October 1, 2010
The following is a story by committee member Sam Bebout:
“I was in Korea in 1953 in the back of a troop carrier
going around the edge of Seoul, along the Hann River, I looked down
and saw the women washing their clothes on the rocks below. I looked
back over my shoulder at the town of Seoul and the biggest building
I recall was a two story building. We went on around, crossed the
Hann River, there was a bridge down in the water. I don’t recall
what kind of a bridge. We crossed on the 38th Parallel,
passed a one five five long tom gun in placement. The guys came
running out of their bunkers yelling a fire order, we went on up
the mountain and we could hear the rounds whistling over our heads.
We knew we were going the right way. That was some fifty seven years
ago, that was thirty years ago, that was ten years ago, yesterday
and probably today the rounds are still whistling over our guys
heads. And this is why we observe Veterans Day, Memorial Day, POW/MIA
Day and why we are building a Veterans Memorial Park for All of
Butte County, so that we will remember to remember.
Signed, Sam Bebout
Oroville Mercury
December 26, 1950
Funeral Rites Held For General Walker
Tokyo-(U.P.)- The body of U. S. 8th Army Commander
Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker will be sent to the United States late
this week for burial, Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters said
today. Walker was killed in a jeep accident north of Seoul, Korea,
Saturday while en route to decorate British and American soldiers,
including his Captain son. Funeral services were held yesterday.
Only the General’s widow, his son and intimate friends attended.
Brief religious and Masonic rites were held. Lt. Gen Matthew B.
Ridgway, who succeeded Walker, arrived at 8th Army headquarters
in Korea today.
(Stu- one of our committee members is named Walton Walker.)
Stu’s Notes: Last week was a most productive week for Our Veterans
Memorial. I was told there was a Memorial Plague at Chico
State University and I had a rare free day to wander
around over there. So I found a good parking spot not to far from
the Bell tower. I wondered around the campus and asked many questions
as to where I might find the plaque and most were answered “What
Memorial?” Even a person that worked there 19 years did not know.
Then a nice professor led me to a room with three young Veterans
there but they were not sure where to find the memorial. A young
lady directed me to a veteran’s service office and I met Dan, he
knew exactly where it was. “Eureka” I found it at the base of a
flag pole in front of the Administration office, not far from the
Bell Tower. It was a fairly new bronze plaque
with the words; WWII dedicated by California State University Chico
In Memory of those faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni who unselfishly
served and gave their lives in the defense of our country. The Plaque
contained 44 names, 21 of those men killed in WWII we did not have
on our Chico list. After almost 10 years of searching we are still
finding cases like this. Dan told me what happened at Chico State
is that sometime in the Anti War years of Vietnam the original monument
to those that died was stolen, I think probably by radical students
many who owe their lives to those brave young men of WWII who “Gave
All.”
On Sunday I went to the Chico Air Show and met two of my Heroes,
U2 Pilots, Jon “Huggy” Huggins and Andy “Spoo” Clark. When I told
them after 14 years the Oroville Veteran’s Memorial Park would put
Captain Randy Roby’s name in stone, they were so glad. For years
I have been calling the Captain Rob-y but it should be pronounced
"Row-bee". He also told me that his wife was pregnant when he died
on the streets of Thermalito, so now that child would be 14 years
old. Mrs. Roby, his widow, moved away after he died. I hope someday
she and her daughter find out what we are doing in Oroville, and
although it has been a long time coming we have not forgotten her
hero father. Jessica my Granddaughter and I had placed a temporary
Memorial in front of the CDF Flag Pole on Nelson Ave. I told the
two pilots that I sometimes salute them when they fly over and that
I wave and hoped they should wobble their wings. Well maybe, “Huggy”
did say he could help us when we dedicated our Memorial. We may
get a flyover, but we have to notify him well in advance. I think
that would be the neatest thing ever if we could get a U2 Fly over.
I think that what they do for our country is just so wonderful watching
over us as we sleep. Like knights of old. So Oroville lets do it
for Sam and Captain Roby and make a better effort to honor those
men and women on their special days they deserve no less.