Iconic Image 9

Welcome back viewers

This month's Iconic Image is...

Castro at the Lincoln Memorial

Intro

This photograph was taken inside the Lincoln Memorial on April 17, 1959. It depicts a tall bearded man standing by a wreath under the statue of President Abraham Lincoln. The man is Fidel Castro, the leader of Communist Cuba. He is clearly looking upon the statue with great admiration and respect. This image would become an iconic symbol of the one man's everlasting legacy and another man's insatiable desires.

Part I

In 1959, the people of the United States watched in complete disbelief as the country of Cuba experienced a Communist take-over. The man at the head of this revolution was an ardent Marxist-Leninist guerrilla named, Fidel Castro. Castro (along with another famous guerrilla named, Che Guevara) successfully overthrew the Cuban government and declared himself, President of Cuba under a Communist government. 

Knowing that the US government would not be friendly towards a communist governed nation, Castro decided that the best course of action was to meet with President Dwight David Eisenhower. However, Eisenhower declined to meet with Castro (he spent the day playing golf instead). He had his Vice President (Richard Nixon) meet with Castro on his behalf. After a three hour meeting with the Vice President, Castro decided to tour Washington DC. He was followed by an entourage of journalists and reporters. 

Castro visited many landmarks and famous monuments in DC and northern Virginia (including Mount Vernon). But there was one monument in particular that Castro knew he had to see and pay tribute to a man he had admired since childhood. It was (and still is) one of Washington's most famous memorials, the Lincoln Memorial. 

Part II

Castro walked up the steps of the memorial while carrying a large wreath. He then placed the wreath at the pedestal of the giant statue of President Lincoln. As he stood back and gazed at the statue, his personal photographer (Alfredo Korda) snapped an image. After the picture was taken, Castro then walked over to the engraving of Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. After reading it, he turned to Korda and said, "Formidable and very interesting!".

According to his biographers, Fidel Castro was very impressed by his visit to the Lincoln Memorial and mesmerized by the Gettysburg Address. He was amazed at how President Lincoln had found a way to end slavery in the United States and lead his people through the Civil War. Castro resolved, that he would do everything possible to become as revered as President Abraham Lincoln.

Epilogue

Ultimately, Castro's two-week visit to the United States did not have the consequences that he desired. Just a few months later, the US government imposed trade restrictions on Cuba. And in 1963, war nearly broke out between the US and the Soviet Union over the placement of ballistic missiles within Cuba. For the rest of the 20th century, both the United States and Cuba would continue to be at odds. It wasn't until 2015, that the two nations finally reestablished diplomatic relations. 

Fidel Castro remained in power until his resignation from the Cuban presidency in the year 2008 (he was succeeded by his brother Raul). Despite his complicated relationship with the US government, there was one thing that never changed. From the day he visited in 1959 to the day he died, Castro remained an avid admirer of President Abraham Lincoln. According to his biographers, he kept a bust of the late American president on his desk his whole life and often quoted Lincoln in his speeches. Fidel Castro finally died on November 25, 2016.

Today, the photograph of Fidel Castro at the Lincoln Memorial continues to cause much debate among those who view it. For some, it represents the everlasting legacy of one of America's greatest presidents (one who even inspires the country's enemies). Some might view it as a symbol of Castro's insatiable desire to be as loved and revered as one of the most influential political figures in history. However, one thing is definitely clear. This photograph shows that even among enemies, there can still be common levels of dignity and respect for a historical figure. And that definitely gives this image a special place in the history of photography.

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/fidel-castro-lincoln-memorial-1959/

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/12/fidel-castro-lays-a-wreath-at-the-lincoln-memorial/453459/

https://about-history.com/fidel-castro-lays-a-wreath-in-front-of-the-lincoln-memorial/

https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/nation_world/20071029_Reply_to_Bush_.html

Hero of the Week 117

Welcome back viewers

This week we will honor a team of heroes

They are...

The crew of the RMS Carpathia

The RMS Carpathia was a large steam ship launched by the Sawn Hunter & Wigham Richardson Company in 1902. For three years, she was used to bring immigrants to the United States. In 1905, she became a cruise ship for the Cunard Line and took hundreds of passengers on luxury pleasure cruises to the Mediterranean Sea. 

On April 11, 1912, the Carpathia embarked on a cruise from New York to Europe. With a crew of 300 and 700 passengers, she headed for the North Atlantic while under the command of highly experienced captain named, Arthur Henry Rostron. Although Captain Rostron had only been in command of the Carpathia for four months, he had been on many successful voyages across the Atlantic Ocean in his career. Little did he know, that he and his crew's skills and experiences would make the ultimate difference for more than 700 people.

On the night of Aril 14, the Carpathia's wireless operator Harold Cottam, was doing a routine check of radio frequencies. All of a sudden, he began to notice a morse code distress signal (SOS) coming across the telegraph. Cottam realized that a ship was sinking and needed immediate assistance. It was a new ocean liner on her maiden voyage called, RMS Titanic. She had struck an iceberg and was rapidly sinking. Cottom ran and awoke Captain Rostron and informed him of the situation. 

Captain Rostron immediately ordered all of the crew to get to their stations. He then set a course for the Titanic's last position. Since they were sixty miles away, Rostron ordered all power to be routed to the Carpathia's engines. They then began the dangerous rush at 18 knots (full steam) through a maze of icebergs. Despite the risk of getting his own ship hit by a berg, Rostron was determined to get to the Titanic as quickly as possible. During their run threw the ice-field, the ship nearly collided with six different icebergs. However, they managed to make it through to the morning of April 15.

Unfortunately, by the time the Carpathia arrived at the Titanic's coordinates, the latter was already gone. Of her complement of 2,200 passengers and crew, only 705 had successfully made it into the ship's 20 lifeboats. The rest had either gone down with the ship or froze to death in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. The Carpathia successfully recovered all of the survivors in the lifeboats and gave them blankets and dry clothes to save them from hypothermia. Once all of them were aboard, the Carpathia set out for the Titanic's original destination, New York City. They arrived three days later.

For their brave race to save the Titanic's passengers, the crew of the Carpathia became instant celebrities over night. However, most of them shunned the spotlight and refused all interviews. When asked by a journalist about the rescue, Captain Rostron (who was a man of faith) responded, "A hand other than mine was steering my ship". He went on to serve in the British Navy during World War I. He officially retired in 1931, and lived in Holcolm, West End, Southampton. He died on November 7, 1940. 

During World War I, the Carpathia was converted into a troopship and spent the war ferrying Canadian and American soldiers to and from the front-lines. On the morning of July 17, 1918, she was torpedoed by a German u-boat (U-55). She sank off the coast of Ireland and currently rests on the ocean floor of the North Atlantic (not too far from the Titanic). 

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/carpathias-role-in-titanic-rescue

https://www.irishpost.com/news/rms-carpathia-12-facts-titanics-rescue-165987

https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/carpathia-crew/arthur-henry-rostron.html

Hero of the Week 116

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Gareth Jones

Gareth Richard Vaughn Jones was born on August 13, 1905, in Barry, Wales. As a kid, Jones found a strong desire to travel around Europe and write stories. He realized that he wanted to be a journalist and travel around Europe. Little did he know that his journeys would cause him to witness some of the worst atrocities that were committed in the 20th Century. 

After learning to speak French, German, and Russian, Jones departed for Mainland Europe. In 1933, he traveled through France and Germany. While visiting the city of Frankfurt, he was able to secure an interview with the new Chancellor of Germany. A man named, Adolf Hitler. However, his biggest and most memorable story would not come from his visit to Germany. Instead, it would come from the mouths of peasant farmers in the East European country of Ukraine. 

In the Spring of 1933, Gareth Jones decided to journey into the Soviet Union in order to investigate allegations of human rights abuses committed against the people of Ukraine. He hopped from a train into the rural area of the country and made his way to nearby villages. What he found was beyond horrifying. 

Due to the Soviet Union's policy of collectivization (exporting nearly all of Ukraine's grain to cities in Russia), the Ukrainian farmers had been left with nearly no food (grain was their main diet). This had caused a severe famine across the country. With nothing to eat, millions of people began starving to death. Many people were driven insane by hunger and resorted to eating the dead. Some even resorted to killing and devouring their own children. This terrible famine would claim the lives of more than 10 million people across Eastern Europe. It would eventually be referred to as, "the Holodomor".

Jones was horrified by what he saw. When he returned home, he published a highly graphic account of what was happening in the Soviet Union. To his astonishment, most of the Western world reacted with disdain and disbelief. His accounts were dismissed as either, "lies or hasty conclusions". Many simply refused to believe that such a horrific famine was being deliberately caused. Furious over the denial of his story, Jones vowed to return to the Soviet Union and follow up on his story. In 1935, he traveled to the country of Mongolia with the intention of entering Russia from the south. While attempting to do so, he was arrested by the Soviet secret police (the NKVD). He is believed to have been executed on August 12, 1935.

Gareth Jones was the very first journalist that attempted alert the world to the horrors caused by the Holodomor. His incredible dedication on investigating human rights violations would eventually inspire thousands of other famous journalists, reporters, and even authors (like George Orwell). He truly is someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.garethjones.org

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-18691109

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/mr-jones-film-exposes-the-fake-news-campaign-behind-stalins-ukrainian-genocide/

Hero of the Week 115

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Dr. William Blackwood 

William Robert Douglas Blackwood was born on May 12, 1838, in Hollywood, Ireland. Most of his early life is not known. However, in the year 1850, Blackwood decided to immigrate to the United States of America. Nine years later, he enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Medical School with the intention of becoming a surgeon. Although he successfully completed his studies by 1861, he put graduation on hold when the US was plunged into a Civil War. It would be in combat that his medical skills would be put to the test.

William Blackwood enlisted in the Union Army as a medical cadet. For the next two years, he served as the assistant surgeon to the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. In 1863, he was transferred to the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry. He saw heavy combat during Grant's Overland Campaign in 1864. During the Siege of Petersburg, Blackwood treated thousands of wounded soldiers (saving many lives). He was cited for peronal bravery during the Battle of the Crater, (where his regiment suffered severe casualties). However, his defining moment would come during the final assault on Petersburg. 

April 2, 1865, was the day that would officially end the longest siege on American soil. That day, the 48th was directed to spearhead the assault on the Confederate fortification at Fort Mahone. They launched their attack early in the morning. What followed was a deadly series of attacks and counter attacks that caused severe casualties on both sides. Finally during the night of April 2, the Confederates retreated and Fort Mahone was taken.

During the assault, Assistant Surgeon William Blackwood ran through the gauntlet of enemy fire to aid wounded comrades. He carried dozens of wounded men from the battlefield. He continued to do this even after being shot at numerous times. He is believed to have saved at least twenty men from dying on the field. He was mustered out of the army on July 17, 1865. Thirty-two years later, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor during the final assault on Petersburg. After the war Blackwood continued to work as a doctor and was active in helping disabled veterans. He died on April 26, 1922. 

It should be noted that in the present day, the service and valor of soldiers who served in the US military are not as well-known as many people believe. Outside of the military, there are very few people who know the stories of men like William Blackwood. Like so many before and after him, he fought with great courage and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. And like so many others, his story has faded into distant memory. Despite all the time that has passed, these stories still have great value. Blackwood's is one that demonstrates the very best in the American soldier. He should be seen as an inspiration to all who read about him. 

https://peoplepill.com/people/william-r-d-blackwood

https://archives.upenn.edu/exhibits/penn-people/biography/william-robert-douglas-blackwood

https://48thpennsylvania.blogspot.com/2012/02/profiles-surgeon-william-rd-blackwood.html

https://emergingcivilwar.com/2017/10/13/mapping-the-attack-on-fort-mahone-april-2-1865/

Hero of the Week 114

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Agathe Uwilingiyimana 

Agathe Uwilingiyimana was born on May 23, 1953, in the town of Nyaruhengai, Rwanda. Despite being from a very poor family, she was very determined to make a difference in the growth of her country. Her achievements would prove to be quite monumental and would inspire thousands across Rwanda.

She received her high school diploma in the subjects of mathematics and chemistry in 1976. She then became a math teacher in the Butare providence of Rwanda. After teaching for thirteen years, Agathe was appointed, director of Butare's Ministry of Commerce. Her impressive credentials eventually caught the eye of Rwanda's President, Juvenál Habyarimana. In 1992, he made her the Minister of Education. One of her first acts as Minister was to abolish the system of the academic ethnic quota. 

Up until this moment, Rwanda's education system had been purposely segregated between the Hutu tribe (the country's ethnic majority) and the smaller Tutsi tribe (the ethnic minority). Since Rwanda had gained it's independence from Belgian occupation in the 1950s, those classified as Tutsis had lived as second class citizens in their own country. Many were denied education based on their tribal status and forced to go to much poorer and isolated schools. Agathe's decision to abolish this policy, made it possible for Tutsi's to get into better schools based on their academic merit. Although this decision was very popular among most Rwandans, it also made Agathe an enemy in the eyes of Hutu extremists within the government. On July 17, 1993, Agathe became the very first female Prime Minister of Rwanda. 

However, everything changed less than a year later, when President Habyarimana was assassinated (along with President Cyprien Ntaryamira of Burundi). He had been heading to a meeting with the leader of a Tutsi rebel group (the Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF), Paul Kagame. Before he could met with the latter, Habyarimana's plane was shot from the sky. Within hours, a series of horrific massacres were committed by Hutu extremists against Tutsis and moderate Hutus across the country. What followed was one of the worst genocides to ever be committed in the 20th Century. By the time it ended on July 15, 1994 (when the RPF overthrew the Hutu government), more than one million Rwandans had been murdered.

Sadly, Agathe Uwilingiyimana and her husband (Ignace Barahira) were among the very first to be murdered. Although both of them were Hutus, Agathe's sympathy and support for Tutsis led to both of them being targeted by the Hutu Interahamwe, the government's paramilitary death squad (now labeled a terrorist group). When they saw the Interahamwe approaching their house, Agathe and Ignace told their five children to run and hide. They then stepped out of their house to meet the killers. They along with ten UN peacekeepers from Belgium (assigned to guard them) were then savagely killed. All five of their kids escaped to a neighbor's house.

Today, Agathe Uwilingiyimana is remembered as a leading figure for human rights and education for many countries on the continent of Africa (Rwanda included). Her efforts to bridge the gap in education between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes also helped to inspire many survivors of the genocide to attempt to reconcile and rebuild their shattered country. She truly is someone who deserves to always be remembered.

https://real-life-heroes.fandom.com/wiki/Agathe_Uwilingiyimana

https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Agathe_Uwilingiyimana/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Agathe-Uwilingiyimana

http://maps.cga.harvard.edu/rwanda/pm.html

https://www.ktpress.rw/2017/01/23-years-later-meet-ex-pm-agathe-uwilingiyimanas-children/

Hero of the Week 113

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Anthony Wayne

Anthony Wayne was born on January 1, 1745, in the Pennsylvania colony. He grew up training to be a surveyor in the real estate business. Although he quickly excelled in this profession (he helped settle at least 100,000 acres of land in Canada), Wayne eventually found himself answering a call to duty. His answer would be instrumental in securing the future of his country.

When the American Revolution began, Wayne decided to join the Continental Army. He quickly rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He established a reputation as an aggressive and impulsive commander. His aggressive troop movements earned him the nickname, "Mad Anthony". He served with Washington through the New York and New Jersey campaigns and saw combat at Brandywine Creek, Germantown, Paoli, and Monmouth Court House. However, his most impressive feat during the Revolution was a daring night attack he launched in July of 1779.

By this point, the Revolution had been fought to a bitter stalemate. To boost morale among American soldiers, General Washington ordered an assault against a British fortification at Stony Point, New York. Stony Point was a tall rocky outcropping that overlooked the Hudson River. It was surrounded by a swampy terrain of mud and knee-deep water. However, Patriot intelligence revealed that the fort was garrisoned by only 700 British soldiers. Washington decided that the best plan, was to launch a bayonet attack in the dead of night. The man selected to lead this attack was, Mad Anthony Wayne.

With a force of 1,200 light infantry (handpicked from different regiments), Wayne moved into position about a mile from Stony Point. He then ordered all of the Patriots to adorn their hats with white pieces of paper (in order to tell each other apart in the darkness). Wayne that divided his force into three separate columns. What he intended was a three pronged attack on the fort that would divide the British garrison. The element of surprise was crucial. At 11:30 PM on the night of July 15, the Patriots fixed bayonets and began advancing under the cover of darkness. 

However, the southern column soon ran into mud that ran up to their waists. Getting through this while cutting their way through the first abatis (defensive obstruction) around Stony Point costed them thirty minutes. During this time the defenders were awakened and began to fire at the advancing Patriots. By now however, all three columns had successfully closed the distance to the fort and they immediately charged. 

Due to the thick clouds that blotted out the moonlight, the British found themselves unable to effectively shoot the attackers. In desperation, the British commander (Lt. Col. Henry Johnson) rushed most of the garrison to where the center column was attacking, this left the forts flanks almost completely unguarded. Among the first five Patriots to enter the fort was Pvt. Peter Francisco. After killing three British defenders (despite being stabbed) he ascended the walls and lowered the British flag. He and his four comrades then shouted, "The fort's our own!". Within just 25 minutes, the battle was over and Stony Point was captured.

Epilogue

The American casualties at Stony Point were 15 KIA and 83 wounded (including Anthony Wayne who was shot in the head). The British casualties were 20 KIA, 74 wounded, and more than 500 captured (including Ltc. Johnson). Just two days later however, Washington ordered Stony Point to be abandoned since he doubted that it could be kept from a British counter-attack. Most of the British POWs were later released or exchanged for Patriot POWs. Regardless of this setback, Wayne's successful attack at Stony Point had succeeded in boosting the morale of the Continental Army. The victory inspired thousands of more Americans to enlist in the army and continue fighting for independence. 

Anthony Wayne continued to serve in the Continental Army for the rest of the Revolution. He saw combat in several more battles including Washington's final victory at Yorktown. In 1795, Wayne led a successful invasion against a large army of Iroquois, Shawnee, and Huron warriors. In what would become known as the Northwest Indian War, Wayne successfully crushed a force of 1,300 warriors at the battle of Fallen Timbers (present day Maumee, Ohio). He died only a year later on December 15, 1796. Today he is remembered as one of the bravest and most daring generals during the American Revolution. He truly is someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/wayne.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anthony-Wayne

https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Anthony_Wayne

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/anthony-wayne/

Hero of the Week 112

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Joseph McCarthy

Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy (no relation to Senator McCarthy) was born on August 10, 1912, in Chicago, Illinois. He chose to enlist in the US Marine Corps in 1937. After serving for four years, he received an honorable discharge. But when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, McCarthy chose to reenlist. 

After serving for another year, he was transferred to the 4th Marine Division and found himself on the front-lines of the War in the Pacific. McCarthy saw heavy combat at the battles of Tinian and Saipan. For his valor during these two battles, he received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart and rose to the rank of Captain. By 1945, Captain McCarthy was a battle-scarred veteran who was offered another honorable discharge. Despite being 33 (old for a marine at the time), McCarthy declined and elected to take part in one more battle. This battle would be on the volcanic island of Iwo Jima. 

American marines and sailors splashed ashore on February 19, 1945. When they began to move off the beach, the Japanese defenders opened fire and cut them down in droves. The fighting on Iwo Jima soon became a bloody slugfest. The marines were forced to literally fight for every inch of the island. Those that were lucky enough to make it off the beach found themselves pinned down by an incredibly sophisticated system of pillboxes (bunkers) around the airfields. Taking them out with air support proved to be impossible as they were too small and concealed to hit. The marines would only be able to dispatch the pillboxes by getting very close and hitting them from behind. 

Captain McCarthy came ashore on February 21. When he saw the situation unfolding with the pillboxes, he quickly organized a plan of attack on airfield No. 2. He led a small group of marines across 75 yards of open ground and began having them hop into shell craters when the pillbox's machine guns paused to reload. They successfully made it to the first pillbox. McCarthy approached it, pulled the pins on two grenades, and threw them both inside. 

After they destroyed the pillbox, two Japanese soldiers came out and charged McCarthy, he quickly killed both of them. The other marines in his company then went after a second pillbox, they stuck a flamethrower through an opening and set the whole thing on fire. Just when it seemed to be over, Captain McCarthy spotted a Japanese soldier (who had feigned death) aiming a rifle at an unsuspecting marine. Reacting instantly, he jumped on the enemy soldier and successfully killed the latter with his own weapon. 

By destroying two of the pillboxes, Capt. McCarthy and his company had created an opening in the Japanese defenses. They quickly pressed the attack, successfully captured the ridge, and destroyed all the remaining enemy fortifications around airfield No 2. This allowed the rest of the division to move on to taking the other airfields. 

For his incredible valor and leadership during the battle of Iwo Jima, Captain Joseph McCarthy received the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 5, 1945. He also received two Purple Hearts and the Silver Star. After World War II ended, McCarthy joined the Chicago Fire Department and became the Superintendent of Ambulances. He retired from the fire department in 1973, and spent the rest of his days helping fellow veterans. He died on June 15, 1996, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. When asked about McCarthy, a fellow marine said, "He was not a one-shot hero. He was a hero at every campaign and everything he did". 

https://bzohistory.com/joseph-mccarthy/

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/captain-joseph-j-mccarthy-medal-of-honor

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/m/mccarthy-joseph-j.html

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-06-18-9606180254-story.html

Iconic Image 8

 Welcome back viewers

This month's Iconic Image is...

The Falling Man

Intro

This photograph was taken on September 11, 2001. As it's name suggests, it depicts a young man falling to his death from the World Trade Center. This photograph sparked outrage and horror across the United States and was condemned for being printed. But for many survivors and relatives of victims, this photograph would be recognized as one of the greatest symbols of what happened on 9/11.

Part I

September 11, 2001, was a day that began like any other for the people of New York City. Thousands of people got up and went to their jobs like normal. Among them, were nearly twenty thousand who headed to the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Everything changed at 8:46 in the morning, when American Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. The impact instantly killed and wounded thousands of people inside the building. Because the plane had struck the North Tower dead center, it was fatally divided. Nobody who was located above the 91st floor would survive.

Within minutes of the crash, thousands of firemen, police officers, journalists, and reporters quickly descended on the scene. One of them was a photographer named, Richard Drew. When he arrived at the scene, he noticed something horrifying. The crashed plane's fuel ignited a huge inferno that engulfed the whole tower with thick black smoke. Those who could get out, did. But for those at or above the impact zone, there was no exit. They were trapped. For many, the inferno was too much to bear. They decided to take matters into their own hands.

When United Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower, another 600 people who had not yet evacuated also became trapped. Drew continued to photograph the unfolding disaster for the next fifty minutes until both of the towers had collapsed. By then, he had taken dozens of photographs. One of them, would become a haunting symbol of the horror that day.

Part II

In the aftermath of the images publication, there were a couple attempts to identify the Falling Man. A reporter named, Peter Cheney, deduced that man was most likely an employee of Windows on the World. Windows on the World was a restaurant located at the very top of the North Tower. When the first plane hit, 72 kitchen staff and 76 guests became trapped inside the restaurant. None of them survived.

After reviewing the photographs of the victims, Cheney deduced that the Falling Man was most likely, Norberto Hernandez, a pastry chef from Puerto Rico. The late Hernandez's sister initially identified him in the photograph. However, Hernandez's widow and three daughters vehemently denied that he was one of the jumpers on September 11. 

When the Hernandez's asked Richard Drew to review his pictures of the Falling Man, he noticed that he had taken a burst of eight photographs in sequence. In reviewing the other seven, he saw that the man was not falling straight down, but had actually spun during his descent. As he fell, his white dinner jacket was ripped off by the wind revealing an orange t-shirt before he disappeared from view. When this was shown to the Hernandez family, they said that Norberto did not own any orange t-shirt. With this revelation, it becomes clear that Norberto Hernandez was most likely not the Falling Man.

Part III

Still determined to determine the identity of the Falling Man, Drew asked surviving employees of Windows on the World to look at the image. Chef Michael Lomonaco (who narrowly missed being at the World Trade Center) agreed to view it. He deduced that the Falling Man looked very much like his close friend, Jonathan Eric Briley, a 43-year-old sound engineer.

Jonathan Briley was described by his friends and family as a man who loved life. According to Lomonaco, Briley had a great sense of humor that knew how to make everyone laugh (even if they had had a bad day). He identified Briley as the Falling Man due to the orange t-shirt that was revealed when the man's jacket came off. 

Jonathan's family and co-workers confirmed that he did often wear an orange t-shirt (one of his favorites) to work under his white jacket. They also noted that his body had been found on the street outside of the North Tower. When Jonathan's older sister (Gwendolyn) viewed the image, she responded that Falling Man could very likely be her brother. Due to these factors, most people now believe that Jonathan Briley was indeed the Falling Man.

Epilogue

The Falling Man was initially printed on September 12, on newspapers around the world. It appeared on the page 7 of The New York Times. It's caption read, "A person falls headfirst after jumping the north tower of the World Trade Center. It was a horrific sight that was repeated in the moments after the planes struck the towers." However, the reception by most readers was very hostile. Most people hated the image of a jumper being in one of the most read newspapers in the country. As a direct result, the photograph was quickly pulled from The New York Times. 

The image did not reappear until May 27, 2007, on page 1 of The New York Times Book Review. In time, the public's attitude softened, and the Falling Man soon became one of the most powerful symbols of September 11, 2001. In many ways, it captured the full horror and terrible loss that was felt by America. It remains a solemn reminder of one of the darkest days in American history.

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a48031/the-falling-man-tom-junod/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-drew-on-photographing-the-falling-man-on-911/

https://gen.medium.com/the-restaurant-that-died-on-9-11-906ac340ee1f

https://www.nationalworld.com/news/world/the-falling-man-who-was-the-person-in-the-911-photo-who-was-jonathan-briley-and-who-took-the-picture-3378687

Hero of the Week 111

Welcome back viewers

This week we will honor a team of heroes

They are...

The crew of United Airlines Flight 811

This flight was a regularly scheduled flight that took off from Los Angeles, California, and was supposed to eventually land in Sydney, Australia. Although nobody could have predicted it, the passengers and crew of Flight 811 would encounter one of the most terrifying accidents in the history of commercial flight. One that would put the crew's training and flight skills to the ultimate test. 

After loading passengers at Honolulu, Hawaii, Flight 811 took off for New Zealand at 1:52 AM in the morning of February 24, 1989. The pilots were, Captain David Cronin, First Officer Gregory Slader, and Flight Engineer Randal Thomas. Onboard were a total of 337 passengers and 18 crew members. In all, there were 355 people aboard United 811. 

Just seventeen minutes after takeoff, the passengers and crew began to hear a grinding noise coming from the front of the plane. Flight attendant Laura Brenlinger was ascending the plane's staircase when she heard a loud thump that shook the plane. A second and a half later, the thump was followed by a huge bang. Brentlinger found herself dangling from the staircase for a full six seconds as almost everything in the plane became airborne. She knew that the plane had just suffered an explosive decompression.

When the pressure equalized, the crew tried to take stalk of what had just happened. Oxygen masks quickly deployed so people could breath. Flight attendants quickly rushed to the scene and saw something horrifying. One of the plane's cargo doors had somehow unlocked. It was then ripped from the plane's side, creating a huge hole, and blowing out three rows of seats (with their passengers). 

After learning of what had happened, Captain Cronin and First Officer Slader quickly began an emergency descent and made a quick 180º left turn back to Honolulu. However, they began to feel heavy vibrations in their controls. They then realized that debris from the plane had damaged two of it's three engines. They were forced to shut them down. Despite this setback, Cronin, Slader, and Flight Engineer Thomas were able to complete a successful emergency landing just 22 minutes after the incident. Only then were they able to see the full damage done to the aircraft.

Aftermath

Tragically, nine passengers had been sucked out of the plane during the explosive decompression. Their bodies were never recovered. A further 38 passengers and crew were injured. An investigation into the disaster concluded that improper wiring and deficiencies within United 811's cargo door had caused it to open. When the flight took off, a short circuit caused the locks on the cargo door to rotate and unlock the door. As a result, aerodynamic forces were able to rip the door open and tear off, causing the explosive decompression. 

Despite the loss of nine passengers, the bravery and skill of the crew of United 811 had prevented further devastation. All of the remaining 346 passengers and crew had survived the ordeal. Captain Dave Cronin eventually retired from flying and lived a quiet life in Nevada. He passed away on October 4, 2010. First Officer Gregory Slader, passed away on Septermber 26, 2016. Today, the story of United Flight 811's brush with disaster is seen as both an example of a tragic malfunction and of great courage and skill. It is a story that will always deserve to be told.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/103194922/from-the-archives-flight-811--the-untold-story

https://simpleflying.com/32-years-on-what-was-learnt-from-united-811s-explosive-decompression/

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2010/10/06/breaking-news/hero-pilot-of-united-flight-811-dies-at-age-81/

Hero of the Week 110

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Anne Bauchens

Anne Bauchens was born on February 2, 1882, in St. Louis, Missouri. Much of her early life is not documented, but when she was a young adult, Anne decided to travel to New York City. She had hoped to become an actress on the Broadway stage. In 1912, she was hired as a secretary to a play-wright named, William DeMille. While working for him, Anne was introduced to his younger brother, Cecil DeMille. From there her life would change forever.

Cecil DeMille was a nascent film director who had just begun what would be a very successful career of making movies. Anne learned that he was making a movie called, Carmen, based the famous novella. Upon looking at the roles of film, Anne immediately became fixated on the DeMille's process of editing the scenes. She brazenly made a bet that she could cut his pictures much better than he could. Cecil responded, "No one will ever cut my pictures but me". 

Yet two months later, he had Anne work as an assistant editor on his 1915 silent movie, Carmen. DeMille was so impressed that he immediately asked her to edit his next project, We can't have everything. From that point onward, Anne Bauchens was the only person who was allowed to edit movies by Cecil DeMille. She worked on so many movies she was given the nickname, "Trojan Annie" by her colleagues. 

The highlight of her career was the 1940 movie, North West Mounted Police. On Febrary 27, 1941, at the 13th Academy Awards, Anne won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. She was the very first woman to win in that category. Anne continued to edit movies by Cecil DeMille until she retired in 1956. Her final movie was, The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. By then, she had worked on more than sixty movies. She passed away on May 7, 1967. 

Today, very few people acknowledge or even know about all the work that goes into making movies. One of the most important jobs is the role of editing the movie. These people are often the ones who decide which scenes will be featured and which ones are deleted. More often than not, they do not receive nearly as much recognition as actors and directors. However, the editing by Anne Bauchens on numerous revolutionary films was very instrumental in there successes. To those who work at Hollywood, she is remembered as one of the very best film editors in the history of film. She truly is someone to be held in high regard.

https://womenfilmeditors.princeton.edu/bauchens-anne/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0061640/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

https://wfpp.columbia.edu/pioneer/anne-bauchens-2/

Iconic Image 7

Welcome back viewers

This month's Iconic Image is...

The Kiss of Life

Intro

This photograph depicts two construction workers dangling from a power line. One of them is completely limp, while the other man is holding him in his arms. He is holding his head and giving him CPR. The image would become a symbol of human determination and companionship. 

Part I

The photograph was taken on July 17, 1967. On that day, Rocco Morabito of the Jacksonville Journal was heading to document a strike by railroad workers. When he was about half way to the strike, he noticed two Jacksonville Electric Authority linemen working on the poles on West 26th Street. Rocco figured that a picture of linemen silhouetted against the sky would make a good picture. He decided that he would return to West 26th Street once he was done with the train strike, he would circle back to the linemen.

After taking a few pictures at the railroad strike, Rocco quickly returned to the linemen. As he got closer he began to hear screams and calls for help. He quickly rushed to the scene and saw something that took his breath away. One of the linemen was dangling from his safety belt while completely limp. Rocco quickly raised his camera as another lineman ran over to the telephone pole and began climbing to his co-worker. He snapped a couple of photographs as the rescuer grabbed his co-worker and began to perform CPR. 

Part II

Both men in the photograph have been identified. The hero of the image is J.D. Thompson. The man being rescued was named, Randall Champion. Thompson was working on a pole adjacent to his colleague when he heard the unmistakable noise of electricity short circuiting. He looked and saw to his horror, that Champion had accidentally grabbed a hot wire. The wire sent more than 2400 jolts of electricity through the latter's system burning out his left foot and knocking him unconscious.

Fearing the worst, Thompson quickly descended from his pole and climbed up to Champion (another linemen quickly cut the power to the wire). When he reached him, Thompson noticed that Champion was turning a deep grayish blue. He quickly cradled his colleague's head in his left arm and proceeded to breath directly into Champion's mouth. He did this while pounding the latter's back with his right arm. After doing this for nearly a minute, Thompson saw Champion's chest starting to rise. Seconds later, he regained consciousness. 

Moments later, an ambulance arrived and rushed Champion to the hospital. By then Rocco Morabito had captured the whole moment in a burst of photos. Little did he know, that one of them would become a major icon in the history of photography.

Epilogue

When Rocco Morabito submitted his photograph of J.D. Thompson giving CPR to Randall Champion, it instantly made the front page headlines of newspapers all around the world. It was labeled, "The Kiss of Life". People called it, "an incredible act of heroism, a life or death moment, all captured by Rocco in a split second". Ten months later, Rocco Morabito's image won the coveted Pulitzer Prize.

Although Randall Champion had suffered severe third degree burns on his left foot (and needed skin-grafts), he made a full recovery from the incident. He and J.D. Thompson remained close friends until his death in 2002. Thompson still lives in Florida. Despite being called a hero many times, he continually downplays his actions that day. When interviewed in 2017, Thompson was quoted as saying, "If other people were there, if I hadn't got there first, they would have done the exact same thing I did. It's been done many times before; peoples' lives were saved. But there were no pictures."

Rocco Morabito also remained good friends with both Champion and Thompson. He continued to work for the Jacksonville Journal until his retirement in 1982. He passed away on April 5, 2009, at the age of 88. Today, the Kiss of Life continues to awe and inspire millions of people all over the world. It is remembered as a great moment of friendship and humanity.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20170716/50-years-later-kiss-of-life-photo-still-stops-people-in-their-tracks

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/kiss-of-life-hero-reflects-50-years-after-iconic-moment/65-454108459

https://mdorfster.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/critical-analysis-the-kiss-of-life/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/kiss-of-life

Hero of the Week 109

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Charles Gould

Intro

Charles Gilbert Gould was born on May 5, 1845, in Windham, Vermont. When he was a child he was severely burned on his legs when hot water spilled was spilled on him. He was unable to walk properly until he was six. But despite this setback, Charles was determined to serve his country. When war broke out between the states, he answered the call to duty. Little did he know, he would play a significant role in one of the most important battles. 

Part I

By 1865, the longest siege in American history was finally coming to an end. The Union Army of the Potomac had been attempting to break through the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's trenches around the city of Petersburg ever since June 15, 1864. A series of battles had been fought around the city with tens of thousands of casualties on both sides.

Despite the heavy casualties, the tide of the war had slowly turned in the Union's favor. The Union armies and Navy had scored many important battlefield victories in Tennessee, Georgia, and the Shenandoah Valley. These coupled with President Lincoln's reelection in 1864, renewed the Union war effort and inspired many more young men to enlist and fight. On March 25, the Confederacy attempted to breakout from Petersburg by attacking a Union outpost at Fort Stedman. Although the Federal garrison was caught be surprise and initially forced to retreat, they were able to launch a successful counterattack that retook the fort.

The successful defense of Fort Stedman inspired General Grant to launch a new assault on Petersburg. Since the previous two assaults on the city had failed miserably, he chose to change tactics for this third attack. Instead of launching a direct frontal assault on the Confederate trenches in the light of day, the Union regiments would attack in the dead of night. The men who would be in the first wave were all from the 1st Vermont Infantry Brigade. And the man who would be spearheading this attack was, Captain Charles Gould.

Part II

Early in the morning of April 2, the men of Vermont Brigade crept out of their trenches. Captain Gould was in command of the 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment. Under the cover of darkness, they slowly advanced towards the Confederate line. When they approached the first enemy rifle pits, Gould ordered them to fix bayonets. He ordered a couple of soldiers to kill the Confederate sentries in the rifle pits. They did so, and the regiment continued it's advance. When they were near enough, Gould ordered them to charge.

Despite catching the Confederates by surprise, the attack quickly hit a snag. A number of unseen obstructions slowed down their advance and made them easy targets for the defenders. Just when it seemed that the attack would fail, Captain Gould ran ahead of the regiment. He drew his sword and charged directly into the Confederate trench. He was almost immediately confronted by enemy defenders. He is believed to have personally killed at least three Confederate soldiers before he was bayoneted in the left side of his face (the scar is visible above). Gould grabbed the enemy soldier's bayonet and pulled it out. He than stabbed his attacker through the neck and killed him. However, another Confederate soldier stabbed him in the back while another clubbed him in his head. 

Just when it seemed that Gould was going to be killed, his comrades burst into the trench and began to engage the Confederates. Inspired by Gould's valor and leadership, the men of the 5th Vermont overwhelmed the defenders and successfully captured the trenches. Once this line was pierced, the whole Confederate line began to break as more and more Federal soldiers poured through. 

Epilogue

For Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, the Breakthrough at Petersburg was the beginning of the end. More than 5,000 of his army was either killed or captured in the fighting. Among the dead was one of his best generals (Ambrose P. Hill). He was forced to pull what remained of his army out of Petersburg and retreat to the west. The very next day, the Union Army entered Petersburg and hours later, Richmond (the Confederate Capital). A week later the Union Army caught up and surrounded Lee at Appomattox Court House. With no hope of escaping the encirclement, General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army surrendered. 

For his incredible valor in leading his regiment into the trenches, Captain Charles Gould was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. When he returned to Vermont, he received a hero's welcome. He spent the rest of his life working to help fellow veterans and the families of those who did not return. He died on December 5, 1916. Today, Captain Gould is credited with leading the final charge that would win the American Civil War. He truly is someone to be held in high regard.

https://emergingcivilwar.com/2015/04/02/breakthrough-at-petersburg-first-man-over-the-works/

https://pamplinpark.org/the-common-soldier/

https://www.thisiswhywestand.net/single-post/2017/08/15/blood-and-fury-americas-civil-war-captain-charles-gould-at-the-battle-of-petersburg

Hero of the Week 108

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Elfego Baca

Elfego Baca was born on February 10, 1865, in the town of Socorro,  New Mexico Territory. He grew up in Topeka, Kansas before returning to New Mexico in 1880 after the unexpected passing of his mother. He was inspired by his father to become a lawman. Four years later, Baca was appointed deputy sheriff of Socorro Country, New Mexico. Little did he know, that bringing law and order to the state was going to test him beyond all limits.

In October of 1884, Elfego Baca spotted a local cowboy who was wanted for public drunkenness. When he approached to take the man (Charlie McCarty) into custody, the latter refused to comply and grabbed one of Baca's guns from it's holster. When Baca drew his second gun, a couple of other cowboys (who were McCarty's companions) drew their guns on him. Baca was forced to retreat. When one of the assailants attempted to pursue him, Baca shot his attackers horse causing it to fatally throw its rider.

After a judge dismissed the charges against Charlie McCarty, he ordered a local rancher named Bert Hearne to round up a posse, apprehend Baca, and bring him in for questioning about the gunfight. However, Hearne (who was a racist) had no intention of taking Baca alive and resolved to make an example of him. Hearne told his posse that Elfego Baca was leading a Mexican uprising in New Mexico and that he was better off dead. 

Hearne and his posse rode into the small town of Frisco and cornered Elfego Baca in the local jail. When Baca refused to come out with his hands up, the posse opened fire. Baca returned fire and killed Hearne with a gunshot to the torso. The rest of the group continued to pour fire into the prison. Baca continued to return fire. With his superior marksmanship, he successfully killed three more of his attackers and wounded eight.

In order to end the bloodshed, a newly appointed deputy from Socorro approached the prison and convinced Baca to surrender. At his trial for the murder of Bert Hearne, Baca's defense attorneys entered into evidence the doors and walls of the prison where the latter at taken cover. During the shootout, more than 400 bullets were counted in the door alone. After being shown how determined the posse was to kill Baca, the jury voted for acquittal. 

After being released, Elfego Baca resumed his career as a lawmen and rose to the rank of Sheriff of Socorro County. He quickly established a reputation of convincing outlaws to come quietly without resisting. Due to his fame after the Frisco Shootout, most outlaws chose not to test him. For the rest of his life, he worked as a marshal, a lawyer, a school superintendent, and a district attorney. He died on August, 27, 1945. Today he is remembered as one of New Mexico's most revered and influential lawmen.

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-elfegobaca/

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/life/2016/11/01/nine-lives-elfego-baca/92907392/

https://truewestmagazine.com/legend-elfego-baca/

Hero of the Week 107

 Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Elizabeth Van Lew

Elizabeth Van Lew was born on October 12, 1818, in Richmond, Virginia. When she was a child, she was sent to a Quaker school in Philadelphia. This had the unintended consequence of causing her to reform her views on life. One of the things that changed forever, was her view on slavery. 

Although she had come from a slave-holding family, Elizabeth became an anti-slavery advocate as soon as she returned to Virginia. When her father died in 1843, she made the decision to free their family's slaves. However, her fight against slavery did not end there. When the Virginia seceded from the Union and Civil War began in 1860, Elizabeth Van Lew decided that her loyalties would lie with the Union.

During the war, an old tobacco factory was used as a prisoner-of-war camp in the city of Richmond. It was meant to incarcerate Union officers who were captured during battle. It was called, Libby Prison. Due to the Confederacy's limited amount of supplies conditions inside the prison were quite deplorable for anyone unlucky enough to be taken there. Many of the prisoners began to die within weeks of their arrival.

Elizabeth decided to aid the prisoners in any way that she could. She persuaded the Confederate warden of the prison camp to allow her to bring food and medicine to the prisoners. By doing this, she incurred much anger and disgust from many of her neighbors who were ardent supporters of slavery and secession. It was not long that she began receiving numerous death threats wherever she went in Richmond. Despite her unpopularity, Elizabeth not only continued to help the Union POWs, she also participated in espionage against the Confederacy.

She organized a spy network of 12 people (including former slaves). They began their activities by smuggling letters from the prisoners out of Libby Prison to their families. As the war progressed, they began reporting on Confederate troop movements through Virginia. She was able to smuggle her dispatches to Union lines by using a colorless liquid to conceal the words and numbers on the paper. She would then use a courier to carry them to the nearest Union outpost. The words could be uncovered when milk was poured over them. By December of 1863, her network began the high risk operation of aiding the escape of POWs from Libby Prison. Her information would play a decisive role in one of the most famous prison escapes in American history. 

In February of 1864, Elizabeth Van Lew received word that the POWs in Libby Prison were planning a mass breakout. She aided them by smuggling them maps of the area that showed how to avoid Confederate outposts. The breakout began on the night of February 14, when 108 prisoners escaped through an underground tunnel that they had dug. Due to the information that they had been given, approximately 58 successfully evaded recapture and made it to Union lines (48 were recaptured and 2 drowned while crossing the Potomac River). 

For the rest of the war, Elizabeth Van Lew's spy network continued to aide the Union armies. One member of her network (a former slave named, Mary Bowser) proved to be invaluable. She was able to disguise herself as one of Confederate President Jefferson Davis's slaves and sneak into his home. Once there she stole numerous of documents from his desk. These documents were then delivered to directly to Union General Ulysses S. Grant during his Overland Campaign in 1864. They would have a direct impact in his eventual victory over Robert E. Lee a year later.

When the Civil War ended, Elizabeth Van Lew's network officially disbanded. However, General Grant never forgot her incredible contribution to the Union war effort. When he was elected President in 1869, Grant appointed Elizabeth to the position of postmistress of Richmond (a position she held for eight years). Despite being lauded as a hero by the Federal government, she was treated as an outcast by the people of Virginia (especially in Richmond). Many of them viewed her as a traitor to the Confederate cause and treated with contempt for the rest of her life. When she died on September 25, 1900, hardly anyone in Virginia (except for her family) mourned her.

Today however, Elizabeth Van Lew is remembered as an American hero. In 1993, she was posthumously inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. Her headstone reads, "She risked everything that is dear to man–friends, fortune, comfort, health, life itself, all for the one absorbing desire in her heart–that slavery might be abolished and the Union preserved". No words could better describe, Elizabeth Van Lew.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/elizabeth-van-lew

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/elizabeth-van-lew-an-unlikely-union-spy-158755584/

https://ehistory.osu.edu/articles/elizabeth-van-lew-crazy-bet-brings-down-richmond

Iconic Image 6

 Welcome back viewers

This month's Iconic Image is...

The Kent State shooting

Intro

This image depicts a teenage girl kneeling over the body of a teenage boy while screaming in terror. Behind her foot, is a long blood trail that is staining the street. Other students are standing by in shock and disbelief over what has just happened. This photograph would become a haunting image of one of America's greatest tragedies.

Part I

The day of May 4, 1970, was a day that began like any other for the students and teachers of Kent State University. Things took a different turn at noon when thousands students and activists gathered on the university's Commons just out side the Taylor Hall building. They were anti-war activists protesting the American involvement in the Vietnam War. President Nixon had recently announced that he had ordered an Incursion into the country of Cambodia (which bordered Vietnam). This announcement caused nation-wide protests against the widening of a war that had already become very unpopular.

The college of Kent State was no exception. The number of protesters gathering at the college alarmed Ohio Governor Jim Rhoades, who ordered the deployment of the Ohio National Guard to Kent State. Fearing that a riot was about to take place, university officials attempted to ban the gathering. Despite their best efforts, more than 2,000 people gathered at the Commons to demonstrate. The protest officially began with students ringing the college's Victory Bell. The National guardsmen arrived just minutes later and ordered the protesters to disperse. When they refused, the guardsmen fixed bayonets and began advancing. When the protesters threw rocks at them, they returned fire with tear gas. For the next 20 minutes the guardsmen tried to disperse the protesters. Although some of the latter left, most stood their ground.

At 12:24 PM, a group of guardsmen suddenly wheeled around on a hill overlooking the crowd and fired. For the next 13 seconds, they fired a total of 67 live rounds of ammunition into the protesters. Due to their elevation on the hill, many of the bullets passed over the heads of the protesters and hit those in the back of the crowd. When the shooting was over, three students lay dead on the ground. A fourth would die in the hospital. Another nine were severely wounded (one would be paralyzed for the rest of his life). Only after the shooting, did the protesters finally disperse while some stayed behind to tend to the wounded.

Part II

Among the protesters was a senior majoring in photography named, John Filo. Filo had been working for Kent State University's newspaper and decided to photograph the incident. After taking numerous images of the protest, Filo was forced to dive for cover when the shooting began. When it had stopped, Filo looked up and saw a young girl kneeling over another student. The girl was screaming for someone to help the young man. Since Filo only had enough film left for one more picture, he snapped a quick image of the spectacle before quickly leaving the scene (he feared his camera would be confiscated by the police). 

The girl in the picture was identified as Mary Ann Vecchio. She was a 14 year old runaway from Florida who had hitchhiked her way to Kent, Ohio. She had arrived at the college campus to take part in the anti-war protest. Before the shooting started, Mary had met a student named, Jeffrey Glenn Miller. Jeff was a recent transfer student from Michigan. 

He was friends with two other students on the campus (Allison Krause and Sandra Scheuer). Mary and Jeff were having a conversation when the National Guard suddenly opened fire on them. Jeff was shot through his mouth and died instantly. His two friends, Allison and Sandra were also killed. The fourth victim was a psychology student named, William Knox Schroeder. Tragically of the four victims, two of them (Sandra and William) were not taking part in the protest. They were simply walking to class when they were caught in the crossfire.

Epilogue

John Filo's image of the massacre ultimately became the most famous of the day. His photograph won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1971. He continues to work as a successful photographer to this day. The shooting at Kent State sent waves of anger across the United States and turned many more Americans against the war. Despite the carnage that had been caused, no member of the Ohio National Guard was ever charged for the shooting. Why the guardsmen opened fire has never been determined.

Although the photograph had made Mary Ann Vecchio very famous, she very much resented all the attention that was given to her. In fact, it ended up getting her arrested and sent to juvenile detention since she was a runaway. After a couple run-ins with the law, she eventually married and worked at a casino. Despite all the trouble it had caused her, Mary Ann harbored no resentment towards John Filo. The met in 1995 and remain good friends to this day. She is now retired and lives in Florida. 

This photograph remains a symbol of a great tragedy in American history. It tells a story of a loss of innocence and of life. But it also shows the power that the voices of students can have when they wish to be heard. The anti-war protesters only grew larger and stronger after the shootings at Kent State. Ultimately, they succeeded in convincing President Nixon to withdraw American servicemen from Vietnam.

https://www.kent.edu/may-4-historical-accuracy

https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/kent-state-shooting

https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/04/19/girl-kent-state-photo-lifelong-burden-being-national-symbol/

Hero of the Week 106

 Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Alice Coachman 

Alice Coachman was born on November 9, 1923. She was the fifth of ten children raised in the city of Albany, Georgia. Despite growing up facing severe racism and sexism, Alice was determined to break barriers. Whenever she wasn't at school, she trained herself by running barefoot on dirt roads and jumping over raised obstacles. After receiving some encouragement from her aunt and a teacher, Alice joined her high school's track team in 1938. She quickly excelled at the sport of high jumping.

After she graduated high school, Alice attended Albany State University. She graduated from college with a degree in dressmaking and home economics. During this time, she continued to compete in the sport of track and field for her college. By the time she graduated from Albany, Alice had already won numerous races for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships. Her growing skills at the High Jump event eventually caught the eyes of the American Olympic Team. 

Although the Summer Olympics for 1940 and 1944 had been canceled due to World War II, Coachman successfully tried out for the 1948 Olympics in London (despite suffering a back injury). On August 7, she found herself on the race track competing in the High Jump event. On her very first attempt, Alice leapt 1.68 meters (5 ft 6 in) into the air (an Olympic Record). Although Dorothy Tyler (of the United Kingdom) was able to match her jump, she did so on her second try. 

Since none of her opponents were able to overtake her score, Alice was declared the winner of the gold medal. Dorothy Tyler of the UK took the silver and Micheline Ostermeyer of France took the bronze. The crowd watched in awe as King George VI walked out to the podium on the track and presented the gold medal to a woman of color. For a brief moment, the eyes of the world were all on Alice Coachman. She was the first African-American woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics and the only American woman for that year.

Due to the back injury she had suffered, Alice Coachman's career came to an end when she was only 24. She spent the rest of her life working in education. In 1979, she was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2004, she was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. She passed away on July 14, 2014, at the age of 90. Today, Alice Coachman is remembered as a woman who faced challenges head on and broke barriers. She serves as a major inspiration for thousands of black athletes around the world. Her story is definitely one that deserves to be remembered.

http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2021/may/27/sports-historian-explores-how-racism-impacted-fema/

https://kiss951.com/2021/02/15/black-history-month-heroes-you-should-know-alice-coachman/

https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/cbs-sports-honors-alice-coachman-with-animated-vignette-for-black-history-month/

https://www.ajc.com/sports/high-school-sports-blog/for-a-generation-black-georgia-women-dominated-womens-track-and-field/6NZRB3PAO5GZHMZIZO3DQFN5N4/

https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/sports-outdoor-recreation/alice-coachman-1923-2014