May 16 2014

Oroville Mercury Register
December 1, 1951
Artillery Shell Wounds Biggs GI
A Biggs soldier, wounded seriously in Korea when a piece of shrapnel tore into his back, broke a rib and punctured a lung, has informed his parents by mail that he is “getting along okeh” in a hospital in Japan. Pfc. Floyd North, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard W. North of Biggs, was included on a casualty list released by the Department of Defense today. In a letter received by his parents this week, he stated that he is in a hospital in Osaka and is able to be up and around. Pfc. North, who has been in the army exactly one year and one week, told his parents he was wounded Nov. 8, just a few days after arriving in Korea. At the time he was wounded, he and two other men had just jumped into a foxhole when artillery shells started landing near them. Two of the men were wounded. Before going into the Army, North attended Biggs schools and worked with his father on their farm.

Oroville Mercury Register
September 20, 1946
Roy Gotthold, Civic Leader Of Biggs, Dies
Biggs- Funeral services for Roy C. Gotthold, Biggs high school teacher for 17 hears, were tentatively set today for Saturday at 2pm at the Biggs Community Church. If relatives do not arrive in time the arrangements may be changed. Mr. Gotthold died Wednesday evening at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oakland after treatment of several months. Present were his wife and his son, Donald. Miss Muriel Gotthold, a daughter, arrived in Biggs Thursday night from Los Angeles. Mr. Gotthold taught music, mathematics and science in the Biggs school. From 1943 to 1945 he did war work in Sacramento on leave of absence from the school. He was a veteran of World War I and held a second lieutenancy in the cavalry. He was an officer in the reserve corps. Mr. Gotthold was active in civic and lodge affairs. He was a 5 year committeeman in Butte’s Council of the Boy Scouts, was lay leader of the community church and secretary of Emmanuel Lodge No. 318, F. &.A. M. He was past patron of Lyman Chapter No. 363. O.E.S. Funeral arrangement are under direction of the Block Funeral Home.

Oroville Mercury Register
January 5, 1952
VETS NEED CAKES FOR G. I. DANCE
Charles Custer of Oroville, commander of the 12th District of the Disable American Veterans, was wondering today if there are “some kind-hearted women in town who might donate some cakes”. Custer is chairman for a dance the 12th DAV district is giving for the servicemen at Camp Beale Saturday night. He said Royne McGinnis and his orchestra have donated their services for dance music and several local amateurs will provide entertainment during the evening, but that his committee and the DAV Auxiliary need more cakes for refreshments. He said anyone wishing to donate a cake can leave it at Tom Couris’ clothing store at 2075 Bird Street any time before 6 pm Saturday. Custer said there also undoubtedly will be a need for girls as dancing partners at the dance to be held from 8-12 pm. In the camp’s field house under the direction of Capt. H. T. Powers, camp special service officer, and Miss Kay Illing, camp recreational director. Any young woman wishing to attend the dance has been requested to contact Custer at phone 7-W-3 after 6:30pm. He said Miss Illing has promised use of special camp buses in transporting any young women between Oroville and the camp. Custer, over-all chairman of the dance, is being assisted locally by Chester Sturgeon. He said that if this dance proves successful the DAV plans to sponsor other dances for the Camp Beale troops.

Stu’s Notes:
Well we had a great Feather Fiesta Day Parade as usual. And as usual the Department of Water Resources brings a big rig for us Dam Workers to ride. This year I was honored to ride up high on the rig with Clem Brown “Brownie”. He wore his WWII Army Air Corp uniform. All through the parade I kept hearing, “Brownie, Brownie”. People who didn’t even know him would stand up and salute and wave to him. For me it was quite a thrill to get to ride with him. Soon Clem, as I know him, will be 97 years old. He was an Electrician on the Oroville Dam working a lot in the underground areas, like the under ground Power house etc.

Times have sure changed, can you imagine rounding up our young women and sending them to a Military Base?

We had our final meeting on Memorial Day. We are ready for the two services, one at 11am at the Memorial Park Cemetery on Lincoln and another on the Green Bridge at 1:15 pm. On a sad note, many young people don’t seam to know that you should stand when the Honor Guard goes by at the start of the Parade. We need to educate our friends and family.