Participants in the Warren McCutcheon Poker Run gather for a group photo in front of the Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall before setting out on the ride. Photo by Lloyd Green Jr

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - About 50 motorcyclists from across Northern California gathered Saturday, Aug. 6, for the inaugural Warren McCutcheon Poker Run hosted by South Butte Post 210 of the American Legion. The morning ride began under clear skies as veterans, families, and supporters honored a Gridley sailor killed at Pearl Harbor.

The event was named for Seaman Second Class Warren McCutcheon, who was only 17 years old when he was killed in the first wave of the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. McCutcheon was serving aboard the USS Maryland when he responded to the call to General Quarters and manned a gun station. Within 30 seconds of the attack’s start, he was struck by machine gun fire from a torpedo bomber headed toward the nearby USS Oklahoma. The bullet pierced his heart, killing him instantly.

McCutcheon had grown up in Gridley and was in his first year of Navy service when he died. Though his time in uniform was brief, his memory endures in the community.

In 1996, friends, family, and fellow service members dedicated a 9-foot monument in his honor in Gridley.

Seaman Second Class Warren McCutcheon of Gridley was killed at age 17 in the opening minutes of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor while serving aboard the USS Maryland. A monument in his honor was dedicated in his hometown in 1996, and the inaugural poker run held Aug. 6 was named in his memory. Photo courtesy of findagrave.com

The poker run brought in riders from Healdsburg, Porterville, Sacramento, Redding, McCloud, and other communities. The route included stops at Butte College, Sierra Steel Harley Davidson in Chico, American Legion Post 673 in Durham, and finished back in Gridley.

Organizers said the event served two purposes: to remember McCutcheon and to bring local veterans and supporters together.

“We are here to give back to our community,” said Josh Stiefel, a Navy veteran from Butte County. “People came from all over to help us raise money so we can give it back to our community and support veterans and their families.”

Stiefel said the ride also allowed veterans who often live far apart to gather.

“We are all spread out in Northern California, and we don’t get to get together a lot. So it’s awesome for everyone to get together and have a good ride,” he said.

Owen Stiles, commander of Post 210, said naming the ride for McCutcheon helps highlight both his sacrifice and the role of the Gridley American Legion. The post was established in 1923 and has worked for decades to support veterans and their families.

“We want to continue the legacy of the guys who started the American Legion in Gridley,” Stiles said. “We want to make the community more aware of our long history.”

Riders depart Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall on Saturday morning during the inaugural Warren McCutcheon Poker Run hosted by American Legion South Butte Post 210. Photo by Lloyd Green Jr

That history includes the use of the Veterans Memorial Hall in downtown Gridley, a familiar landmark that was closed for five years and had limited access for more than a decade. The hall has recently reopened for public use, and Post 210 leaders say they are eager to once again make it a gathering place for the community.

“We are excited to host more community events,” Stiles said.

Plans are underway to add more memorials at the hall, including a monument in front of the building honoring Gold Star Families — those who have lost loved ones in military service. Inside, an interior wall is being set aside for a memorial to local veterans who have passed away.

“The centerpiece would be Warren McCutcheon,” Stiles said.

For organizers, the poker run was not only a fundraiser but also a way to remind the community of McCutcheon’s story. They said they hope to make the event an annual tradition that draws riders and supporters from across the region.

“Thanks to everyone who came,” Stiefel said. “Thanks to all the chapters that traveled from far and near. It really shows how much people care about coming together for a good cause.”

As engines roared back into Gridley at the end of the ride, participants reflected on the memory of a young sailor whose life was cut short in service to his country and on the continuing mission of the American Legion to honor that sacrifice.