Oroville Mercury, April 7,1951
Army Orders Colonel Gilbert To Active Duty
The Army has recalled Col. Fred I. Gilbert, of Second Avenue, from
the retired list to active duty and he will leave for Washington,
D. C. early next week. Col. Gilbert will report to the war department
and later will be assigned to a station in the eastern part of the
United States. Mrs. Gilbert will accompany her husband to Washington
and will remain with him temporarily before returning to Oroville.
Recall of the retired Army officer to active duty followed briefly
the recall of Col. and Mrs. Gilbert’s son, Captain Robert Gilbert,
to duty as a reserve officer, Captain Gilbert, a school principal
at Tahoe City, was assigned to the 40th National Guard
division and left last week for Japan with that unit. Col. Gilbert,
retired in 1947 after 36 years of Army service, and has made his
home in Oroville since then. He began his military career 40 years
ago, March 1, 1911, with the U. S. Coast Guard in Alaska. Entering
the Army in 1914, he served in Mexico and with the American Expeditionary
Force in World War I. Between WWI and WWII he served at various
stations throughout the United States and foreign possessions. In
World War II he was a staff officer of one of the field armies and
later was in the war department in Washington in the office of the
chief of ordnance. During this time he was chief of the operations
division charged with supervision of ordnance at field establishments.
He is a member of Oroville Rotary Club and commissioner and vice
chairman of the Department of California American Legion Americanization
program in the schools. He has been active in community affairs
here. Mrs. Gilbert is president of the Oroville Women’s Community
club, vice president of the Butte County Federation of Women’s Clubs,
and state chairman of international relations for the California
Federation of Women’s clubs and is active in other organizations.
MacArthur Forces Action To Clear Korea Confusion
Solons May Request Report by General
Washington – (U.P.)- Official pressure built up today for President
Truman to crackdown on Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s complaint against
U. S. policy conduct of the Korean war. But some influential Republican
Senators took the view that the administration was guilty of mishandling
of policy.
April 11, 1951
News From Oroville Men In The Service
PVT. Alvin W. Unfried training near end
Pvt. Alvin W. Unfried, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Unfried, Route
4, Oroville, is completing his AF basic airmen indoctrination course
at Lackland Air Force Base San Antonio, Texas. His basic training
is preparing him for entrance into Air Force technical training
and for assignment in specialized work. The course includes a scientific
evaluation of his aptitude and inclination for following a particular
vocation and career.
April 25, 1951
Joe David Wilson, is the son of Cpl. and Mrs. Jim Wilson. Cpl. Wilson
is fighting with the Army in Korea, while Mrs. Wilson lives here
in Oroville. Joe, who was one year old March 16, is the grandson
of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Barrett of Woodleaf Star Route and Mr.
and Mrs. Ralph Wilson of Fifth avenue. He also has three great grandmothers
and two great grandfathers. He has been walking since March 2 and
has been talking since he was seven months old. Some of the words
he says are “mama” “daddy,” “auntie” and “Bud”. He has four teeth;
his eyes are brown and his hair is brown. His favorite “toy” is
Pancho, his dog.
Stu’s Notes: Last week’s story on Oroville Hero Jess L. Patterson
brought a call from Ernie Reynolds who knew the man. Ernie said
he became an Oroville Policeman when he came home and maybe several
of his children might be in the area.
An old soldier is about to be relieved of Command by President
Harry Truman. An old Oroville Soldier is called back to duty. You
might say by the President, as he is the Commander in Chief of all
American Armed Forces. I have talked to Bob Gilbert on the street
but never got a story from him and now he’s gone. I’ve written about
Maxine and George Gilbert before, I wonder if all these Gilberts
are related. They sure served our Country well. As usual for those
days the above story of Fred Gilbert leaves off his wife’s first
name. Times have changed. Like many soldiers they never got to see
some of their children born. I hope Cpl. Jim Wilson came home before
too long. Late breaking news about Jess Patterson; I just received
an email from Daryl , stay tuned next week.