April 10, 2015

Oroville Mercury Register
September 13, 1945
Service Corner
PFC. Laurence Woolery On 30-Day Furlough
Pfc. Laurence Woolery is spending his 30-day furlough from the U. S. Army at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Woolery in Thermalito. Pfc. Woolery was on the Queen Elizabeth when she docked in New York, September 1, and arrived in Oroville last Saturday. He entered the army in April 1944, and is entitled to wear an overseas bar, combat infantry bar, European Theatre of Operations bar, three bronze stars, a good conduct ribbon and the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart was awarded Pfc. Woolery after he was wounded in the leg by a sniper’s bullet in Germany on April 13, 1945. After his furlough he will report to Fort McArthur for further assignment. (Stu- Quite an impressive amount of awards.)

CPL. Theron Edwards Writes from Tokyo Bay
Mrs. Mable Edwards has received a letter from her son, Cpl. Theron F. Edwards from Tokyo Bay with a Tokyo, Japan postmark. Edwards is with the 4th Marines who were chosen to represent the Marine Corps in the landing on Japan. Cpl. Edwards’ letter, which was written on Japanese writing paper, reads in part: “When we first entered the vicinity of Japan we anchored in Sagami bay for two days. Then we came on into Yakasuka naval base. Coming into the harbor we saw Mt. Fujiyama in the distance. It was sort of like a dream. I thought about the times back in school when we read about and saw Mt. Fujiyama in a book. I didn’t dream I’d ever really see it. Being here is a thrill. I hope before we leave that I will have a chance to go up to Tokyo. There is a train running there every day and it only takes about an hour.” He was on Guam when the news of the war’s end was first reported. His mother lives on High Street. (Stu- The Bombs ended the need to landing on Japan in the invasion planned for, Nov. 1st, 1945. 100,000’s of lives were saved on both sides, maybe one million.)

POW Since December ’41 To Be Home For Birthday
Mrs. Frank Good received word yesterday that her cousin, Ensign Benson Hugh Mellon, U. S. N. R., who has been a prisoner of war since December, 1941, has been rescued and is safe and is on his way home. Two days after Pearl Harbor, Mellon was taken prisoner on Guam, where he had been stationed prior to the war. He was taken to a prison camp at Ventsuji and later to Hiroshima camp from which he was released. He sent a cable to his mother, Mrs. Charles Bob, of San Francisco, and said he expected to be home in time for his birthday, Sept. 24. (Stu- Unlucky to be on Guam at the start of WWII, lucky to survive the Atomic Bomb at Hiroshima.)

PFC. Louis J. Peterson Expects Discharge Soon
Pfc. Louis John Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Clemo of Berry Creek, has been visiting his parents. He has finished his pre-medical training with the Army Specialist Training Program and is being discharged from the Army. When his discharge is completed he plans to go to the Western Reserve Medical school in Cleveland, O., to continue the study of medicine.

Stu’s Notes:
70 years ago, April 1, 1945, Easter Sunday, was the start of the last big battle in the Pacific Theater, Okinawa. Butte County men did there. Their names are on our website; thank you Daryl. More on Okinawa in the next few weeks.

Under the guidance of Sherry Morehouse we have already had 3 meeting on our up coming Memorial Day Services. The combined ages of our Committee add up to “OLD!” Someday if Memorial Day as we know it in Oroville goes on we will need young blood.

Wine Tasting Come support the Veterans Memorial Park with Grape Friends Table Mountain Golf Course Present another “Hand in Hand” Enjoy 10 great Red & White Wine varieties, Gourmet Cheese Samples from our Deli Dept., Wine Raffle Prizes, MEGA raffle tickets also available for S.F. Giants Getaway. Cost: $10 per Person for 6 tickets good for 2oz. Sample per ticket, Friday April 17th 5-9pm, Table Mountain Golf Club, 2700 Oro Dam Blvd. Contact Mike at Grocery outlet for more Info 534-3940.