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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2002)
®l’* $ lo rtla n ì> Page A6 ■ B lack H istory M o n th 2 0 0 2 s p e c i a l A N A M E R IC A N S T O R Y — ( í) b » e r u e r February 27, 2002 e d itio n ------ Based on the Hollywood Movie, “Glory” The Massachusetts 54“’ Colored Infantry was the first all-black Northern regiment to light in the Civil War. Details of their bravery were chronicled in the Hollywood film, “Glory”. Sergeant William Carney was cited for military valor in an act that defied all odds. In the Battle of Fort W agner in South Carolina, the 54‘h and SS“1 black regiments saw their commander Robert G. Shaw shot down on July 18,1863. The 54"' lead the assault on the Confederate on the Confederate Fort that protected the approach to the South Carolina Charleston Harbor that day. As the fierce battle dragged on, over 1,500 black troops would lose their lives. While running, Carney noticed that a shell had hit the soldier who was carrying the Northern flag. He grabbed it and held it up, leading the final charge on the fort. Although he had been shot. Sergeant Carney refused to go down. When he got shot a second time, he was now severely injured and knew he was going to fall. He handed off the flag, saying, “Boys, it never touched the ground.” Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. brought Harlem to Congress. Minister, politician and public figure, Powell forced the city, state and federal governments to make room for African Americans and their representatives. Caldwell’s Colonial Chapel Funeral Home/Crematory celebrates Black History Month 20 NE. 14th Ave., Portland, OR. 97232 503-232-4111 Fax 503-231-1586 Honored Provider Dignity Memorial Sergeant William Carney was one o f the first African Americans to receive a presidential Medal o f Honor for his bravery in leading an all black Northern regiment in the Civil War. The movie “Glory" is historically based on this colored infantry from Massachusetts. In 1900, thirty-seven years after the battle, Carney was issued the Congressional medal o f Honor, be coming the first African American ever to receive the much-coveted award. Congress established the Medal of Honor in 1862. It was to be awarded for “gallantry at the risk of life above the call o f duty.” O ut o f the one hundred and eighty thousand black soldiers who fought for the Union Army in the Civil W ar, sixteen w ere aw arded the M edal o f Honor. WWIT Soldier Outfoxes Enemy With Self-Sacrificing Artillary Attack begged Fox not to do it, he told As the tide of World W ar II them that it was the only way to began to turn in America’s favor, defeat the G ermans. He ordered a lone African American Lieuten them to fire on his position, ant helped finish the job in the knowing his life would be a small vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy. price to pay for the freedom of John Fox of Cannon Company, all Americans. 366lh Regiment, 92 Infantry Divi A short tim e later when a sion, not only gave the ultimate counterattack by the A m eri sacrifice, he did it on purpose, can forces retook the tow n, ordering himself to be blown up Lt. John R. F o x ’s body was on the day after Christmas in 1944. discovered in the m iddle o f W ith prior experience as a for over one hundred Germ an sol ward observer, he remained on diers. The defeat was a hu the 2nd floor of a house while m iliating one to the G erm ans U.S. troops were forced to w ith w ho thought for sure that they draw from a powerful German Lieutenant John R. Fox helped w ould be victorius. force. At 8 a.m. on Dec. 26, Fox turn the tide o f World War II by John Fox’ s bravery and will began directing artillery fire. Care forcing German soldiers to ingness to pay the ultimate price fully peering out the window, he withdraw. He died as a sacrifice was the one thing the Germans noticed that a lot of German sol after successfully defeating the did not count on. Because of diers had entered the town on enemy at their own game. this sacrifice and by others, Christmas and Christmas Eve in American troops would finally defeat the enemy and civilian clothes. It was clear now that the town was restore freedom to scores of millions throughout the overrun with German soldiers. Continually warned of world. how close to his own position he was ordering Thirty-eight years later, Fox was approved for the artillery fire, he gave one more order that would take Distinguished Service Cross, outranked only by the his own life. Congressional Medal of Honor. As soldiers on the other end o f the big guns The Korean American Association of Oregon Boston M arket 726 NE Killingsworth 503-282-6776 Killingsworth Food M art 1616 N E Killingsworth 503-281-2154 Knott St. Grocery 2709 NE 7th 503-284-7490 C ullen’s Corner 4938 N A lbina 503-287-0542 Ainsworth M arket 5949 NE 30th 503-281-0479 P rescott C orner M ark et 1460 N E Prescott 503-284-7418 K C Food M arket 309 N Killingsworth 503-289-7430 Union M arket 3837 NE M LK Jr. Blvd. 503-284-6511 Alberta Street M arket 915 N E Alberta 503-281-6388 I A
