February 5, 2016

More From the Scrapbook 1943-1944
Bill King Now A Captain In Ordnance Department
Bill King of Pulga is now Capt. William Henry King in the ordnance department of the U. S. A. Stationed at Hawaii. He is pictured here with his young son, William Henry King III. The picture was taken a year ago. King was in the National Guard before the war broke out, with units in Sacramento and then in Berkeley. He was a second lieutenant at the outbreak of the war.

Luther C. Johnson Works On Airplanes In Ireland
Luther C. Johnson, a civilian employee of the Lockheed Overseas Corp. is installing armament on bombers that will participate in the blasting of Germany. A photograph showing Johnson and other employees working on a bomber appeared recently in a copy of the Stars and Stripes, daily newspaper of the U. S. Armed Forces in the European theatre of operations. Johnson wrote to his wife, Marian Johnson, formerly a nurses’ aide at the county hospital, saying that he was rationed to one egg a month, and that he’d like to see a Hudson bomber come over, loaded with chocolate almond bars.
(Stu- Although not a service man, maybe 4F, he was serving his country.)

Don Lund Appointed Naval Drum Major
Ensign Don Lund of the U. S. naval reserve, who is training at the University of Arizona, has been appointed drum major of the band at the naval training station. Lund was drum major for the fireman’s band in Oroville, and at Chico State College while attending school there. Later he was one of the twirlers for the University of California band.

James W. Moutoux Gets Bars of Lieutenant
James W. Moutoux, grandson of Mrs. Frances Sullivan, Downer Street, and nephew of Mrs. George H. Newmon, Orange Avenue was graduated from Luke Field, Phoenix, Ariz., April 12. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the U. S. Army Air Corps. Lt. Moutoux, a native of Oroville was graduated from Saint Vincent school in Vallejo. He attended Sacramento Junior College for one year, where he specialized in aviation construction. He passed his civil aviation examination in Auburn Sept. 13, 1940, while attending the Placer junior college. When war was declared he was working for Lockheed, but resigned to join the air corps as a cadet.

Gaylord Arrives Safely At Destination In Pacific
William H. Gaylord, pharmacists mate, first class has arrived at his destination as a member of a marine outfit, presumably in the Pacific according to a letter received by his wife. Gaylord, who served in the First World War, wrote: “Rumors around here are a dime a dozen as to what it’s all about. Just about the time a person gets ready to believe one, another pops up. The only difference I can find with in this war and the last one is that they are bigger and better in this one.” He asked that his wife use V-mail in writing to him, adding that a V-mail will get to him much more quickly than ordinary mail.

W.M. Meaton Finishes Primary Flight Course
William Meaton, 21, son of Mrs. Lela Tegrunde, Center Street, Oroville, has just completed the army’s primary flight training course at Thunderbird Field, Glendale, Ariz., with the rank of sergeant. Meaton was graduated from Sequoia Union High School at Redwood City and attended San Jose State College before entering the service. He has had 62 hours flying experience. Ambrose Qualifies As Sharpshooter Private Raymond D. Ambrose, stationed at Camp White, Ore., visited in Oroville recently with his sister Mrs. Myrtle Overstreet. Ambrose has completed his basic training as a sharpshooter in the U. S. Army. He has been in the service for several months.

From Looking Back March 7, 2003, Oroville Mercury Register February 21, 1945
Ambrose Gets Nazi Sniper With The Fifth Army Italy
Pfc. Raymond D. Ambrose of Oroville, Calif., killed a German sniper on his first day in combat on the Fifth Army front in Italy. Ambrose who fights with Company G. 363rd Infantry Regiment of the 91st “Powder River” Division had taken over the duties of an automatic rifleman who had been wounded by a sniper. The German’s bullets clipped his entrenching tool from his belt as he picked up the rifle and took cover. “From behind a rock I saw the sniper,” said, Ambrose, “I waited until I got him in my line of fire and then I let him have it.” Pfc. Ambrose, 36 is the son of Mrs. Iva Ambrose of Elgin St. and the brother of Mrs. Jim S. Overstreet of C street. He went into the service from Tracy where he was employed in a vegetable packing shed. Prior to that he worked at the Feather River Pine Mills and for Omer Caughey. Ambrose is a native of Missouri.

Stu’s Notes:
Pfc. Raymond Ambrose did put his Sharps shooter qualification to work!