October 25, 2013

Oroville Mercury Register
September 3, 1953 (60 years ago)
News From Butte County Servicemen
With the 25th Infantry Div. in Korea- Pfc. Frank J. Horn, Jr., whose wife, Pauline and daughter live on Route 2, Oroville, Calif., is now undergoing post-truce training with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea. Horn, whose parents live in Palermo, Calif., arrived in Korea in April and is a rifleman in the 27th Regiment’s Company G. The 25th “Tropic Lightning” Division is constantly working to maintain and improve the high level of combat-readiness which it displayed throughout the Korean conflict. Veteran of more months of combat than any other American division in Korea, the 25th landed on the peninsula in July 1950, shortly after the Communist crossed the 38th parallel. Since that time it has never left the combat zone. (Stu - Heroes all those of the 25th.)

Oroville Mercury Register
September 3, 1953 (60 years ago)
Nation Will Pay Gen. Wainwright Highest Honors
San Antonio, Tex (UP)- The body of Gen Jonathan M. Wainwright (ret.) lay in state at Fort Sam Houston Chapel today as old comrades in arms, including President Eisenhower, mourned his death. The hero of Corregidor, known affectionately as “Skinny,” died yesterday at the age of 70, eight years to the day after the surrender of Japan, which he witnessed aboard the battleship Missouri. A blood vessel obstruction in the old soldier’s brain caused his death. Dramatic Figure President Eisenhower expressed “the deepest regret of the passing of my old friend.”. “With his death,” the President said, “another dramatic figure of World War II has passed from the current scene. But his example of courage, fortitude an unshakable patriotism, all exhibited in the face of the most discouraging conditions, will long be an inspiration to Americans and free men everywhere.” Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, Army Chief of Staff, said the nation “has lost one of its great soldiers.” Wainwright received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Those in attendance at the hospital said that his 39 months in Japanese captivity contributed to his general poor condition and his eventual death. Funeral Saturday. The body was to lie in state from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and tomorrow, with funeral services at 10 a.m. Saturday. Then the body will be transported to Washington for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. Wainwright was the man left behind to fight as long as he could in the Philippines in 1942, when the late President Roosevelt ordered Gen. Douglas MacArthur to Australia to prepare for counter attacks against the Japanese. His troops, almost without ammunition and living on the meat of their horses and pack mules, fought so long before surrender they were credited with upsetting the Japanese Pacific timetable and possibly preventing an invasion of Australia. MacArthur said he was “greatly distressed” at his companion’s death. Wainwright was born in Walla Walla, Aug. 23, 1883.

Stu’s Notes:
There will be a Veteran’s Day Celebration at First United Methodist Church of Oroville, 45 Acacia Ave. Oroville. Pastor and Retired Navy Chaplain, Dave Rieck, is planning a special celebration for our Veterans on November 10, 2013, at 10:30a.m. In addition to recognition of Veterans and their service, there will be a Chaplain’s display complete with a WWII Chaplain’s Jeep, tent and chaplain’s office setup. We would like to invite all veterans to come and enjoy the display and become a part of our recognition of their heroic and patriotic service to our country. The Heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, if there were any heroes of WWII, the men left there so far from home would be at the top of the list. They were abandoned, ill equipped, but what did they do? They fought on and as I’ve said in this column before, by their fighting and dying against an over whelming force they bought time for the American Forces to regroup and stop the Japanese cold, by May of 1942, way to the south of the pacific Ocean. I truly believe by their holding up so many Japanese that could have been sent down to Guadalcanal, our young soldiers fighting down there tooth and nail so close to being overrun, the tide of the Pacific War could have been changed and the Japanese might have taken Australia. It could easily have happened. I have no doubt that Americans would have prevailed but it would have been a major setback, and many more lives would have been lost. It seems sad to me that what they did is hardly known. The General who left them became famous or infamous, it depends on who you’re talking to. But my friend and a Hero of the Bataan Death March, Bob Wolfersberger was there and fought there and spent over 3 years a POW. In a talk that Bob gave one POW/MIA Recognition Day he told of his forgiveness to his captors and those responsible for his captivity. It was a very moving talk. You can read more about Bob on our website listed above.

Please remember the Veterans Day Parade, Monday, November 11, 2013, 11AM . You can call Bob Hewitt at 534-8393 or The Oroville Chamber of Commerce at 538-2542 for more information.