March 18, 2016

OROVILLE MERCURY REGISTER
July 18, 1953
News From Oroville’s Men and Women In U. S. Armed Forces
Two more feminine members of the 1952 graduating class at Oroville Union High School have entered the service, it was learned here today. The local Marine Corps recruiting office announced that it has been informed of the acceptance o Miss Jessie R. Chance and Miss Dolly I. Katzer into the USMC at San Francisco. The girls now are on their way to Parris Island, S. C., where they will undergo basic training. Miss Katzer is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Katzer of Second street Thermalito, Miss Chance is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Chance of Spiro, Okla., but has been living here with her brother, Ed Chance, of Nelson avenue Thermalito, while attending high school. Earlier this month, Miss Pat Biffle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Biffle o Route 5, and Miss Donna Beardsley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Beardsley of Montgomery street enlisted in the Women’s Air Force and are now in training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Miss Chance was interested in art work in high school, winning an award for her entry in an American Poppy poster contest, and she hopes to do either art work or drafting in the Marines. Miss Katzer would like to become a radio technician.

Seamen Apprentice Leroy Laswell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Leswell of Oak Park drive, Oroville, is serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Bataan in Korean waters Leroy entered the Navy in December and joined the crew of the Bataan three months ago following recruit training at San Diego.
( Stu- The USS Bataan, I would think is named after the Bataan Death March, early in WWII.)

Donald Otis Stevens,19, son of Clarence E. Stevens, Route 2, Oroville, has enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. according to M/Sgt. J. W. Jones, the local Marine Corps Recruiter. Stevens, a recent student of Oroville Union High School, enlisted for a period of three years He is presently receiving his recruit training at the Marine Corps Depot at San Diego, California. Upon completion of his recruit training Stevens will report to one of the many Marine Corps schools or to one of the various Marine Corps units throughout the world.

Oroville Mercury Register
October 4, 1952
Army Chaplain Wins High Heroism Award
Indiantown Gap, Pa. (UP)- Col. John K Connelly, an Army chaplain who talked a trainee out of a suicide attempt here last July, today received the Army’s highest no-combat award for his heroism. The soldier’s medal was presented to the Catholic chaplain at ceremonies on Muir Field. Father Connelly, a native of Sacramento, Calif., mounted the top of a 124-foot water tank when the soldier threatened to leap, and succeeded in bringing him down.

Oroville Mercury Register
May 23, 1945
Local Boys Proud of Their Outfit
Oroville boys who are with the 12th Armored Division on the western front, which spearheaded General Patton’s thrust into Germany, feel that their outfit hasn’t been given the publicity due it. This division was known as the mystery division, since it was one of the new units taking part in the gigantic push that could not be mentioned by name for security reasons. Among the Oroville boys known to be with it are Sgt. Douglas Post, Pfc. Jerry Huntington and Sgt George Barnett. They have written to friends sending a description of the 12th’s activities. Borrowed from the Seventh Army to augment Patton’s thrust into Germany, the 12th Armored Division led the Third Army drive to the Rhine cities of Ludwigshafen, Speyer and Germersheim, under the command of Maj. Gen Roderick R. Allen The Hellcat Division, as it is called, during the week of March 16 to 25, took dozens of towns, captured approximately 6000 prisoners and disarmed half as many more. In one day, March 19, the Hellcats capture 2500 prisoners, three ammunition dumps a regimental supply train 400 horses and 700 trucks and wagons, and an enemy hospital with patients and equipment still intact.

Stu’s Notes:
The three local men were proud of their outfit. We of Oroville and America should be pretty proud of what they did serving site the 12th Army Division I don’t think I recall writing about this story. If anyone knows more let me know.