This Week in American History: 1621 – Samoset Meets Plymouth Settlers

By ANDY KOBER
Here is what happened this week in American History.
• Mar. 12. On this day in 1950, Operation Ripper in the Korean War is proving successful as the US 1st Calvary, US 1st Marine Division, and Republic of Korea 6th Marine Division along with the US 24th Division reach the Albany Line objective by nightfall. The US 2nd Infantry Division has been assigned the gruesome task of searching for the bodies of fellow ROK, UN and US Soldiers and Marines lost in earlier fighting against the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army and North Korean Peoples Army. They recover about 250 bodies along with considerable equipment abandoned by the PVA and KPA as they retreat. ROK, UN and US forces continue pushing northward toward the next objectives.
• Mar. 13. In 1939, singer, songwriter and pianist Neil Sedaka was born in Brooklyn, NY. An interesting background, Sedaka’s father was of Lebanese Jewish descent while his mother was Ashkenazi Jew of Polish and Russian descent. His performance in a second-grade chorus class led his teacher to recommend piano lessons to his parents and at the age of eight, he auditioned for and won a scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School of Music’s Preparatory Division for Children. Sedaka’s mother wanted him to pursue classical music, and while he enjoyed performing classical music throughout his career, he discovered pop music and that would shape his future. Sedaka would enjoy a huge career in the music industry in the genres of Pop, Rock and Roll, Doo-Wop and more. Sedaka died just a few days ago, February 27, after performing just two days earlier. He was 86 years old.
• Mar. 14. Today in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt establishes the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Located in the Indian River Lagoon east of Sebastian, Florida, it was the first national wildlife refuge in the US. The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge includes nearly 5,400 acres and is operated under the US Department of the Interior and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Mar. 15. On this day in 1950, the South Korean town of Hongcheon, formerly under control of PVA and KPA forces, fall to the US 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. Also closing in on Hongcheon were the US 1st Marine Division, US Army 1st Calvary Division, US 24th and 27th Infantry Divisions along with the Turkish Brigade. Meanwhile, military intelligence determines that PVA and KPA forces are abandoning Seoul, the South Korean capital. Gen. Matthew Ridgway takes advantage often that knowledge, sending ROK forces to Seoul. Patrols from the ROK 1st Division enter the city and the South Korean flag is soon flying over the capital again.
• Mar. 16. In 1621, long before America is a country, Samoset – a sagamore of the Abenaki Native American Indian Tribe, approaches the English settlers at the Plymouth Colony and greets them in English saying, “Welcome, Englishmen! My name is Samoset.” A sagamore was the highest level political chief of the tribal region. Samoset had been visiting the Wampanoag chief, Massasloit, when he went to visit the Plymouth Colony. Samoset and some of the other Native American began trading goods with the settlers.
• Mar. 17.. Today in 1958, the Vanguard 1 satellite is launched into space and Earth orbit. Small enough to fit in an adult human hand. Vanguard 1 was the first solar-powered satellite. Its mission was to test the three-stage launch vehicle, the effects of space environment on a satellite, and to take geodetic measurements. Vanguard’s mission was to last 90 days but communications with the satellite actually lasted for six years before it ended. Nearly 70 years later, Vanguard 1 is a derelict that remains in Earth orbit. There has been thought about retrieving the satellite so it can become an artifact of early space exploration.
• Mar. 18. On this day in 1825, during midday and early afternoon hours an outbreak of severe weather strikes Missouri, southern Illinois, and southern Indiana. During the storms, a tornado forms that strikes Shannon County, Missouri – causing extensive damage, then moves northeast hitting Annapolis – destroying about 90 percent of the town. It then hits two schools in Bollinger County where children were taking cover. It hits Sedgewickville, Brazeau, and Frohna before hammering Gorham, Illinois. Moving at over 60 miles per hour, the tornado killed over 100 people in Murphysboro, then caused extensive damage in West Frankfort. The town of Griffin, Indiana, was completed destroyed and major damage was suffered in Princeton before it dissipated. In total the tornado spent about three hours on the ground with a path of over 200 miles and maximum wind speeds approaching 300 miles per hour. It was responsible for the deaths of almost 700 people with over 2,000 suffering various injuries.