Oroville Mercury
December 7, 1944
In the Fight Forbestown Man Helped
Put Tanks Into Aachen
Pvt. Lewis A. Wyman
of Forbestown was one of a T-2 giant tank crane crew that kept the
American tanks moving to surprise the Germans northwest of Aachen.
He and his teammates have been credited by the army with having
aided in the fall of Aachen. Details of Forbestown man’s part
in the battle for Germany have been sent by the 3rd Armored
Division headquarters in Germany. Wyman’s crew followed the
lead tanks until they were mired. In one instance a whole platoon
was bogged down. But the Forbestown soldier and his comrades,
working their T-2,, “a misshapen monstrosity which is a crane grafted
to an old General Grant tank,” freed the armored vanguard and sent
the attackers on. During much of the time, Wyman’s outfit
was under German mortar fire.
Two Brothers Meet During Combat on Island
Of Palau
Word has been received by
Mrs. Oliver Keesler, of Pomona Avenue, of the recent meeting
of her two brothers, Cpl. George Price
and Technical Sgt. William Price, both
of the Marine corps, on the Island of Palau. They met there
during recent combat activities and were together for 19 days.
Cpl. Price is a crewman in aviation. Sgt. Price is with an
amphibious tractor battalion. Both are local boys and attended
schools here.
Pvt. y With Outfit That Never Retreated
With the Fifth Army Italy- Pvt.
James H. Pevy of Oroville, is fighting
in Italy with the 361st Infantry Regiment, which spearheaded
the advance of Lieut. General Mark W. Clark’s
Fifth Army from Velletri to the Arno River without having once given
ground. The 361st is part of the 91st
“Powder River” Division, recently in the Florence-Bologna drive.
The regiment landed in Italy last May 31. Two days later it
fought its first battle just north of Velletri. It was one
of the units that took the Albano Hills and Lake Albano making possible
the fall of Rome. Bypassing Rome, the regiment continued to
advance north through battle after battle to its present north Italy
sector. The Oroville soldier has served with his unit as a
litter bearer.
Lt. Peterson Receives
Distinguished Flying Cross
An Eight Air Force Fighter Station, England
First Lt. Roger S. Peterson, of Chico Calif., P-51
Mustang Pilot of the 20th Fighter group, has been awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement in
Aerial combat. He is a rancher in civilian life. The
California flier, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Harry H. Peterson, live on Rt. 1, Chico, is a former resident
of Gridley, where he was graduated from high school.
BUY A WAR BOND
Stu’s Notes: Oroville, Gridley, Chico and
Paradise, I would put up the Fighting Men of Butte County
against any Country of the world, just reading the above stories
is proof of that. Well we are spending money big time now for
much needed plans, drawing’s the whole 9 yards for our Veterans
Memorial Park. I’m told that these plans will
tell us everything we need to know. What goes where and how.
Like “Stu tie those rebars right there and then over there and over
there, Sam put that conduit there and there and there and yea over
here too. And dump that fill dirt all over.” We are getting
these plans and drawings from Land Image and North Star Engineering
at a big discount. So soon after nine years of saving our
bank account will be empty. I want to thank those few who
gave so much so we could get this far. They have told me for
9 years when we get going the money will come.
Well, The Native Sons of the Golden West jumped
to the occasion and put their good name on the line. I got
a call from Glenn Hernandez, Co-Chair with Scott Kent Fowler
about the set up for their Annual Dinner followed by an E-mail from
Chris Robbins, Events Coordinator for the Oroville Area Chamber
of Commerce, This is what they came up with; Native Sons of
the Golden West Annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, A fundraiser
for the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park for All of Butte County.
Join us for an evening of good food and good fun for a good cause.
100% of the profits will be donated to the Oroville Veterans
Memorial Park. March 16th,
the doors and bar open at 5:30pm, with Dinner at 7:pm at the Oroville
Southside Community Center, 2959 Lower Wyandotte Rd.
The public is welcome. Tickets are $10 ($4 for kids 10 and
under) and are available at the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce,
1789 Montgomery Street, and at the event. Seating is limited,
so get your tickets early. The event will also feature the
Native Son’s Famous Dessert Table and Raffle. For more information
call Scott Kent Fowler at 693-1267.