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■ 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
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K C Food M arket
309 N Killingsworth
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Union M arket
3837 NE M LK Jr. Blvd.
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Alberta Street M arket
915 N E Alberta
503-281-6388
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