Oroville Mercury Register
November 1, 1950
Father Of Five Called By Navy
An Oroville father of four daughters and one son today has received
Navy orders to report for duty. He is
Jess L. Patterson,
of Gawthorne Street, who served as an under-water demolition expert
during World War II. A chief gunner’s mate, Patterson held
the distinction of being both a Navy and Marine Corps fighter during
three and one half years of service in the Pacific theater of war.
As a demolition man, Patterson participated in the assaults on Saipan,
Kwajalein, the Philippines and Iwo Jima. Patterson was one
of a limited number of experts in the Navy who swam into enemy waters
from submarines or other craft to locate enemy minefields and installations
on shore in preparation for an assault. He wore a rubber mask
and rubber flippers as part of his “frog-man” costume in an occupation
considered to be one of the most dangerous of all Navy duties.
His orders took him to San Francisco today for his final physical
examination. He has been ordered to be in uniform at Treasure
Island not later than Dec. 2. His family includes his wife,
four daughters, ages 16, 15, 13, and 7 and one son, two and one-half.
His pay as a chief gunner’s mate will be $205.08 a month with an
added allowance for his family of $85. He is employed here
as a car salesman.
(I hope one of my readers know their names.)
Yanks Prepare Last Korea Blow
By Earnest Hoberecht-
TOKYO (Thursday) –(UP)- Battle wise American divisions took over
from faltering South Korean troops in three key sectors of Korea
today as Communist resistance aground and in the air boiled up menacingly.
The U. S. 1st Marine Division , the 1st Cavalry
and the 7th Infantry Division charged into full scale
action against Communist Forces which had driven ahead in scattered
parts of North Korea.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
committed the American forces in Korea to the final push toward
the Manchurian and Russian borders after the South Koreans, who
had set the pace in most sectors since the fall of Pyongyang, lost
ground to Communist counter-blows.
ATTEMPT TO KILL TRUMAN
Blair House Gun Battle!
Two assailants Shot Down, One Killed; Three Policemen Wounded.
(Washington-UP)-Two gunmen apparently attempting to assassinate
President Truman
were shot down today in a wild battle on the sidewalk in front of
the President’s Blair House residence. Mr. Truman was unharmed,
but three White House policemen were wounded. One of the assailants
was shot dead. The other was wounded seriously. Police
said they suspected that one of the assailants had a Communist record.
The two men were cut down by secret service agents and White House
police as they tried to shoot their way into the Blair House.
H.W. Francis, and
inspector of White House police, said: “ I presume they were trying
to get in the house for assassination.” Mr. Truman was in
Blair House when the shooting occurred at about 2:15 p.m., EST.
He was preparing to leave for Arlington cemetery for a ceremony.
One Officer, as he fell gravely wounded at the sidewalk, drilled
one of the assailants squarely between the eyes with his police
revolver. One of the attackers fell at the foot of the steps
leading to the Blair House That was as close as either got to the
President. The wounded White House officers were;
Leslie Coffelt, Arlington,
W., in “ very critical condition”; Joseph Down, Silver Spring, Md.,
“critical condition”; and
Donald T. Birdzell,
Washington, D. C., in “fair condition.”
(Heroes doing their job. Stu.)
December 4th, 1950
Truman, Attlee Confer As Crisis Grows, Million Chinese Thrown
Into War
Oroville Mercury Register
November 6, 1950
Paradise Marine Corps Veteran Re-Enlists
Kay LaVelle Brown,
22, of Paradise, a former Marine, has been accepted for re-enlistment,
S-Sgt. Charles Wilson,
Marine Corps recruiting officer, announced here today. Brown,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernie
Brown, former residents of Wells, Nev., spent two years in
China during 1945-46. He passed his physical examination last
week and has reported for duty to Treasure Island.
Oroville Mercury Register
December 15, 1950
Chico Marine Veteran Re-Enlists in Service
Raymond L. Baxter
of Arcadian Avenue, Chico, is in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
in San Diego following his re-enlistment in the Corps last week.
Baxter, who served in the Corps from 1945 to 1947 passed his physical
examination and was sworn in at San Francisco Wednesday. During
his prior service he was stationed in China, Japan and Guam.
He is a construction worker in civilian life and spent 14 months
on the Pacific Gas and Electric Company project on the Feather River.
Stu’s Notes: All the above happened before the young Marines
re-enlisted. What were they thinking! Such brave young
men all three of the above. You be the judge was Gen MacArthur
right or wrong to be on the Chinese Border. So far from his
supplies. The next few months our men fought one of the most
famous retreats in history, all the way back to Seoul South Korea.
I saw the movie as a young boy. “Retreat H--- we are just
attacking in another direction”. Oroville Veterans Memorial
Park Committee members Howard
Gregg, Darby Miller
and Ed Ewalt were
all there. Happy Birthday to day to my brother
Larry!