Oroville Mercury Register
October 27, 1952
Oroville Marine Hit By Shrapnel While Carrying Serum To Wounded
News that Marine Cpl. Jack Henderson was wounded on a mercy
mission in Korea has been received here by his parents Mr. and Mrs.
John W. Henderson of Feather Portals. The news came in a telegram
from the War Department stating that Corporal Henderson had been
wounded in action on Feb. 7, but the telegram did not disclose the
nature of the wounds. The following day, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson
received a letter from their son describing the incident and telling
of his condition. The letter was written by a hospital corpsman.
Henderson had been hit by shrapnel from a 120 mm. Chinese mortar.
Although wounded in both hands and the stomach, Henderson contended
that his wounds were not serious. Henderson explained that he and
several other Marines had been ordered to carry serum to wounded
soldiers in a bunker some distance away. When Henderson arrived
at the bunker, he was hit by shrapnel from the mortar shell. He
was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital where the shrapnel was
removed. Henderson was wounded on Feb. 7 and his outfit was to be
put on reserve for a month on February 10. The hospital corpsman
who wrote the letter advised Henderson’s parents that there was
a good chance of his being sent home by way of Japan when his condition
improves. Henderson was an Oroville High School student before enlisting
in the Marines in November, 1950. He has been in Korea since May,
1951, fighting on the eastern front.
News From Oroville Men In The Service
Corporal John R. Brower, USMC, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brower
of Wilcox avenue, is home on a 30-day leave following a tour of
duty in Korea and Japan. He was wounded twice during a year in the
service. Following his leave, he reports to Camp Pendleton near
San Diego on Nov. 8. His brother, PFC Frank W. Brower Jr., is expected
to remain on Okinawa for another six months before returning home
on leave. Frank spent six weeks in a hospital in Japan recovering
from shrapnel wounds. Serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge
with Composite Squadron 35 is Arden Thomas airman, USN, of Route
2, Oroville. The Kearsarge reported to the United Nations command
this month and is scheduled to take command of the Carrier Task
Force making strikes against North Korean targets. Carrell Dee Rains,
seaman, U. S. Navy is now stationed in the Marshall Island, according
to a release from the U. S. Navy Recruiting Station in Chico. Rains,
who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Roy Rains, of Oroville, underwent
his recruit training at San Diego and then went to the Navy’s commissary
school where he took a course in cooking. Rains, before enlisting
in the Navy, was a student at Oroville Union High School.Albert
L. Treichler, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Treichler, of Park
Avenue, was recently advanced from airman to the rating of aviation
structural mechanic third class after successfully passing his Navy
advancement tests at U. S. Naval Air station, Alameda. Treichler,
who has been in the Navy since February 1951, had his “boot” training
at the U. S. Naval Training Center, San Diego, and attended the
Naval Aviation Technical Training Centers in Jacksonville, Fla.
and Memphis, Tenn. before reporting to NAS Alameda in December,
1951. He is now attached to the station’s largest activity, the
overhaul and repair division. Prior to joining the Navy, the newly
rated petty officer attended Oroville Union High School.
Stu’s Notes: Please plan to be at the steps of the Memorial Hall
on September 18, at 7Pm, for the Candle light POW/MIA Recognition
Day Ceremony.
Helicopters came into good use in the Korean War, they saved a lot
of lives. I didn’t care for the Mash TV series; I always thought
that it didn’t portray the Doctors in a good light. I’m sure our
Army doctors were much more disciplined and more professional than
the TV series showed. Sadly some viewers probably thought that’s
how it was. Many of our Soldiers that were wounded went right back
to fighting, I really don’t know how bad a so called “Million Dollar
Wound” had to be to get a ticket home.
Sounds like the Brower Brothers kept on fighting. Many of our POW’s
in our wars were treated terrible.
Please come out and Honor them and those MIA’s who never came home.
They deserve more than we’ve done in the past. Lets fill the street
in front of our Veterans Memorial Hall. Soon you will see the Banner
that Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee member John Archibald
put together. Ken Godfrey owner of I.M. S. Custom Sheet metal fabricated
it for us.