” wrote the Oroville boy. “I landed in the third wave and believe me it was plenty hot. Shells, mortars and bullets were whizzing in every direction. ‘My outfit has done an excellent job – for that matter I think every marine on the island has done his job, no matter how tough the going was.” He said he was relaxing a little now and reading the magazines sent to him.
Living in a Japanese house, Corp. Warmack said that he and his buddies listen to the news beamed from San Francisco and from Tokio. Tokio Rose, a girl reporter, furnished them with considerable entertainment, he said. Warmack told, too, how he watched a marine anti-aircraft gun crew bring down a Japanese bomber over Saipan with only five shells fired. The local youth, who joined the marines in Jan. 1943 while he was a high school senior, had been six months in the Pacific early this July. A first class private while he was in the Marshalls engagement, he was promoted to corporal when his outfit took a breather in a rest camp. He is serving in radio communications.

Bob Tieck Now 1st Lieutenant (Foothill)
Lt. Robert Tieck was promoted to first lieutenant June 27. Tieck ws graduated from Oroville high school in 1936. He took up flying in Palm Springs in 1937 and has continued his flying ever since. Saturday he flew from Arizona to Sacramento and came to spend the weekend at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Tieck. He is now serving as a flight engineer officer. Tieck returned to Arizona Monday.

Stu’s Notes: Today, September 30th is my daughter Sgt. Debbie’s Birthday. She is now attached to the Oroville National Guard for the first time in her 23 years of military service. We are very proud of her. Tokio, I have seen it spelled that way often in the forty’s. Tokyo Rose was forgiven, I think she got off too easy.
I have written about Richard Warmack before. He had a long tour of duty in the Pacific. I’ve enjoyed talking to him whenever we meet. Don’t tell him but he is a Hero. I have written before of Bob Tieck. He died May 1945 when his B-29 went down near Riverside, CA. You can find these stories on our web site, thanks to Daryl Autrey.
“HELP THOSE WHO HELP YOU III” is a fund raiser for the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park. It will be on Saturday October 15th, starting at 1:00PM. We will have a spaghetti lunch and a variety show. Adults $6.00 and children $3.00.