February i2. 2003 She fflortlanò OPfagenier celebrates Black History Month Page Al I John Arthur (Jack) Johnson, born in Galveston, Texas, was the first black to win the world heavyweight title and was one o f boxing's greatest and most controversial champions. Black History Month Distinguished Solider was an American Hero African American succeeded in life despite racism and false charges by S ean P. N elson , T he P ortland O bserver Bom a slave in 1856 in Thomasville. Ga., Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper distinguished him self as a Buffalo Soldier for the IOth U.S. Cavalry only to be falsely accused of embezzlement and dismissed from the Army in disgrace. Despite the stigma visited upon him by what was later determined to be a racist white Army officer corps, he led a successful live as a civil engineer, assistant to the Secretary o f (he Interior, special agent lor the U.S. Justice Department, cartographer, author and newspaper editor. Flipper was also promi­ nent in the nation’s oil industry. North Portland resident Carl Flipper is a descen­ dant o f this African American hero. “Henry was the oldest son o f five Flipper broth­ ers, two of whom were bom into slavery. Henry was the first and oldest brother, my great grandfather. Bishop Joseph S. Flipper, was the second brother,” Flipper said. Flipper said his great granduncle retired to A t­ lanta. Ga. after travels in the American Southwest, M exico and Venezuela. He lived with his brother, Joseph until his death in 1940. "Henry had no children, never married and conse­ quently we were his closest relatives. His three younger brothers were much younger than he in age and lived in the Southern part of Georgia,” Flipper said. He counts among one of his most prized posses­ sions a letter his great granduncle wrote i n 1939 to his grandfather. Rev. Carl F. Flipper Sr. o f Kansas City. The letter tells what Lt. Flipper knew o f his fam ily’s history on Carl Flipper’s father’s side. “It’s among my most valued possessions o f per­ sonal family history and certainly my most valued possession of H enry’s,” Flipper said. Lt. Flipper spent his childhood as a slave in Thomasville and lived in Macon and Atlanta during the Civil War. In 1864 another slave taught him to read. By late 1865, he attended several schools established by the American Missionary Associa­ tion. *4 jtsfan A À *,/ »4 a s í « In 1873, Flipper was appointed to the U.S. M ili­ tary A cadem y at W est Point by Rep. James C. Freeman of Georgia Her graduated 50th in a class of 76— the first black man ever to do so. On his first assignment as an Army soldier in 1878, Lt. Flipper and his troop were sent to Fort Sill, Okla. to construct a drainage ditch to keep water away from the encampment in a battle against mosquitoes carrying malaria. Today, “Flipper's Ditch" is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1880. Ripper received military honors for build­ ing a ferry to bring soldiers across a river at Fort Davis, Texas. During the same period, his troop won praise for a surprise attack against a band of maraud­ ing Indians. Lt. Flipper would later return to Fort Davis and to a job that would lead to his co u rt m artial. At F ort Davis, he encountered of­ ficers who showed an open dislike of him and set traps for him. On June 20,1882, he was accused of em bez­ zling government funds and of conduct unbecom­ H i 1 A H A h . ing an officer. A general court martial followed, finding him in­ Lt. H enry 0 . Flipper, a form er slave, B uffalo Soldier a n d hero, w as nocent of the theft charge p a rd o n ed b y P resident Bill Clinton in 1 9 9 9 a fter b ein g falsely a c c u se d but guilty o f misconduct. o f e m b e z z le m e n t a n d d is m is s e d from th e Army in 1 8 8 2 . He was dismissed from the Army in disgrace. therewereraeial motivations and trumped npcharges Today, Lt. Flipper’s great grandnephew says behind the court martial. everybody in connection with the case, and every­ “We always knew the charges were racially moti­ body who had ever reviewed the case, agrees that vated. Ultimately President Clinton was made aware A A Î Everybody in connection with the case, everybody who had ever reviewed the case agreed that there were racial motivations and trumped up charges behind his court martial. 5*' 14 .« in & X if, "Exonerating him and restoring him to full military honors 37 years after his death helped to resolve some of the guilt that society had to feel about this great injustice done to a loyal servant of America, but Henry during his lifetime was denied justice. There’s no softening of that blow.” On Feb. 11,1978, Lt. Flipper returned to his home­ town ol Thomasville, Ga. His body was disinterred and then reinterred with full military honors. About 500 people came to pay their respects at the First Mission­ ary Baptist Church as Lt. Flipper’s remains lay draped in a steel gray coffin draped with the U.S. flag. At high noon, six military pallbearers snapped to attention and carried Lt. Flipper’s coffin from the church to the waiting cortege, a military ammunition wagon. Honor guards were from the 586th Engineer­ ing C ompany and the 36th Engineering Group. A> A i t A f r — North Portland resident Carl Flipper, descen­ dant of 10th U.S. Cavalry Lt. Henry O. Flipper, i The Thomasville High School Band played The Star Spangled Banner. Afterwards the military detail lifted and held the flag above the coffin as a 21 gun salute was fired. Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper was home to stay, his name cleared at last. On Feb. 19,1999 President Bill C linton pardoned Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper posthu­ mously erasing the stigma on an extraordinary mili­ tary and professional career. Today, the African American solider iscommemo- rated by the Henry Ossian Flipper Memorial Award, established in 1981 by the Association o f Graduates, United States M ilitary Academy, West Point. The award is given to the cadet who demonstrates the highest qualities o f leadership, self discipline and perseverance in the face of unusual difficulties. that they were racially motivated,” Flipper said. Still, Flipper calls it a case of “Justice delayed is justice denied. “I believe Henry was denied justice,” Flipper said. A it /XT Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health A program of the African American Health Coalition. Inc. Sponsored by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) We recognize that the varied perspectives people bring to their work at C-TRAN helps generate more ideas and better solutions. Add your strengths to our team. Call (360)906-7491 or visit our Web site at WWW.C-tran.COm to learn about job openings at C-TRAN. Wellness Within REACH: Mind, Body, and Soul Activity Calendar Mon C-TRAN is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce and guided by an Affirmative Action Program. Tues Wed Thurs Mall Dishman 77 NE Knott Fri Sat Old School African Dance Dance 10:00-11:00am 6.00-700pm Addo Kendrick Salvation Arny 5325 N WH ubs . Water Aerobics Water Aerobics 2:00 2 0 0 - 3:00pm 3:00pm Hampton Natnre'i 3535 NE 15A. Pcnsola Park 7