April 26, 2013

WELCOME HOME DINNER
by John Archibald
On Saturday, April 6th the Army National Guard 2668th Transportation Company was welcomed home by Oroville Veterans of foreign wars Post 1747. The event took place in the evening at the VFW Club facility located at 1901 Elgin St. in Oroville. Guest speaker Butte County District 1 Supervisor Bill Connelly welcomed them home recognizing and thanking them for the sacrifices many of them have repeatedly made over the years while being deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq. Post Commander John Archibald made it clear that the VFW is there for them and the doors of the elite organization which only combat veterans can belong to will always be proudly open to them. The Men's Auxiliary and Johnny's Texas Style BBQ put together a wonderful Tri-Tip & chicken dinner for the guests and throughout the evening music and Karaoke was provided by Dennis and his lovely wife, Ladies Auxiliary member Marcia Garrett. Club manager Dana Vaughan and volunteer Bar tender Susie Garcia manned the bar making sure no one went thirsty and helped Men's Auxiliary President Paul Wright and Vice president Steve McMain with the food and other needs. In all around 170 people attended including officers and members of Post 1747 and its Auxiliaries and guest from throughout the community along with District Commander John Bump and other District 18 VFW Post officers and members, officers and members of American Legion Post 95 including Commander Ron Scharbor, members and officers of the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee including its Co-Chairman Bill Connelly and Stu Shaner, Co- Chairman and VFW Men's Auxiliary member, along with his daughter Staff Sgt. Retired Deborah Shaner, who has recently retired after completing a distinguished carrier in which she received numerous combat awards while serving in Iraq in 2003-2004 with the Oroville Det. I Co. A297 SPT Battalion . With generous donations from the National Military Assistance program, members of VFW District 18, Commander Brad Fridrich and the members of VFW Post 9602, VFW Post 1747 and members of our community including Buzz Huntington, Bill Connelly, Men's Auxiliary Jr. Vice President James King , Wal-Mart and Raley’s and through the efforts of SFC James Martens of the 2668th and Post Commander John Archibald who worked together for over a year and a half to put the event together and those who participated it was a memorable and successful event for all. Welcome home Army 2668th.

Mercury-Register
December 28, 1943
Social and Club News
Ensign Joseph Cooper Accompanied by Bride To New Assignment
Reporting for duty Dec. 15, at Atlanta, Ga., Ensign Joseph Welles Cooper Jr., was accompanied there by his bride, the former Gwen Swanberg of Berkeley. The young couple were married Dec. 4, at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley G. Swanberg of Berkeley. Cooper, the son of Mrs. And Mrs. Joseph W. Cooper of Pentz, received his Naval Reserve Air Corps Wings and ensign’s commission at Corpus Christi, Tex., just prior to the wedding.

Miss Ruth Kister Joins U. S. Marines
Miss Ruth Kister, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilton Kister of Union District, Oroville, was recently sworn in as a member of the U. S. Marine Corp. She will leave about Feb. 1, to begin training at New River, N. C. Miss Kister is a graduate of Oroville High School and Yuba Junior College. Prior to her enlistment she was employed in the office of the U. S. Engineers, Sacramento.

Mercury Register
December 28, 1943
17-Year-Old Boy Out For Revenge
Los Angeles-(UP)- After a two-year wait, William Edward Rhodes, 17-year-old descendant of “empire builder” Cecil Rhodes, was scheduled to arrive today to enlist in the U. S. Navy. Rhodes, a Pan-American Airways employee in Mexico City, was only 15 years old when a cousin was killed at Pearl Harbor and had to wait two years to start paying off what he calls “a personal debt.” Though Mexican-born, young Rhodes was naturalized when he was two years old and attended Michigan schools for six years.

Stu’s Notes:
John Archibald worked extremely hard to put the above home coming party together. It was an overwhelming success. Debbie knew most of the returning soldiers as she had trained to go with them, but it was not to be. There were hugs all over that night and a few tears. I’m so glad they all came home. They all looked so young and proud of their job. When you look at their faces you realize these are the faces of those throughout our history that didn’t come home and stayed “Forever Young.” Thank you everyone, John it could not have been done without you. Stu’s Notes; John Archibald worked extremely hard to put the above home coming party together. It was an overwhelming success. Debbie knew most of the returning soldiers as she had trained to go with them, but it was not to be. There were hugs all over that night and a few tears. I’m so glad they all came home. They all looked so young and proud of their job. When you look at their faces you realize these are the faces of those throughout our history that didn’t come home and stayed “Forever Young.” Thank you everyone. John, it could not have been done without you.