Chico Record
November 17, 1942
“Some Gave All”
Details of Heroic Death of Chico Man Related by Chronicle Writer
Some time ago the death of Lawrence Gianella was reported to
his father Henry Gianella. The former young Chico man, nephew of
Mrs. William G. Pillsbury, died with his ship in the south Pacific;
found in Sunday’s Chronicle details of his death were told by Rita
Halle Kleeman. In “This Week” the writer quoted a third mate whose
name she did not divulge. She told how the mate went back to the
sinking ship in a vain effort to save his buddy – Lawrence Gianella-
and later weak and ill after 31 days in a life boat paddled 36 miles
in a 16-foot canoe to bring help to his shipmates. After being rescued
this third mate told about Lawrence; “Laurence was about 20 when
he went to sea, a tall boy carrying in his blue eyes and fair skin
little hint of his Italian ancestry as a boy he had wanted to be
a radio operator and had picked fruit to earn his way through radio
school. When war came he shipped on a cargo vessel bound for Australia.
“She was an old ship, with creaking body and antiquated equipment.
Laurence told his buddy that if the ship was torpedoed, it had better
be near help; if he got any message off the ancient radio at all,
it wouldn’t reach farther than a couple of hundred miles. He was
right…” The writer tells how the torpedo struck at dawn and the
third mate who had gone off duty a short time before was asleep.
He jumped out of his bunk, grabbed his navigation instruments and
ran to the radio shack. He yelled “Come on.” To Laurence, “There’s
no time to lose.” But the former Chico boy, then on the way to becoming
a hero said “Can’t. I haven’t got this thing running yet.” The third
mate went on deck to help launch his lifeboat and dashed back to
the radio shack to get Laurence. “Hurry up Sparks,” he shouted “the
boat is launched.” “Haven’t got that SOS out,” Laurence said without
looking up. The third mate yelled, scrambling to his feet: “Come
on: after a lurch of the ship had thrown him to the floor. “She’s
going down.” Sure that Laurence was following the third mate rushed
to the deck, jumped overboard and swam for the life boat. And just
as he reached it he heard a great roar of rushing waters. When he
looked back he saw her going down, prow first. “Laurence Gianella
was with her. He was still trying to get that message out. Whether
he succeeded or not no one knows. But he died trying” the writer
said.
Oroville Mercury Register
November 15, 1951
News From Oroville Men in the Service
William O’Kelley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orie O’Kelley, Houston street,
Oroville, was recently awarded a promotion to the grade of sergeant
while serving with the 7th Infantry Division in rugged
mountain terrain north of the 38th parallel. Recognized
as the most traveled division in the Far East, the 7th
fought its way from Pusan to the Manchurian Border earlier in the
war. O’Kelley, a gunner in the Heavy Mortar Company of the 31st
Infantry “Polar Bear” Regiment, earned the promotion for “excellent
performance of duty in ground combat action.” The Oroville soldier
entered the Army in February, 1950.Pvt. Harry A. Webb, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Glen Harrison, Route 2,Oroville, is serving with the 24th
Infantry Division on the fighting front in Korea. The first American
division to enter the fighting in Korea, the 24th has
played a major role in UN offensives north and south of the 38th
Parallel. Private Webb received his basic training at Schofield
Barracks, Hawaii. He arrived in Korea on August 12, 1951, and was
assigned to the fighting 21st. Private Webb has been
awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Korean Service Ribbon
with one campaign star. Before entering the Army Webb attended Oroville
Union High School.
Charles Pine, 17, son of Mrs. E. A. Kinney, Houston Street, is undergoing
recruit training at the U. S. Naval Training Center at San Diego
following his enlistment on Oct. 10. He expects to be home on leave
for Christmas. While attending Oroville Union High School he was
a member of the school band. A brother Walter Pine Vote, has been
serving in the Navy for eight years.
Stu’s Notes: A Merchant Marine goes down with his ship, so young,
so brave as most of my readers know unlike the headline I write
about Butte County Heroes and thanks to Joan Lee I have these long
forgotten stories of them. The sad thing about most of the young
men who died in WWII is that their Mothers and Fathers are gone
and many of their other relatives. The article on Lawrence or Laurence,
his name was spelled both ways, is just one of many that Oroville
Veterans Memorial Park Committee member Joan Lee recently found.
Over 8 years of looking and we still are finding these heroes that
died so long ago. Perhaps if we find that Chronicle story of the
Sunday before Nov. 17, we will know more about young brave Lawrence.
POW/MIA Recognition Day is September 18th.