Oroville Mercury Register (OMR)
January 15, 1964
News Of Butte County Servicemen
These articles concerning the activities of local men and women
in the armed forces are sent to the Mercury by the public information
organizations of the various services and service academies.
Leroy Wyman, Navy radioman class A, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace
I Wyman of Farley St., will be stationed in Guam for one and a half
years. He was graduated Dec. 20 from radio school in the U. S. Naval
Training Center in San Diego. Wyman, a 1961 graduate of Oroville
High School, has been in the Navy 10 months
Lackland Air Force Base, Tex.-Airman Paul F. Pendergraft, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Drion F. Pendergraft of Rt. 1, Gridley, is being reassigned
to Sheppard AFB, Tex., for technical training as Air Force aircraft
maintenance specialist Airman Pendergraft, who enlisted in the Air
Force a short time ago, has completed his initial basic military
training here.
OSAN – Maj. Chester C. Henning, base equipment management officer,
6314th Support Wg., of Oroville, recently assumed command
of the 6314th Supply Squadron. He succeeds Maj. William
H. Boulineau, who is now supply chief for the 314th Air
Division directorate of materiel. Major Henning, 49, is a veteran
of 23 years military service and has served in Spain, the Azores
and during World War II in the Australia, Philippines, New Guinea
area. A graduate of Devilbiss High School, Toledo, Ohio, the major
now considers Oroville his home.
Jack Sapp Head’s for Rome
By Jack Sapp as told to me (Stu)
Headed for Rome and points to the North all expenses paid. Next
stop on the bus trip from Oroville, Sacramento, for a hair cut and
4 shots. Lunch on the bus to the presidio at Monterey, arrived at
midnight. 4a.m. wake up to the bugle call, shower and KP. worked
until 4pm. Then picking up cigarette butts in the mornings, then
marching more marching sometimes to a band and more KP they kept
the men wore out and instilled in them how to take orders. Looking
back Jack thinks all young men should go through this. Next on a
troop train to Fort Knox Kentucky. (Our Debbie just spent 4 months
at Ft. Knox.) Jack say’s that trip was hot and dirty as they had
to keep the windows open and smoke from the steam train came right
in. They did have a stop in St. Louis long enough to see the St.
Louis Zoo. He saw rattlesnakes over 6 feet long, really impressed
him as those up our Feather river Canyon were mostly 2 to 3 feet.
At Ft. Knox Jack learned to drive both light and heavy Sherman tanks,
about 22 tons and 40 tons each. So far on this hot trip they were
wearing winter wool uniforms, finally got summer clothes. 3 months
training at Ft. Knox. Then he got a 1 month long pass and a train
trip to Reno where Jacks mom and dad took him home. Then, back on
the train for Ft. Meade, Maryland, leaving my folks at the train
station with my Mother in tears, arrived at midnight for two weeks
there. Then back on train for New Port News Virginia, got off train
and go up the gang plank of the Empress of Scotland. 7000 troops
on ship, 8 stories high, took turns sleeping on deck. Below, there
were men sleeping on hammocks 6 men high. They sig-sag across the
Atlantic escorted by two destroyers. They had a cold Thanksgiving
Dinner out of their mess kits. Many soldiers were sick. They had
no Idea where they were going.
(To be continued).
Stu’s Notes: Wow Jack got a lot of “nice” train trips. My good
friend Nick Krpan traveled almost all the way around the Unite States
before he got on a troop ship. But when you think of the magnitude
of WWII and not knowing when or where the troops were needed at
any given time, I guess it all worked out. Nick went to boot camp
3 times in 3 different places before he made it to the War. I have
very few papers from 1964 or later but did find the above stories.
Happy Birthday today to our granddaughter Jessica Jean Rose Shaner,
7 years old today, born on our 30th anniversary! The
Oroville Veterans Memorial Committee will be holding a Rummage Sale
on February 21st from 9am to 2pm at the Veterans Memorial
Hall 2374 Montgomery Street. Donations of usable items will be appreciated
and accepted, February 20th in the afternoon at the Hall.
Call Sam 589-4924 or Sherry 532-7948, proceeds are going for the
Veterans Memorial Park.