November 24, 2004________________________________ ®*!'
H a it i » © b s C r U e r ______________________________ __________ Page A3
COURAGEOUS
Paying the
ultimate price
for freedom
ki lied Germans right up to the very moment
o f the signing o f the treaty. At one particu
lar German stronghold, the only way to
have that could happen was to first sacri
fice hundreds o f our soldiers.
Basically, the black division, bearing
only bayonets and small arms, would go
A F R IC A N
AMERICANS
soldiers were led out onto the field and
forced to charge. They were shot down
like lambs on their way to the market.
In doing so, the G erm ans exposed
their positions and the w hite troops
that w ould follow would o vertake their
positions, becom e heroes and go hom e
One o f the m ost,
heartbreaking sto
ries ever to cross
my path was an un
n e c e s sa ry o rd e r
that resulted in the
deaths o f hundreds
of soldiers from all
black 92nd A rm y b Y R on W eber
Division in World W ar I.
The division was sent into a no-win
situation to die for white soldiers who
would follow in battle against the Ger
man enemy. If this doesn't anger one
enough, the timing of this action will.
Only three hours before the end of
the war, the brave soldiers o f the 92nd
were led to their slaughter. America’s
European commander. General Pershing
had a plan. He knew the Armistice end
ing the war would be signed in just three
hours on that day, Nov. 11, 1918.
Pershing said he want to “be sitting
in his office,” while A merica’s soldiers
Ask e
R e a l P e o p le , R e a l A d vic e
tn advice column known for
its fearless approach to reality
based subjects’
The brave soldiers were led out onto the
field and forced to charge. They were shot
down like lambs on their way to the market.
up against large-caliber German machine
guns mounted on tanks and in stationary
points out of American view. The brave
Dear Deanna!
I don’t want my father at the
house for Thanksgiving because
he gets drunk and causes a di
saster. Last year, while drunk,
he stuck his hand inside the
turkey while we were praying;
he used the bathroom in the
closet and then started cursing
everybody. It was embarrass
ing and all the guests left with
out eating and the food was
wasted. How do I tell him to
stay home? -T o n y a M.; Nor
folk, Va.
Dear Tonya M;
Holidays are for fami lies even if
with the m edals. A lthough many w hites
died too, the first w ave o f soldiers to
attack were all black and stood nochance
yours is from a Jerry Springer
movie. Ifdinner is at your house,
purchased with your money,
then you make the rules. In
stead of keeping him away, be
firm and let him know he has to
come sober or he can stay at
home and eat a microwave meal.
Dear Deanna!
I have a girlfriend of about 4
months. I thought we were
close, but over the past few
days she’s pulled a few disap
pearing acts. Come to think of it,
I haven’t seen or heard much of
her in the past month and I don’ t
at all.
Although Pershing was brutally con
fronted by the public after the war for his
actions, he merely dusted the whole situ
ation off and continued on with his pres
tigious career. All the dead men were
simply “casualties o f war,” to him. No
one was ever able to convince him other
wise.
For the millions o f soldiers, family
members, and other citizens around the
world, the signing o f the Armistice at 11
a.m. that day, would be remembered as
one of the happiest days in their lives. For
several thousand soldiers, including
hundreds from the 92nd, it would be a day
o f morning for all of eternity.
Almost a century later, people still ask
why General Pershing sent out U w p s to
fight those last few hours. For most o f us,
the whole thing is a heart-wrenching
mystery, lost in the ego of one military
commander.
The 92nd would continue to fight on for
America and showed exemplary service
in the wars that would follow. World War
Il as well as the Korea. They will always
be remembered as some o f the bravest
fighters the world has ever seen.
Though hundreds gave up their lives
for one arrogant and power-hungry gen
eral, America has not forgotten their ul
timate sacrifice.
Honored for
Helping Children
Kay Toran, president and chief execu
tive officer of Volunteers of America, O r
egon will receive the 2005 Urban Pioneer
Award for Civic Leadership from the C ol
lege of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland
State University.
“Kay Toran has a long and distinguished
career helping and supporting Oregon’s
children and families," said Lawrence Wallack,
the college’s dean. "Her legacy is one of
giving back, to the people and the communi
ties that propelled her professional life."
Toran said her
parents passed
on to her a sense
o f service - to
give back to her
community.
'T o be recog
nized for my per
sonal co m m it
ment of finding
so lu tio n s for
O regon’s high- Kay Toran
need
g roups
dealing with issues of class, poverty and race
is so rewarding and a statement to those who
share my passions and work tirelessly to help
others,” Toran said.
The award will be presented during a
special ceremony next April.
Toran is a long-time public servant and
a former administrator of the State Office for
Services to Children and Families. Since
1999, she has guided Volunteers of America,
Oregon, an organization that serves thou
sands of Oregon families, children, seniors
and those needing rehabilitation services.
know what she’s up to. What
should I do? —Anonymous.;
Charlotte, N.C.
keep disappearing. Move on
while you can.
Dear Anonymous:
I’m involved in a love triangle
and I can’t get out. My fiancée’
has started seeing another fe
male. He says he loves me and
he wants to get the other girl out
of the relationship and marry
me, but he’s trying to let her
down easy. He needs to hurry A sk D eanna is w ritten by D eanna
up and quit playing games. — M. W rite A sk D eanna! Email:
a s k d e a n n a l @ y a h o o .c o m o r
Tammy; Decatur, Ga.
A relationship is like a new job,
it takes 6 months to learn it and
another 6 months to get the
hang of it. You haven’t been
with this woman long enough to
build trust and respect or lay the
foundation fora lasting relation
ship. Take the hint and realize
you’re not on the same page
and she has other things on her
agenda that doesn’t include you.
Don' t wait around for Casper to
Dear Deanna!
Dear Tammy:
If I’m right, you’re the type of
female that studies for a blood
test. Leave your triangle and
find a man that will really put a
circle around your finger. The
writing’sonthe wall. If he cheats
as a fiancée, what makes you
think he’ll be committed as a
husband? Unless you’re des
perate, or hard up for a man, —
lose that zero and find your own
hero.
w rite: D ea n n a M, P.O . B ox
88847, Los A ngeles. CA 90009.
W ebsite: w w w .askdeanna.com
Skilled.
Dedicated.
Ready
to finish what
they started.
From the very beginning of the New Colum
bia project, Walsh Construction Co./OR, w o rk
ing w ith the Housing A uthority of Portland,
hired skilled people from the community. Their
competence, commitment and hard work have
successfully brought us to this point:
th e fin a l bidd in g o p p o rtu n ity
on th e project.
Come jo in our team ! Subcontractors and
suppliers, call Carolyn Wilson at 503.222.4375
or visit www.walshconstructionco.com.
Bids are due
D ecem ber 14, 2004
by 2:00 p.m . to
Walsh C onstruction Co.
Fax bids to 503.274.7676
WALSH
Construction Co./OR