Hero of the Week 82

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Dr. Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Rush was born on December 24, 1745. He grew up in the small town of Byberry just 12 miles from Philadelphia. When Ben was only six, his father (John Rush) unexpectedly died. His mother then sent him to live with an aunt and uncle so that he could receive a better education. He went on to study at the College of New Jersey. After receiving his Bachelor's degree, Rush returned to Philadelphia and decided to study medicine. In June 1768, he finally received his medical degree and became a well-known doctor in Philadelphia. However, his expertise in medicine would not be his only major contributions to his country.

When he returned to Philadelphia in 1769, Dr. Rush quickly put his new skills to good use. He wrote numerous papers on medical techniques, politics, and the abolition of slavery. He eventually became a chemistry professor at the College of Philadelphia, where he published the first American textbook on chemistry. His activities eventually caught the eyes of the Sons of Liberty. In 1776, Dr. Rush met a man named, Thomas Paine. Paine was very impressed with Rush's writings on the political situation that was brewing in the colonies and urged him to join the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Dr. Rush did so in June of that year.

On July 4th, Benjamin Rush voted on the resolution of Independence and signed the Declaration. Almost immediately after, he left Philadelphia and joined the Continental Army where he was appointed, Surgeon-General. However, this appointment led Rush into a nasty dispute between himself and George Washington. Rush was highly critical of the Continental Army's medical service under the Administration of Dr. William Shippen. When Rush accused Dr. Shippen of poor management, Washington deferred to Congress. And when both the Congress and Washington sided with Shippen on the matter, Rush angrily resigned in protest. He would never forgive Washington for this. His unresolved conflict with George Washington would ultimately end Dr. Rush's direct involvement in the Revolutionary War. 

In 1778, Benjamin Rush returned to Philadelphia where he resumed writing medical papers. He wrote specifically on the study of medical care and mental health. He became a major supporter of the US Constitution and advocated for scientific education, building public medical clinics, and abolition of slavery. By 1789, Rush had become a leading pioneer in studying physiology and psychiatry. In 1797, he was appointed, Treasurer of Mint, a position he held until his death on April 13, 1813. 

Due to his poor relationships with other founding fathers (namely, George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin), the contributions made by Benjamin Rush were largely forgotten in the aftermath of the Revolution. However, Rush's research and medical papers were instrumental in many advances in the scientific community. Today, he is remembered as both a founding father and revolutionary medical doctor whose studies saved thousands of people in the United States. 

https://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/features/brush.html

https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/rush.html

https://www.americanheritage.com/paradoxical-doctor-benjamin-rush

https://web.archive.org/web/20040126092811/http://deila.dickinson.edu/theirownwords/author/RushB.htm

Hero of the Week 81

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Henrietta Lacks 

Henrietta Lacks was born on August 1, 1920, in Roanoke, Virginia. She grew up as a tobacco farmer and got married to a man named, David Lacks when she was 21. After they were married, they moved to Baltimore, Maryland where they raised their five children. For the next decade they attempted to live a normal life in the city. However, Henrietta's life would ultimately take a turn for both achievement and tragedy.

In 1951, Henrietta Lacks fell ill and was admitted to the Johns Hopkins Hospital (one of the few hospitals willing to treat African-Americans). Doctors noticed a large growth (a malignant tumor) on her cervix and diagnosed her with cervical cancer. While attempting to treat her, Doctor George Gey removed part of the tumor and began to examine it. To his surprise, he discovered that it was made up of a new type of cells. Instead of dying off after their removal, Dr. Gey noticed that the cells were multiplying at an alarmingly fast rate all on their own.

Dr. Gey concluded that these cells were immortal. He named them, HeLa after the person they had come from, Henrietta Lacks. These were the very first immortal human cells that had been harvested and grown. They would prove to be invaluable to scientific research. Because they reproduced within 24 hours of each other, Dr. Gey was able to use them to test vaccines, study the effects of viruses, and the development of the human genome. HeLa cells would ultimately play a crucial role in developing the polio vaccine.

Sadly, Henrietta Lacks did not live to see the value of her immortal cells that would bear her name. Attempts to treat her cervical cancer were futile. She died on October 4, 1951. She was only 31 years old. Her contribution to scientific research was not revealed until the 1970s.

Although it was not her original intention, Henrietta Lacks had given the scientific community an invaluable asset. Because of this, so many new developments were made in the medical field that were used to save millions of people around the world. To this day, scientists have not yet unlocked all the secrets of HeLa cells. However, it is clear that they will continue to yield more discoveries and facts in the years to come. I believe that Henrietta Lacks is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/henrietta-lacks-immortal-cells-6421299/

Hero of the Week 80

 Welcome back viewers

This week will honor a team of heroes

They are...

The 1936 American Rowing team, AKA: the Boys in the Boat

The Boys in the Boat were a group of 9 young men who were into the sport of rowing. After joining the crew-team at the University of Washington (Huskies), they began training to compete on the country's national rowing team at the upcoming Summer Olympics of 1936. What followed would be one of the most legendary underdog stories in sports history.

By the month of August, nearly 4,000 athletes from around the world traveled to Berlin. The atmosphere at the games in Nazi Germany was very edgy due to the country's new race laws and it's worsening foreign policy. For many nations, these games were both a break and a chance to prove a point. In the diving, track and field events, the American athletes (many of whom were African-American) had far superior results than the ones from Germany (much to Hitler's embarrassment).

However, when it came to the sport of rowing, the German oarsmen successfully outclassed nearly all of their opponents. They won the gold medal in five of the first six events (the double sculls event was won by Great Britain). The final event of the regatta, was the men's eight. Many were braced for another win for the Germans.

When the race started, the Americans quickly fell half a boat length behind the other teams. The first 1,000 meters of the race seemed to be a contest between the German and the Italian crews. But with about 800 meters remaining, the Americans quickly began gaining on the leaders. When there were 300 meters left, they had pulled even to the Germans and Italians. All three teams began struggling to push their bows in front of the other. When they crossed the finish line, it was too close to call at first. The final times were announced minutes later: USA 6:25.4, Italy 6:26.0, Germany 6:26.4. 

Although the boys from the University of Washington were exhausted from their effort they quickly paddled their boat to the dock to receive their gold medals. When the Olympics ended, they received a hero's welcome upon their return to the United States. Their story continues to inspire many Americans in the sport of rowing today.

The Boys in the Boat:

(bow to stern)

Herbert Morris

Charles Day

Gordon Adam

John Watie 

James McMillan 

George Hunt

Joe Rantz

Donald Hume

Robert Moch (coxswain)

http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/fivering_circus/2012/07/_1936_olympics_rowing_the_greatest_underdog_nazi_defeating_american_olympic_victory_you_ve_never_heard_of_.

htmlhttp://www.huskycrew.com/Husky%20Crew%201936%20-%20The%20Boys%20In%20The%20Boat.htm

https://www.historylink.org/File/700

Hero of the Week 79

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Alejandro Ruiz

Alejandro Renteria Ruiz was born on June 26, 1924, in Loving, New Mexico. After he was arrested for allegedly stealing a cow, Ruiz was given the opportunity to choose jail or to enlist in the US Army. He chose the latter. Once he completed basic training, he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Division. Less than a year later, the United States entered World War II. Although he had no way of knowing, his decision to enlist would make a major difference in one of the final and bloodiest battles of the War in the Pacific theatre. 

In March of 1945, the US launched an invasion of Okinawa. This island was of strategic importance since it was only 400 miles from mainland Japan. It's capture (along with the nearby volcano island, Iwo Jima) would also be imperative for many American fliers that were going on bombing missions and needed a safe airfield to land at. 

Taking Okinawa would be exceptionally difficult as it was garrisoned by more than 70,000 Japanese soldiers who were determined to give their last full measure. Unlike previous island-hopping campaigns, there was also a very large civilian population on Okinawa. And many of them were loyal to the Japanese. With an increasing number of Kamikaze attacks being carried out on the US Navy, it was clear that many American servicemen were going to die taking this island.

On April 28, 1945, Pfc. Alejandro Ruiz's platoon was patrolling an area near the Okinawa village of, Gasukuma. As they entered a nearby ravine, a concealed pillbox opened fire. In a matter of seconds, nearly every man in the platoon was either killed or wounded. Ruiz was among the few who were not killed or incapacitated in the first few minutes. Knowing that his M1 rifle was not sufficient enough against the Japanese pillbox defense, he grabbed a browning automatic rifle (BAR) from a fallen comrade and took the initiative. 

Ruiz then charged the pillbox and attempted to knock it out. Unfortunately the BAR jammed after just a few rounds and a Japanese soldier then charged him while he was trying to fix it. Ruiz quickly side-stepped and clubbed him down. He then ran back to his platoon's position, grabbed another BAR, and charged the pillbox again. Despite receiving several wounds to his face and arms, Ruiz ran through the enemy barrage and managed to reach the enemy position. He then climbed on top and fired into the pillbox's openings. Within just seconds, all gunfire from the pillbox ceased. When his comrades searched it, the found the bodies of 12 enemy soldiers inside. 

For his extraordinary valor in stopping the enemy attack and saving many of his comrades, Pfc. Alejandro Ruiz received the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. He went on to serve in the Korean War and retired at the rank of Master Sergeant. He lived the rest of his life in California before passing away on November 20, 2009, at the age of 85.

The courage and valor of Alejandro Ruiz truly speaks volumes. When the time came, he answered a call to duty and successfully stopped an ambush against his comrades. As more and more of our World War II veterans pass on, it becomes all the more imperative to tell their stories. Ruiz's story is one that definitely deserves to be told.

https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2009-dec-12-la-me-alejandro-ruiz12-2009dec12-story.html

https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/veterans-home-p-o-honors-wwii-hero/article_562a525c-f21e-11e1-bf4c-0019bb2963f4.html

https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2017/11/11/veteran-alejandro-ruiz-sr-inducted-carlsbad-hall-fame/854776001/