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March 6, 2015
Oroville Mercury Register
February 22, 1945 (70 Years Ago)
Iwo Battle Bloodiest In History of U. S. Marines, Japanese Counterattacks Slow Down Advance: Marines Determined Beaches Piled with Wreckage As Commander Declares Island Will Be Taken At All Costs

Admiral Nimitz’s Headquarters, Guam- (U.P.) – American Marines, pledge by their general to take Iwo regardless of the cost, fought through a downpour today toward the central airport of the island. Lt. Gen. Holland S. Smith, Marine Corps chief in the Pacific, said the invasion of Iwo was the most difficult problem the Leathernecks ever had faced. They are up against “a very tough proposition”. He said, but will capture the island no matter how high the price in blood. Smith was on the flagship of the supporting fleet. Oroville Mercury Register March 26, 1945. “Some Gave All” Golden Sitton Killed on Iwo Sgt. Golden Sitton, 20 son of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Sitton of Durham was killed in action on Iwo Jima on February 22, the fourth day of the invasion, according to information from the War Department. Sitton, a radioman with the Marines, entered the service in the early part of 1943 and recently became a sergeant. He attended public schools in Richvale and Durham and spent one semester at Chico State Teachers’ College before entering the Marines. Sitton, well known to many Oroville people through acquaintances made at Gold Lake Y Camp.(Stu- There is a picture of Golden Sitton in a big book of pictures of early Butte County at our Butte County Historical Society Museum on Spencer and Baldwin across from the Depot.) From the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Web Site Clifford Arlin Rhine, born December 31, 1924, Died March 2, 1945, Killed In Action, Iwo Jima, Service Branch Marine Corps, Rank, Corporal, Rating or Job, Radioman, Unit 5th Marine Division, Campaign, WWII, Iwo Jima, Military Citations, Purple Heart, Honors, Arlin Rhine Drive, (now Arlin Rhine Memorial Drive), Oroville, CA, Family sisters, Pamela Rhine Skogen and Jacquelyn Rhine Marshall. Notes; Arlin graduated honor man from Radio Operators School, having made the highest marks in his class. He also played in the Marine regimental bands. Sources, Oroville Mercury Register, March 31, 1945 and His Sisters.
(Stu- I went to the City Council years ago and they put “Memorial” in a new sign up there and of course a Gold Star.)

Oroville Mercury Register
March 31, 1948
San Bruno Services for Arlin Rhine

Services for Clifford Arlin Rhine, who was killed at Iwo Jima, were expected to be held at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno. Date for the services will not be determined until later. The bodies of the war dead will arrive in San Bruno about March 31 and arrangements will be made sometime after that. Arlin Rhine was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford J. Rhine of Oroville. He served with the Marine Corps.

Chico Enterprise Record
March 27, 1945
Capt. Fred Kendal Killed in Action

Captain Fred Kendal, 26, former Chico man, was killed on Iwo Jima March 10, according to a telegram received last night by King Price, his former employer. Captain Kendal was employed by Price at his local store and at his store at Klamath Falls. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.M Kendal, of Carlysle, Kentucky sent the telegram to Price. A member of the United State Marine Corps., Capt. Kendal was well known in Chico. He received his captaincy on November 30, 1944. He also received the Silver Star medal for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as executive offices of a Marine rifle company on Saipan.
(Stu- Sadly Capitan Fred Kendal’s luck ran out. He must have been a true leader of his men, up front and taking all the risks. The Silver Star is, I think, the 2nd highest medal that we have for Soldiers.)

Stu’s Notes:
Next week I will have the names of three more men from Butte County that died on Iwo Jima.