Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Gen. Somervell Visits Benicia (Aug. 12, 1943) (Editor’s note: This article originally contained a pejorative term commonly used to describe Japanese and Japanese-Americans at the time. That term will not be reprinted here.) Lieutenant General Brehon B. Somervell, who heads the Army Service Forces, made a brief inspection […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of May 6, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Record Crowd Will Attend Victory Dinner Wednesday (May 6, 1943) The Victory Dinner scheduled for next Wednesday evening, May 12 at Spenger’s Fish Grotto promises to fulfill and exceed all expectations for the sale of bonds, the primary reason for the dinner. Already a large number of tickets […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of March 18, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Local Women Broadcast In Victory Program (March 18, 1943) Mrs. Madeline Quandt was one of four women to assist in a broadcast held recently in San Francisco over Station KWIB on a program arranged by Lt. Knight. Benicia Arsenal, in the interest of presenting the war effort of […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of March 7, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Former Benicia Boy Is Awarded Purple Heart Decoration (March 11, 1943) Lloyd M. Morris, former Benicia boy and brother of Mrs. Joe Silveria, has been awarded the Purple Heart Army decoration, the first Coast Guardsman in history to receive that award. Morris, who is 24 years of age, […]
Bob Hitchcock, Benicia World War II veteran, dies at 94
(This article has been updated from the print edition.) Robert Hitchcock, a Benicia resident who served on 32 missions over Europe during World War II, died in his sleep Jan. 30. He was 94. Hitchcock was born in Concord in 1923. His cousin was Jimmy Doolittle, the Alameda-born aviator and Reserve officer known for leading […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald Headlines for the week of Oct. 29, 1942, 1967 and 1992
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago War Chest Drive To Start November 9; 10,930 Needed (Oct. 29, 1942) In order to eliminate continual campaigns for funds for worthy organizations in Benicia it has been decided to solicit $10,930 from our people to be distributed to the Salvation Army, Benicia Women’s Club, Benicia Recreation Center, […]
William S. Emes: In tribute to Lieutenant Col. Joseph Bruggman, a Benicia resident
By William S. Emes, Jr. Special to the Herald As we know, on Aug. 6, 1945 at 8:15 – 43 seconds a.m. local time, an atomic bomb was detonated in the atmosphere as a weapon. Hiroshima, a city in the Imperial Nation of Japan, was destroyed at the command of an American president. In truth, […]
USS Indianapolis survivor pleased about cruiser’s discovery
Harold Bray of Benicia was one of 1,196 men aboard the USS Indianapolis when it was struck by a Japanese submarine in 1945 and one of only 317 to make it out alive after the cruiser sunk. He is one of only 22 survivors alive today. The location of the wreckage of the cruiser remained […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines from the week of July 30, 1942, 1967 and 1992
75 years ago Benicia Prepares For Big “Scrap Metal” Drive (July 30, 1942) Saturday will be the day that all Benicians can help the war effort in a big way. Don’t wait until the last minute to collect all your scrap metal. Let’s make it as easy as we can on the men who collect […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines from the week of June 15, 1942, 1967 and 1992
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Victory Pledge to Start Friday (June 18, 1942) Culminating preliminary plans whic have been already mapped out for the Victory Pledge Drive for War Bonds and Stamps, the final meeting will be held tonight at 8 o’clock in the City Hall to assign districts to the canvassers in […]