Biggs-Gridley-The News
July 7, 1944
(Continued from last week)
Honor Roll Dedicated with Military Rites
At the request of Mayor
Stohr, Mayor Hinaman
introduced the General who gave the dedicatory address and presented
the Purple Heart to Mrs.
Hammer. Leslie Charles
Hammer was one of the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor- heroes
who in the words of General MacArthur “went out fighting to the
end of their flickering forlorn hope.” “Private First Class
Hammer volunteered for service in the United States army April 2,
1941, and was serving with the 31st Infantry in the Philippines
when the Japanese struck. For 120 days he and the other men of Bataan
fought against the Nipponese, until exhausted by short rations and
disease, cut off from supplies and reinforcements, they were finally
overwhelmed on April 9, 1942, by numerically superior forces.
Whether Private Hammer was among those who were able to get to Corregidor
for the final stand in the Philippines, we do not know. He
was reported missing in action as of May 6, 1942, the day Corregidor
fell. During those days of Bataan and Corregidor, our men
accomplished much. History will picture just how much. Battling
against hopeless odds, they fought one of the great delaying actions
of this war. I might say one of the greatest delaying actions
of all time. Their bravery upset the time table of Japanese
conquest, and enabled the democracies to gather strength to halt
the tide of the seemingly invincible progress of the armies of Japan
It is said that Australia was saved by the battles of the Coral
Sea, Guadalcanal and New Guinea. But I say to you that first
of all it was saved by the men of Bataan and Corregidor, for it
was their sacrifices which gave us the time to prepare for Coral
Sea, Guadalcanal and New Guinea, and it proved to the world that
our soldiers were second to none.”.
Missing In Action Over Europe
Lt. Anthon Pryde
reported missing in action over Europe Mrs.
Dorothy Pryde, his
wife was notified early this week by the war department, Pryde arrived
in Italy over a month ago and went into immediate action flying
B-17’s. In his last letter he had made some 15 missions.
Pryde is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. J. M. Pryde and is a graduate of Biggs union high
school. He enlisted in the air corps over a year ago.
Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Brown,
Monday, received a telegram from the war department advising them
that their son, First Lt.
Lloyd Brown is missing in action in France as of August 1st.
Lt. Brown’s last letter to his parents was dated July 22nd
and was sent from somewhere in the front battle lines in France.
Lt. Brown has had five years in service, a year with the National
Guard and four years with the infantry. A brother,
Cecil, is a pilot
in the AAF. He is a graduate of Gridley high school.
Stu’s Notes: Sadly I must report that
Howard Gregg has
passed away this week. Howard served in the U.S. Army 1951-1958,
a Veteran of the Korean War; some who were never there called it
a conflict and various other meaningless names, but for those who
were there it was a WAR. And to this day it has never been
officially ended. Americans have died there since the truce
was declared in 1953. Howard was well known in Oroville.
He was a very civic minded person and not afraid to voice his opinions.
For many years he had a radio show for the Veterans, although he
would let non veterans on his show if we talked about the Men and
Women he loved. Those who served their country in the United
States Armed Forces. He also served on our Veterans Memorial
Committee, until his health gave out. He truly wanted to see
the Memorial built.
Pearl Harbor Day is this Sunday, where a small group of us will
gather in the middle of the Butte County Fairgrounds at the Pearl
Harbor remembrance Flag pole. This Honoring Ceremony is put
on by the Pearl Harbor Survivors of Butte County. It was exactly
9:55am (7:55am) Hawaii) December 7, 1941 when the first bullet took
the life of a young Gridley – Biggs, Farm boy,
Seaman Warren Harrell (Cotton)
McCutcheon, in the next few hours some 2,400 service men
and women would die, along with some civilians. America was
now in a World War. 1100 young Navy men died on the
Battle ship Arizona. This event is open to the public.
Please come and remember with us, 9:55AM, Gridley, California.
I have always been amazed of how long our
men held out at Bataan and Corregidor. I am proud to know
of one man that was there, Oroville and Pennsylvania’s and America’s
Hero, Bob Wolfersberger.