The Dalles Daily Chronicle The Dalles, Oregon January 8, 1942 10 MEN SIGN UP FOR NAVY SERVICE, IN CEREMONY HERE Several Hundred Local Residents Present at Civic Auditorium With Lieutenant Commander Middleton of Portland delivering the oath, 10 young men from the Mid-Columbia area were sworn into the United States navy here yesterday morning in a solemn ceremony staged at the civic auditorium before an audience of several hundred persons. Time of the unique event coincided with similar mass inductions held throughout the entire United States and occurred exactly six months to the minute after the Japanese first attacked Pearl Harbor – 11:25 a.m. Pacific war time. Raising their right hands and repeating the oath after the lieutenant-commander, the 10 enlistees swore to bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America and to serve their country faithfully against all enemies, whomsoever they may be. Congratulations followed after which Middleton said: “You are entering what probably is the most important phase of your lives.” “Parents can take comfort in the fact,” he added, that “your sons are to be associated with the best of young American manhood.” The navy officer also cited the specialized training schools offered by the navy to all enlistees and declared that “the young men being sworn in today are faced with opportunities for advancement in special fields, the like of which never have been equaled.” Local Officer Speaks Congratulations also were extended by M. A. Tague, local recruiting officer, who assured all those in attendance that by September, 1942, he will have been with the navy 30 years and that “I have never regretted a day of it.” Prior to the administration of the oath, the Rev. Eugene R. Pickthorn, representing The Dalles Ministerial association, had made a brief address in which he asked his audience not to forget the spiritual and intellectual side of life which must be preserved after this war is over. The 10 enlistees were seated to the right of the auditorium stage while on the left were the Rev. Pickthorn, Recruitting Officer Tague and Lieutenant-Commander Middleton. At the rear sat uniformed representatives of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and their auxiliaries, as well as four members of the Oregon Women’s Ambulance corps, Dalles unit. The color guard was composed of members of Company I, Oregon State guard, while The Dalles City band, under the direction of F. Clyde Simpson, provided appropriate music for the affair. Those who were sworn in yesterday included the following: Chester G. Bansch and Vincent B. Martin, The Dalles; J. E. Van Beveren, Robert C. Croan, Scott Fortner, Robert V. Flint, Donald C. Frisbie and John Charles Hanna, all from Hood River (OR.); Ellis Monroe Bourland, Dufur (OR.), and Carroll C. Brewer, Arlington (OR). Earline, Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society http://community.oregonlive.com/cc/genealogy 78th Annual Wasco County Pioneer Association Reunion May 5 & 6, 2000 The Dalles, Oregon http://w3.gorge.net/dzopf/wcpa.htm 150th Anniversary of founding of Fort Dalles, May 20, 2000 For details telephone: 541-296-4547