August 23, 2013

Oroville Mercury Register
July 2, 1951
News From Oroville Men In The Service
S.-Sgt. Robert J. Dolby, U. S. Marine Corps, brother of Mrs. Rachel Milton, Route 4, Oroville, is now in Oroville after being discharged from the Marine Corps under the Reserve discharge program. Dolby is the first Marine from the Oroville area to be discharged under the new program of releasing reserves who were veterans of World War II. Dolby was called t o active duty with the Marine Corps on July 29, 1950, and was assigned duty with the 1st Marine Division in Korea in August. Serving as a tank commander, Dolby participated in the landing at Inchon, the battles of Wonson and Chosin Reservoir, and fought with the Marines in the drive to the sea from the reservoir to Hanghum when the American troops were evacuating North Korea. Dolby left Korea in April, 1951, and has since been stationed at the Marine Corps training base Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Calif. During World War II, Sgt. Dolby served with the Second Marine Division and participated in the landings on Tulagi, Guadalcanal, and Iwo Jima, and was in the force that occupied Japan at the end of the war. Dolby is residing with his sister and is looking for a job in the Oroville area.

Stu - Now we civilians just can’t imagine what a Combat man goes through and to come home to an ordinary job.

S-Sgt. Clyde Aul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Aul, Bangor, reported to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., for duty last week. Sergeant Aul is a veteran of World War II, and served in Europe with the 320th Bomb Group, as a gunner. He has a total of 49 combat and submarine patrol missions. He attended the University of Florida prior to being recalled to duty. Sergeant Aul is assigned to the 305th Bombardment Wing medium.

Earl A. Anderson, seaman apprentice, USN, of Rout 2, Oroville, has returned to San Diego, aboard the attack transport USS Bayfield after nine months’ combat duty in Korean waters. The Bayfield left San Diego September 1, last year, for duty in the Far East. The ship, which was flagship of Transport Squadron One, participated in the amphibious assault landing at Inchon in September and at Wonsan a month later. She also took part in the redeployment of United Nations troops from Chinnampo and Hungnam.

Wilbur L. Winland, chief hospital corpsman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Marenger of Route 3, Paradise, and husband of Mrs. Marjorie A. Winland of San Diego, is serving aboard the destroyer USS Buck in the Far East.

Alfred and Bill Webb, sons of Mrs. Glenn Harrison of Route 1, Oroville, are now undergoing training in the U. S. Navy and Army, respectively. Nineteen-year-old Alfred, a former Oroville Union High School student, has been in Honolulu receiving infantry basic training. During the four short months that he has been in the service, Alfred has already won a prize in the company for making the best score firing the carbine rifle. Bill, 17, also a former Oroville Union High School student, joined the Navy in April and is going through the intricacies of “boot” camp at San Diego.

McElhaney and Bills
After nearly a year of operating against enemy forces in Korea, Kenneth R. McElhaney, seaman apprentice, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. McElhaney of Palermo, and Robert G. Bills, seaman apprentice USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman G. Bills, Third Street Oroville, have recently returned to the United States aboard the light cruiser USS Manchester. In supporting UN ground forces in Korea, the cruiser fired the greatest number of rounds of ammunition fired by any Allied warship in the campaign. Following one attack she was credited with more than 5000 enemy troop casualties. During its time in the combat zone, the Manchester participated in every major UN amphibious operation as well as the Naval shore bombardments of more that a dozen coastal cities, several of which were within a few miles of the Siberian border.

Stu’s Notes:
Unbelievable what our government asked of a man, to go into battle in two wars and to be in the most terrible of battles over and over, oh I forgot, that’s what a Marine does. Their life is often “Above and Beyond. I was 10 years old in Oroville when S-Sgt. Robert J Dolby was here, I would sure like to find the rest of the story of this hero of America. I wonder if we ever passed by in the day, I usually had to be in by dark so I’ll say Day. And how about S-Sgt. Clyde Aul on 49 combat missions in WWII, many never survived nearly that many. It seems to me after nearly a year as a seaman apprentice operating against enemy forces, Kenneth R. McElhaney and Robert G. Bills would become journeymen, or I guess its called Seamen 1st Class, same goes for Seaman Apprentice Earl A. Anderson. There was a police man in Oroville, Officer McElhaney, I wonder if they are the same man.