Oroville Mercury Register
November 30, 1948
“Some Gave All”
Body of Biggs Soldier Returned Gridley
The body of Dow Truman Anglen has been returned on the Dolphin Victory,
it was announced today. He was killed Sept. 24, 1945, in the Pacific
theatre at the age of 22. He was in the army. Funeral plans will
be announced later by the Block Funeral Home. Dow T. Anglen, who
was born in Arkansas, is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
R. Anglen; three brothers, Ernest, Floyd and John Anglen, all of
Biggs; three sisters, Mrs. Opal Hutchison and Mrs. Lois Patterson,
both of Wheeler , Tex., and Mrs. Margaret Whaley of Biggs.
Oroville Mercury Register
June, 14, 1946
Gridleyan Wins British Medal
Sgt. Clarence E. Petrie, U. S. Marine Corps, of Gridley, has been
awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal by the British Government.
Presentation of the decoration will take place at the British Consulate
in San Francisco June 21. The medal won by Petrie was for heroism
at the battle of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands on November 21, 1943. The
citation reads in part; “On this day the Japanese were in possession
of many strong pill boxes and dug outs on the beach that were causing
heavy casualties among personnel attempting to gain the beach by
wading through the shallow waters. “He, accompanied only by his
platoon leader, assisted in attacking and destroying four of these
positions…in face of heavy machine gun fire. By way of connecting
trenches, a second pill box w as attacked and its occupants destroyed.”
During the course of the assault the office with Petrie was seriously
wounded, the citation continued, and without hesitation and at great
risk of his life, Petrie dragged the lieutenant to safety. Petrie
put out of commission three 25 calibre machine guns, two .33 calibre
machine guns and one .20 calibre anti-boat gun. Dan L. Beebe of
the Mercury received a formal invitation from the Hon. And Mrs.
Cyril H. Cane, British consul general to attend the presentation
ceremony.
Oroville Mercury Register
June 12, 1946
Reds Fire Over Yank Air Field
Vienna –(U.P)-Russian fighter planes engaged in target practice
over the American air field at Tullin today, prompting vigorous
protests by Gen. Mark W. Clark to Col. Gen. L. V. Kurasov, acting
Soviet commander for Austria. Twice this morning Soviet fighters
streaked over Tullin northwest of Vienna, firing at sleeve targets
drawn by their own planes. One from the first squadron dived over
the Tullin radio tower and fired at a red flag on the antenna according
to soldiers who were nearby. Clark protested twice to the Russian.
Kurasov said he knew nothing of the incidents, but would investigate
at once. No American plane was in the air at the time, and no damage
was reported.( Stu-Could this be one of the first Russian instances
that started the Cold War?)
Oroville Mercury Register
June 12, 1946
Four Will Go To Boys’ State June 22 to 29
Local boys selected to represent Oroville district at California
Boys State, to be held at Grant Union High School and Technical
College, North Sacramento from June 22 to 29, inclusive are Gerald
V. McAtee, sponsored by Oroville Post No.95, American Legion; Rufus
C. Bean, Oroville Aerie 196, Eagles Lodge; Bill G. Dowty, Oroville
Post No. 1747, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Edward M. Stram, Oroville
Lodge of Elks. Boys State is sponsored by the American Legion. Representatives
are picked by the High School faculty, on the following basis; (1)
honor, strength and stability of character; high standard of conduct;
devotion to duty; and practice of clean speech. (2) Courage; bravery
in the face of opposition and danger; grit to stand up for the right
and do one’s duty. (3) Scholarship; scholastic attainment; evidence
of industry and application in studies. (4) Leadership; ability
to lead and to accomplish objectives through group action. (5) Character;
highly developed moral qualities; moral excellence in high standards
of intuition, decision and conduct. Only those boys who will be
seniors in High School, during either semester, for the school year
beginning in September, 1946 are eligible. Such boys will have at
least a half year more in high school, and hence an opportunity
to use much of what they learn in Boys State.
Stu’s Notes: I wonder, I’m always wondering, how the young Biggs
soldier was killed. The war was over by Sept.24, 1945; some Japanese
never gave up for a long time, could it have been a mine? Also,
we hope to find more about his Rank, I believe a Serviceman or woman
who died should be honored as to who they were, Pvt, Clp. Sgt.,
General, they all had a rank and I think it is important on a Memorial
to say who a man was. Pvt. Sam Jones to me means he was a bit above
the people at home including me. We all wonder ‘Could I do what
Sgt. Clarence E. Petrie did? Rise above the call of duty to overwhelm
the enemy like he did, to risk your life so bravely so that others
may live and carry on the fight. Speaking of the Cold War, I think
I did up above; our Memorial will have a Granite Stone to honor
those of Butte County who died during that time. Seems we went from
the Cold War to the Gulf War with the Korean War and the Vietnam
War in between. Most existing Memorials throughout America do not
have this; soon newer ones will. Almost 70 years later The American
Legion Post 95 is still sending Boys to Boys State along with now
sending Girls to Girls State.
Goodbye George Kelly old friend.