“Some Gave All”
June 1, 1944 Oroville Mercury Register
Many Attend Turk Funeral
Many friends and relatives of 2nd Lt. Walter M. Turk,
killed when his fighting plane crashed near Ephrata, Wash., Saturday,
attended his funeral at Hamilton and Riley’s this afternoon. Officiating
was the Rev. Mr. W. S. Woodhull. Casket bearers’ were Lt. W. H.
Lawn, who accompanied the body to Oroville: Robert Babb, Jack Holmes,
Howard Wiedman, Lt. Richard Parker and Dean Price. Burial took place
in the veterans plot in Memorial Park.
“Some Gave All”
Oroville Mercury Register Oct. 23, 1943
Paratrooper Lost
PVT. Warren Aldridge paratrooper, who has been reported missing
in action since Sept 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Aldridge of Thermalito,
he was unreported after the battle of Salerno, Italy. He took part
in the North African campaign and in Casablanca, Tunis and Bizerte.
He enlisted in the paratroopers in February, 1942, and had been
overseas since a year ago last September. He visited in Oroville
just before going overseas. Miss Faye Aldridge, his sister, is employed
at the First National Bank here.
“Some Gave All”
Oroville Mercury Register April 6, 1944
Aldridge Death After Salerno Is Announced
Official notification that her son, Pvt. Warren S. Aldridge, 22,
previously reported missing in action was killed September 15, 1943,
at Avellino, Italy, shortly after the invasion at Salerno, has been
received by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Aldridge of Thermalito, his parents.
He was a sheet metal worker in Berkeley at the time of his enlistment.
He was a former student at Yuba City high school. Pvt. Aldridge
has two sisters, Mrs. Jean McCullough of Richmond, and Miss Faye
Aldridge of Thermalito. Mrs. Aldridge received the following letter
from Major General J. A. Ulio, the Adjutant general, in Washington.
“It is with regret that I am writing to confirm the recent telegram
informing you of the death of your son, Private Warren S. Aldridge
19.082.765, infantry (paratroop). “Your son was reported missing
in action in Italy on 15 September 1943. The war department has
now received an official report which establishes the fact that
your son was killed in action on 15 September 1943 in the vicinity
of Avellino, Italy. I know the sorrow that this message has brought
you and it is my hope that in time knowledge of the heroic service
in defense of his country , even unto death, may be of sustaining
comfort to you. I extend to you my deepest sympathy.”
“Some Gave All”
Enterprise Record July 20, 1944
George Buckman Dies in Japanese War Prison Camp
Taken by the enemy after the fall of Corregidor in 1941, George
Buckman, former Chico student has died in a Japanese prison camp
in Manila, according to word received here last night by his brother
and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Don Buckman. Buckman’s mother, Mrs.
Lydia Buckman, who resides in Seattle, Washington, was notified
by the War Department yesterday of her son’s death. The youth was
reported taken by the Japanese 10 days after Corregidor fell. He
was with an air corps crew and left the United Sates before the
invasion of the Philippines for Nichols Field, Manila. He attended
Chico High school during the 1939 and1940 term. From Chico he went
to Seattle where he entered the army air corps. He was a member
of Company “C” in Chico.
Stu’s notes: I recently met with Earl Baker Sr. Earl served his
country well entering the Navy in 1942 when our Navy was taking
many casualties in the war. Reports were in and they had not all
been good our Navy was fighting the Japanese all over the South
Pacific. The Japanese had a good Navy that had been training for
a long time. The Japanese Navy was very good at night fighting,
and the thought of submarines had to be on every Sailors mind, night
and day. Yet young Earl left Oroville High at 17 years old and signed
up. Thank you my friend Earl.
How many in Oroville have seen those big 4 engine , red and white,
Coast Guard Planes go by Oroville. I have, they fly out of Sacramento
and go on many missions up and down our Coast to rescue people,
many who make thoughtless mistakes in our Pacific Ocean and need
rescued. Well last Saturday one of these planes searching for a
lost man collided with a search Helicopter and 9 brave people died,
all Heroes for what they do. The Captain of the plane grew up in
the Woodland area, just 60 miles south of here, Lt. Commander Che
J. Barnes. Pvt. Warren’s name is in stone on the Sutter County Memorial.
If he lived in Thermalito as his family did, we will also honor
him here.