Hero of the Week 54

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Marguerite Higgins

Marguerite "Maggie" Higgins was born on September 3, 1920 in Hong Kong. She grew up in Oakland, California and attended the University of California, Berkley. She graduated from Berkley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French. She then attended Columbia University School of Journalism where she earned her master's degree in 1941. She was eventually able to secure a job with the New York Herald Tribune.

When the United States entered World War II, Higgins became determined to go out and report on the conflict as a war correspondent. Despite being in woman working in a man's profession she finally got her wish in 1944. She was sent to Europe where she joined an American Army unit that was fighting its way into Germany. She was present during the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp (a visit that had a profound impact on her). When World War II ended, Higgins also covered the Nuremberg Trials. However, it was what she did in the next military conflict that would cement her a memorable role in American history.

In June of 1950, the communist North Korean People's Army swarmed across the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. In response, a large United Nations task force (spearheaded by the United States) was rushed to the South's defense. Among those who arrived with the task force, were a large number of war correspondents (Higgins included). For the next six months, she reported on the conflict to the American public. She would wake up around the same time as the GI's and accompany them to the front lines as they went into combat. In some cases she came under direct enemy fire while covering an assault. Her skills would be put to a major test in one of the Korean War's biggest operations, the Inchon Landing.

On September 15, 1950, American soldiers and marines launched a surprise attack behind enemy lines at the port of Inchon. Maggie Higgins landed with the marines at a point codenamed, "Red Beach". She was in the fifth wave that came ashore under heavy fire from the entrenched North Koreans. Throughout the engagement, Higgins reported on the heavy casualties and the heroism of the marines as they fought their way off Red Beach and through the North Korean defenses. When the battle was over, she submitted her report to the Herald Tribune three days after. This report sent all over the United States and read by millions of people.

Maggie Higgins would go on to cover the liberation of Seoul and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. A few months later, she returned to the United States and received the Pulitzer Prize for international journalism. She was the first woman to ever receive the award and one of only six journalists to receive it for covering the Korean War.

In 1952, Marguerite Higgins married and raised a family. Even then however, she continued to travel the world and cover many historical events. In 1965, she traveled to Vietnam to cover the growing American military presence. Sadly she ended up contracting leishmaniasis and passed away a year later at the young age of 45.

Marguerite Higgins was a brave woman who set a great precedent for all of those who work in news coverage. She showed great courage in risking and ultimately giving her life to let the world know the truth. She truly is someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.pulitzer.org/article/marguerite-higgins-hits-red-beach

https://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/higgins_m.htm

http://nedforney.com/index.php/2018/09/15/marguerite-higgins-korean-war-inchon-landing/

Hero of the Week 53

Welcome back everyone

Hero of the Week is about to get restarted!

This week's hero is...

Peter Salem

Peter Salem was born on October 1, 1750. He grew up as a slave in Farmington, Massachusetts for most of his young life. Much of his early life has been lost to history. However, as an adult he would go on to become one of America's greatest patriots. 

By April of 1775, the Patriot (American) army under the command of George Washington, had begun to lay siege to Boston. By June of that year, their commanders learned that the British were intending to seize a number of unoccupied hills around the city in order to gain control of Boston Harbor. In order to counter this, the Patriots decided to occupy two hills located on the Charlestown Peninsula. One was called Breed's Hill (where most of the Patriot army was stationed), the other was Bunker Hill. By June of 1775, the fortifications were completed and more than 1,200 Patriots under the commands of William Prescott and Israel Putnam were stationed on Bunker and Breed's hills. Upon learning of the Patriot army's fortifications on the Charlestown Peninsula, 3,000+ British soldiers (under the command of Sir William Howe) marched out of Boston and prepared to launch an assault on the two hills. 

For his part, Peter Salem was placed in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment under the command of Colonel John Nixon. Although, he had previously seen combat at the battles of Lexington and Concord, this one would be the most important. It was a battle that would help to decide the course of the American Revolution.

At the dawn of June 17, 1775, the British began their assault on the Patriot lines. After a quick bombardment from their ships in the harbor, the British infantry began to advance in column formation through the smoke up towards the entrenchments. They were expecting an easy victory against fresh militia men who had not seen combat. What they did not know was that the Patriots had a nasty surprise waiting for them. 

William Prescott had ordered his men to hold fire until the British were within 100 yards of their line (his order was, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes"). As soon as the Redcoats had gotten past the range, the patriots rose from their trenches and fired directly into the former's faces. The Redcoats found themselves caught in the open with no cover and were easily mowed down by withering musket fire. After just a few minutes, the first British assault was beaten back with heavy casualties. 

Although stunned at the turn of events, General Howe quickly ordered a second attack on the Patriot line. This time the British targeted a different portion of the trenches. However, this attack was also beaten back after the Patriots once again waited for the British to get in close before firing at point blank range. Despite the mounting casualties, General Howe was still determined to take the hills and ordered a third assault. By now, the Patriot army was running low on ammunition and many of them began to retreat. The line finally broke when the British charged with fixed bayonets (which most of the patriots did not have). Even then however, the latter continued to make the redcoats pay for every inch of the hill and organized a fighting retreat. 

Peter Salem was among those who stayed behind to cover the retreat. During the battle he spotted an officer who was leading the redcoats into the trenches. Salem quickly aimed his rifle at the officer and fired. His shot hit the man directly in the head, killing him almost instantly. This officer was later revealed to be Major John Pitcairn (who had commanded the British at Lexington and Concord). His death momentarily slowed down the British advance and bought precious time for the Patriots to evacuate most of their wounded. Salem was among their last men to leave the fortification at Breed's Hill.

After a short rearguard action on Bunker Hill, the last of the Patriot forces successfully retreated from the Charlestown Peninsula. After two hours of heavy fighting, the battle of Bunker Hill was over. The British had successfully driven the Patriots from the field and won the battle. However, their army had suffered horrific losses. It is estimated that the British suffered at least 1,054 casualties (including many officers) compared to just 450 patriot losses. Ultimately their victory at Bunker hill was short-lived. Due to their high losses the British found themselves unable to continue holding their positions. General Howe eventually ordered an evacuation of Boston. Thus ended the first military campaign of the American Revolution.

Peter Salem's valor and courage during the battle was widely recognized by his fellow comrades. He would go on to fight in the battles of Saratoga and Stony Point. He eventually received an honorable discharge in 1779. He then returned to Farmington and lived the rest of his life as a free man. He eventually married and moved to Leicester, Massachusetts where he worked as cane weaver. He passed away on August 16, 1816, at the age of 66. In 1882, the town of Farmington erected a monument in his honor.

Although there have been many well-known individuals who fought bravely for American independence, there are many more who have been largely forgotten by the general populace. Peter Salem is one of those people. Like so many before and after, he fought for a country that did not see him as equal and did not receive much recognition until many years after his death. Today, he is remembered as one of America's bravest soldiers in the Revolution.

https://aaregistry.org/story/peter-salem-an-original-patriot/

https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog/peter-salem-and-battle-bunker-hill

http://www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/peter-salem/

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/salem-peter-ca-1750-1816/