Prelude to the Viet Nam War
Oroville Mercury Register
March 27,
1961
SEATO Okays Laos Action
By Earnest Hoberecht
Bangkok, Thailand (UPI) – The southeast Asia
Treaty Organization nations were reported agreed today to take military
steps if necessary to keep the Communists from taking over Laos.
Informed sources said France was the only one which showed reservations
about the possible use of force in a joint SEATO action in Laos
if the Soviet Union does not agree to an immediate cease fire there.
However, an editorial in the Soviet Communist newspaper, Pravda,
indicated the Russians were ready to end the Laotian crisis peaceably.
Press reports quoted Pravda as saying the Russians favor “peace
talks.”
Oroville Mercury Register
March 27,
1961
Kennedy’s Policy On Laos Gets Bi-Partisan Support
Washington (UPI) - President Kennedy had more bipartisan support
in Congress today for his Laos policy . New statements backing
the President in the crisis came from Sens. J. William
Fulbright, D-Ark,. Hugh Scott, R-Pa., Jacob K. Javits, R-NY., and
Alexander Wiley, R-Wis. Fulbright, chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, said he would support Kennedy even
if he might have some personal question about any action the President
decided to take in the critical situation. Scott and Javits
endorsed the dispatch of troops into the area as part of an Allied
force if they are needed to halt Communist aggression. They
said the United States should act with other SEATO nations.Scott said he was “in favor of doing anything,
anything, including the use of force if necessary to stop Communist
aggression.” “I hope we do not have to send troops,” he said
“but if we do have to send troops as the only way to stop the loss
of one more country to Communists, then I will support the President’s
decision to do it.”
Oroville Mercury Register
March 27,
1961
U.S. Believes Reds Downed Missing Plane
Washington (UPI)- An American military transport
plane missing in Laos since Thursday was apparently shot down deep
in Communist-held territory, officials said today. The C47
transport plane with eight persons aboard belonged to the office
of the air attaché at the American Embassy in Vientiane. Officials
said there was no evidence whether any of the Americans survived.
They said it would be difficult for survivors to get out of the
rebel-held territory. (Stu- probably the first of 58,000 to die)
Oroville Mercury Register
April 5, 1961
Local People in the Armed Forces
Western Pacific- Robert E. Tooley, storekeeper
seaman, U. S. N., son of Mrs. W. E. Tooley of Gawthorne Ave., Oroville
is serving aboard the destroyer USS Buck operating with the Seventh
Fleet in the Western Pacific. The ship is scheduled to visit
Midway Island, Hawaii, and Japan during its extended cruise.
At least four local men are taking part
in a large U. S. Pacific fleet exercise this spring. The men are
Gary R. Pippitt, seaman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross A Pippitt
of Biggs; Edward J. Stewart, airman apprentice, USN, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Nathan Stewart, Elgin St. Marine Cpl. James
L. Shipe, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Shipe, Tehama Ave. Barry
Harwell, firemen apprentice USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Grady M. Harwell,
Baldwin Ave. Pippitt, Stewart and Harwell are serving aboard
the USS Yorktown, and anti submarine warfare support aircraft carries.
Shipe is serving with the First Marine Brigade in Hawaii.
The exercise will involve more that 50,000 men, 150 ships and 300
airplanes.
Stu’s Notes: The 1960’s were some pretty
scary times, especially if you read the newspaper, of course the
big threat was as in the 50’s and 60’s Nuclear war.
Yet our young men and women signed up, joined up and bravely went
away to an unknown future. I graduated and knew 2 of the above
men, Bob Tooley and Jim Shipe, Oroville High Class of 1958.
Well, after being down in the dumps after
the loss of our PIC Funds, things look a little better now.
At last night’s (Monday), Veterans Memorial Meeting, Supervisor
and Co-Chairman Bill Connelly, cheered up the group by announcing
that we are still in the running for funds we worked on for a long
time. Our group learned a long time ago that close to getting
funds is not good enough, using the old saying, “Close is only good
in horse shoes and hand grenades”. Wow first time I’ve heard
that in a long time. We’ve had so many ups and downs over
the last 10 years but we all know we are going to end on a big up
someday. Committee member Darby Miller, our own WWII and Korean
War Veteran is getting well known in the political circles around
this North State, says Bill Connelly. Darby has been
writing letters for years chasing after the elusive different grants
and funds that are out there. Darby is not well so say a prayer
or two for him. He saw so much sadness in the terrible places
he served and to this day he breaks up when we talk about it.