September 7, 2012

The Chico Record-Your Independent Newspaper-Serving All of Butte County
Thursday Morning, May 3, 1945
Nazis in Italy Surrender, German Collapse Expected Hourly (Newspaper’s Headline.)
Tyler Awards Medals
Lt. Davis’ Medal Awarded His Wife. The entire personnel of Chico Army Air Field participated in a formal retreat parade yesterday afternoon as Mrs. Dorothy M. Davis (and Mrs. Peterson) received medals awarded their husbands. As Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Peterson were presented to Col. A. W. Tyer, commanding officer of CAAF, the troops were brought to “Present Arms” and the National Anthem played. Following the reading of the citations directing award of the decorations, Colonel Tyer made the presentations. Mrs. Davis received the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters her husband, 1st Lt. Robert W. Davis, for participating in sustained bomber combat operations over Germany and in enemy occupied Europe. Lieutenant Davis was first pilot of a B-17 and was killed in action Nov. 9, 1944. The Air Medal was presented to Mrs. Peterson, whose husband, Capt. George S. Peterson, is listed as missing in action. Captain Peterson was awarded the decoration for flying 150 hours as an Air Transport Command pilot on the Assam-China run.

Social, Club and Lodge News
Edited by Rita Clifford Cartwright- Phone 1233
Marie Christ and Gunter Vieck to Wed On Saturday Wedding vows will be exchanged Saturday evening at 8 o’clock at the First Christian Church by Miss Marie Christ and Gunter Vieck, well-known Chico couple. Rev. Henry Searle will officiate during the ceremonies. The young bride-to-be is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Christ of Hazel St. The charming young girl was born in Java in the Dutch East Indies and came to Chico when she was four years of age. She attended Chico schools, graduating from Chico High School in 1944, and studied for a time at Chico State College. While in high school she was active in the Senior and Junior Hi-Y, the Pan American club, and dramatics. She has also participated in the affairs of the young people’s group of the Christian Church f or several years. The future benedict is from Tampa, Fla., originally but is now residing on Salem St., where the young couple will make their home. He entered the Army in 1940 and was stationed at Chico Army Air Field when it first opened as a part of the Military Police force. After a short sojourn here he was transferred to another field. Upon his discharge from the armed forces in 1943 he returned to Chico and is now a member of the city police force. Miss Roselene McVeigh of Sacramento will be maid of honor for the ceremony and Misses Bessie Billick and Elva Daniels of San Francisco will be bridesmaids. The bride-to-be will be given in marriage by her father, William Christ. The best man will be Sgt. John Tuttle of CAAF, Miss Grace Best will light the candles, Mrs. William Hibler, accompanied by Miss Bette Nielsen, will sing during the rites and Mrs. Pansy Laughlin will play the wedding marches on the church organ. The couple will take a short honeymoon to an unidentified location before establishing their residence in Chico.

Capt. Clare Tallman, CAAF Chaplain, Off For Geiger Field
Captain Clare E. Tallman, post chaplain at Chico Army Air Field, left yesterday for a new assignment at Geiger Field, Spokane, Wash. Stationed at CAAF since May 21, 1944, Chaplain Tallman was popular both at the field and in the city of Chico. He was commissioned August 13, 1943, attended the Chaplains’ School at Harvard University and reported to CAAF from Tonopah, Nev., Army Air Field. At Greiger Field, he will be assigned to an Aviation Engineer unit. Chaplain Tallman’s home is Monte Vista, Colo., and at the time he came into the Army he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Monte Vista.

Stu’s Notes: The above story about 1st Lt. Robert W. Davis and Capt. George S. Peterson were given to me in an old newspaper by Oroville’s Buzz Huntington. He had these and thought I would like them. I sure do, these are the first Chico Record’s I have had. I wonder why those two wives received those medals so I remembered I had found a plaque on the Chico State Campus of WWII men who died, my next move was to go to Daryl’s wonderful web site. Sure enough there was a George Sutton Peterson listed on the Chico Honor Roll. So now we know a little more about that young hero, who had passed through Chico on his way to war. MIA, I wonder if he was ever found. I could not find any thing about 1st Lt. Robert W. Davis. I urge my readers, if you know people in Chico please pass this story on to them. We need to know more about these heroes who gave their lives for us so long ago. As I have said before many men passed through our Butte County in WWII and many a young girl fell in love with them and married. The search goes on; we need help in finding out a little about every man on our list. Don’t forget POW/MIA at 7:00PM, Friday, September 21, 2012 on the steps of the Veterans Memorial Building on Montgomery Street . Also, the Motorcycle Poker Run the following morning beginning at Feather Falls Casino 7AM-11AM is Registration. $25 Singles - $15 Passenger, 8:30 Poker Run 4pm-5pm Awards. For more information please contact James Townsend www.pjtownsend@att.net or call (530) 589-5748