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. 

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