Obie Wickersham (left), a 101-year-old prisoner of war survivor and veteran, stands with fellow veteran and former POW Mike O’Connor beneath the POW/MIA Bridge sign in Marysville on March 3. Wickersham made the trip from Chico to see the memorial after illness prevented him from attending the original dedication ceremony in February.

 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Obie Wickersham will turn 101 years old on March 18, a milestone that comes more than seven decades after the California veteran survived 28 months as a prisoner of war in Korea.

Earlier this month, the Chico resident made a special trip to Marysville to see the newly dedicated POW/MIA Bridge, a memorial honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action. Wickersham had originally planned to attend the Feb. 20 dedication ceremony renaming the 10th Street Bridge connecting Marysville and Yuba City, but illness prevented him from making the trip. Less than two weeks later, a small group of friends, many of them fellow veterans and Kiwanis members, organized another gathering so Wickersham could still see the memorial and take part in the moment.

“He had really wanted to be there so I’m glad we were able to do this for him,” said Don Schrader, a friend of Wickersham, veteran and former runner of the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors in Marysville.

Obie Wickersham (right) signs a commemorative plaque March 3 in Marysville alongside fellow veteran and former POW Mike O’Connor. The plaque will be mounted behind the new POW/MIA Bridge sign honoring prisoners of war and service members missing in action.

The group, including Schrader, Yuba City Mayor Marc Boomgaarden, Brock Bowen, Mike O’Connor, Gill Stresser and Mike Kunsman, gathered Tuesday, March 3, on the Marysville side of the bridge. There, Wickersham signed a commemorative plaque that will later be mounted behind the new POW/MIA Bridge sign.

Originally born in 1925 in Hoyt, Oklahoma, Wickersham moved to California with his family around the age of 12, leaving Oklahoma during the hardships of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The family settled in Sutter County, where Wickersham worked in his uncle’s peach orchards before graduating high school and entering military service.

Wickersham joined the U.S. Army during World War II and trained as a paratrooper, serving with the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division. During the war he saw combat across Europe, including major campaigns such as Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

Gill Stresser (left) embraces Obie Wickersham (center) as he arrives March 3 to visit the newly designated POW/MIA Bridge in Marysville. Friends and fellow veterans organized the visit after Wickersham was unable to attend the Feb. 20 dedication ceremony due to illness.

Following World War II, Wickersham returned briefly to civilian life before being called back into service when North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. While serving with the 30th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War, Wickersham’s unit was overrun in May 1951 and he was captured by Chinese forces. He spent the next 28 months imprisoned in a North Korean POW camp, surviving harsh conditions, disease and repeated attempts by captors to force prisoners to renounce their country before being released in 1953.

Today, Wickersham remains a staunch supporter of the veteran community, participating in parades, ceremonies and fundraisers while advocating for memorials and patriotic displays throughout the region.

“This really brought his spirits up to come down and see the sign and see some other veterans,” said Stresser. “It’s always good for him to get out.”

From left, Mike O’Connor, Brock Bowen, Obie Wickersham and Yuba City Mayor Marc Boomgaarden pose for a photo March 3 near the newly designated POW/MIA Bridge in Marysville. Wickersham, a Korean War prisoner of war survivor who will turn 101 this month, visited the memorial after missing the original dedication ceremony.

“He’s done a lot for our country and our community, so being able to give back like this to him is important,” added Boomgaarden.

The day was bright and sunny and Wickersham arrived in good spirits. After signing the plaque, he walked up the bridge to view the newly installed sign and pose for photos alongside fellow veterans.

“It's beautiful,” said Wickersham. “And I enjoyed the drive down here as well.”

For those gathered that morning, the visit ensured that the veteran whose life spans more than a century, and two wars, had the opportunity to see the memorial honoring prisoners of war and those still missing in action.