GwinnettForum | Number 20.33 | May 15, 2020
WORM ADOPTION: This unusual certificate is what some students are being given who are studying the life of such creatures this summer. They are members of Lisa Chase’s class at Greater Atlanta Christian School. For more on this at-home activity, stimulated by online learning, see Notable below.
We were mistaken: Correction: The story here Tuesday about Randi Ward contained an error. Ms. Ward lives on Arnold Road in Lawrenceville. We listed her as living in Savannah, Ga. We since have learned of the error. Her dog is named Savannah!–eeb
TODAY’S FOCUS: Doolittle’s World War II Raid on Japan Boosts the American Morale
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Here’s How Joe Biden Can Ensure Being the Next President
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Gwinnett College
FEEDBACK: Enjoying and Respecting GwinnettForum More and More
UPCOMING: County, Schools To Combine to Feed School Children during Summer
NOTABLE: These Students Learn about Worms and Bugs in Their Backyards
RECOMMENDED: The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Macon’s Little Richard Was “Architect of Rock and Roll”
MYSTERY PHOTO: Unusual Structure Might Trick You in This Mystery Photo
CALENDAR: Drive-Through Farmers Market Saturday in Snellville
Doolittle’s WWII raid on Japan boosts American morale
U.S. Air Force Museum display of a B-25B Mitchell in preparation for the Doolittle Raid. Source: Wikipedia.
(Editor’s Note: Roving Photographer Frank Sharp has spent some of his recent time researching World War II Pacific Ocean history. Here, in the first of two parts, are his findings. –eeb)
By Frank Sharp
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | The time was April 18, 1942, a little more than four months after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. People in the United States were at war on two fronts, in Europe against Hitler’s regime, and in the Pacific Ocean against the Japanese nation.
Sharp
It was early in the war, and the United States was having little success. Singapore had fallen to the Japanese, as soon would Manila in the Philippines. The Japanese were attacking Australian cities. General MacArthur evacuated the Philippines, operating now out of Australia. The Solomon Islands were invaded by the Japanese, and American forces in the Bataan Peninsula were trapped.
Finally, on April 18, 1942, Americans were cheered by good news. Some 16 American B-25 bombers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, attacked the Japanese mainland. These airplanes were launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet 650 miles east of Japan.
By coincidence when they reached Japan, the nation was having an air raid drill, so Doolittle and his crew were able to slip in without detection, according to Walter Cronkite. What luck!
Doolittle
The Doolittle Raid did little damage to Japan, but it lifted American morale. Later it was learned that 80 Japanese civilians were killed in five cities. Fifteen of sixteen planes made it to China as they ran out of fuel. (Another landed in Vladivostok in Russia.) All 64 airmen landed safely. The Japanese captured eight American airmen and executed three of them; one died in prison after being tortured.
The Doolittle attack demonstrated that the Japanese mainland was vulnerable to the American air power, and served as retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Primarily, it was an important boost to American morale, and played to big headlines in the United States. Finally, the American war effort was paying off!
The Doolittle Raid had been planned by President Franklin Roosevelt and his top naval aides. Lt. Col. James H .Doolittle, a racing pilot known for his daredevil stunts as “King of the Sky,” was put in charge. He also had a deep knowledge of aviation, and had earned a doctorate from MIT in aeronautical engineering.
Doolittle’s 16 twin engine B-25s had first landed on the USS Carrier Hornet, even though no heavy planes of this type had ever used aircraft carriers. None of his pilots had ever flown from a carrier deck this short. When taking off, each B-25 carried three 500 pound bombs and one incendiary bomb. None of the pilots were told of the destination until later. Admiral William (Bull) Halsey hoped to get within 500 miles of the Japanese coast. But at 650 miles they ran into Japanese picket boats, so the B-25s launched. Doodle’s raid achieved total surprise, with the flying at rooftop level.
The raid was a payback for Pearl Harbor. This caused the Japanese to keep hundreds of planes in Japan to protect the home islands; otherwise they would have been moved to the South Pacific.
Doolittle initially believed that the loss of all his aircraft would lead to his court-martial, but he instead received the Medal of Honor and was promoted two ranks to brigadier general.
Next episode: The Battle for Okinawa.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Here’s how Joe Biden can ensure being the next president
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 15, 2020 | Joe Biden hasn’t asked us for this advice, but we think we have a sure-fire way for him to ensure he will become the next president.
It has to do with his selection of his running mate, the person who would become vice president in his administration.
He should pick Michelle Obama.
She is the most electrifying of Democratic women. She comes with no baggage and is admired by many Americans for the way she conducted herself as a First Lady, and for the way she is raising her children.
She is 56, whip-smart, did well at prestigious colleges, is elegant and poised, has had a distinguished career as an attorney, and is comfortable with many of the leaders of the world.
Compared to the others mentioned for this position, she stands heads and shoulders above any of them. She is someone who maintained a quiet dignity when her husband was president, and as it turns out, she is an excellent author who wrote a pretty compelling book. She says she has no interest in public office. Joe would need to convince her that the nation needs her now.
The selection would throw terror into what is the befuddled Trump camp. He would know that his presidency would be for only one term against this formidable duo of Biden and Obama.
Obviously, the selection would sew up any sideline Democrats, those not entirely satisfied with Joe Biden. Immediately the pair would look invincible.
Some pollsters are saying that Biden has a lead over the sitting president. Add in what would be probably 95 per cent of the African American vote, and you can anticipate the electoral college delegates casting their ballots for this team.
In a sense, such a historic selection would rank up there with the father-son Bush team. It also reminds us of how strong the two Roosevelt presidents were, people who were destined for glory. In this case, it would not only mean that Joe Biden would be president, but it would make Mrs. Obama the odds-on favorite to follow in his footsteps as the first female president.
Then there’s the question of what Mr. Biden would do with former President Barack Obama. Shades of Hillary Clinton! Why, the husband of Mr. Biden’s running mate would be the obvious choice for Secretary of State. Mr. Obama would again make history. No former president has served in such capacity before. Mr. Obama is young enough, vital enough, admired, experienced and politically astute to easily represent the United States among world leaders.
So far this year’s Democratic presidential race has seen a wealth of candidates, but no truly exciting candidates as was the run-up for Mr. Trump. Mr. Biden eventually emerged as the winner as all others fell out. But even as such, his candidacy has not drawn the enthusiastic support that the Trump candidacy has among core Republican voters. Biden appears to be ahead, not so much on what he has done, but more because of the ups-and-downs, the slow degradation of the Trump presidency.
But bring in Michelle Obama to the Democratic ticket?
Wow! Excitement! Energy! A perfect woman to be vice president and stimulate votes like no other person could.
Improbable? Not when you start comparing her to other possibilities. The big question becomes: could Joe Biden convince Michelle that she is the next great hope of the Democratic Party? Well, they probably are talking already.
We bet Joe Biden can convince her. Look for the bombshell not too soon, but eventually! Michelle’s a winner!
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County, schools to combine to feed students during summer
Gwinnett County and Gwinnett County Public Schools are teaming up to help ease hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing to feed Gwinnett’s school children during the summer.
On Friday, May 15, Gwinnett County Public Schools will wrap up the meal service it has provided for the last two months to Gwinnett children 18 years and younger. This service has provided more than 2.2 million meals at 67 school locations and included delivery by school buses within identified clusters. Gwinnett County will fill in when the school district’s program ends by starting its Summer Meals program on Monday, May 18.
Gwinnett County’s program, now in its second year, will expand to add locations and free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for children 18 years old and younger. Parents can pick up nutritious meals for their children at 18 park locations around the county to take home or the children can pick up their own meals. The meals, which consist of things like sandwiches and wraps, meet USDA guidelines.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash says: “It is the common goal of the Board of the Commissioners and the Board of Education to assist families and make sure children receive nutritious meals during this challenging time. For some kids, this may be the only meal they get that day. The Board of Commissioners especially want to recognize the school board’s efforts to feed children during the digital learning days just ending and the work they will do when their meals program picks up again in June.”
Locations were selected based on school clusters with 50 percent free-and-reduced-lunch student populations. The Summer Meals program complements a summertime meals program for students offered by Gwinnett County Public Schools. Meals are also available for adults with disabilities. The school district will ramp up its Seamless Summer feeding program for children June 8-26, and will provide school locations once they are finalized.
School CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks adds: “This partnership between the school district and the county is a shining example of how Gwinnett County comes together to serve our community. Working together, we will be able to bridge the gap and provide food to children while school is not in session over the summer.”
The County program, part of the Summer Food Service Program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is being sponsored by the nonprofit Georgia Nutritional Services Inc., which will provide the vendor for the meals.
Last year, Summer Meals served about 10,200 lunches at three parks, which was supplemented by a similar county program that served another 6,500 meals to kids at four other County locations. Children ate lunches and snacks on-site but because of social distancing requirements, the USDA is allowing people to take the meals home this year. Funding for the program comes from the USDA.
Registration is not required. Meals can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. while supplies last at these locations: click here to see locations.
These students learn about worms, bugs in their backyards
Nico and Bella Rafeedie of Lilburn dig for worms.
The ELC Prize Wagon has been on the move since Greater Atlanta Christian School went to online learning. Every week, teacher Lisa Chase, the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) specialist, has delivered prizes to her K-4-5 grade students at nearly every edge of the 13 counties from which the school draws students.
The reason the prizes are so coveted is because winning them doesn’t come easy. Kids have to get dirty, be quietly observant and be extra creative to stand out in the array of “challenges” that Mrs. Chase provides. She says: “We are fortunate to have really involved parents who also want their kids to continue the ‘hands on’ experience that GAC is known for.
“Our ELC has sparked incredible curiosity about how nature provides for us. My job has been to continue their desire to learn more. There is a lot of hands on ‘work’ in growing our crops, hydroponics, caring for the chickens and fish. We want our students to get time away from their computer screen and still feel connected to the normal ‘ELC work’ by doing some things in their own backyards. Students have made discoveries in their yards and neighborhoods they never knew existed.”
Digging for worms, finding pill bugs, and locating centipedes are some of the weekly assignments. Students were tasked to find how and where these creatures live, what they are doing, how big they are, and why they are in different parts of their backyards. The lesson taught the value of these little composters and how they cultivate healthy soil. Their prize was an edible ‘dirt and worm’ kit of chocolate pudding and organic gummy worms along with scratch and sniff book ‘Worms.’
The students seem to love the weekly challenges, but it’s especially exciting when Mrs. Chase pulls up with a prize.
The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: This book is about poverty. It’s about the utterly deplorable, unsanitary and dangerous conditions of the laboring classes and downtrodden poor in London during the late 19th century. It’s also about the lives – not the deaths – of ordinary women/mothers who happened to fall on hard times – the five women killed by Jack the Ripper in 1888. The sixth character in this story is London itself. Hallie Rubenhold highlights the utter horror of the living conditions in London during the 1800s, much like Charles Dickens did. There were no safety nets for people down on their luck, especially women who were not married. The book is overly detailed, but I’m recommending it because I enjoyed reading about London during that time period. It’s particularly interesting to read today when people are complaining that they can’t go anywhere or that their roots are showing. It really puts things in perspective. The full title is The Five, the Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper.
An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Macon’s Little Richard was “architect of Rock and Roll”
Little Richard. Photo via Wikipedia.
Little Richard, also known as “the Georgia Peach,” was credited as the “architect of rock and roll”—a title he claimed for himself, but few disputed. In the mid-1950s, his wildly energetic rhythm-and-blues records crossed over to the pop charts and made him one of the first rock stars. His pounding piano, screaming vocals, and exuberant stage persona have been emulated but rarely matched by several generations of rock musicians.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon on December 5, 1932, Little Richard was one of 12 children. His father, Bud, worked as a brickmason, sold moonshine, and operated a juke joint called the Tip In Inn. Despite the business interests of Penniman’s father, the family was deeply involved in the church. Penniman’s mother, Leva Mae, met his father at a church revival, and Penniman’s grandfather and uncle were preachers. Penniman first performed in a family gospel group that often competed against other quartets in local contests. A part-time job at the Macon City Auditorium gave him the opportunity to study many leading rhythm-and-blues and gospel acts.
Penniman was a manic, unruly youngster whose flamboyant mannerisms and gay friends often put him in conflict with his father. He was fascinated by the traveling medicine shows that came through town, and at fourteen he left home with one. By the age of 15 he had adopted the stage name Little Richard and was performing with Sugarfoot Sam From Alabam, a minstrel show that had toured the South for decades.
Little Richard soon gravitated to Atlanta, a focal point for the national rhythm-and-blues scene. At the 81 Theater, Little Richard met and was influenced by the singer Billy Wright, whose big hair, heavy stage makeup, and gospel-styled blues shouting made him a local favorite. Through WGST disc jockey Zenas Sears, Wright helped Little Richard secure a record contract with RCA, and at age 18 he had his first recording session. While the results were undistinguished, the song “Every Hour” sold well in Atlanta and Macon. Another RCA session was a commercial failure.
Little Richard’s music career came to a halt after his father was murdered. To support his family, he took a job washing dishes at a Greyhound bus station in Macon. Eventually, he was back on stage, dominating the Macon rhythm-and-blues scene with a new band, the Upsetters. Bumps Blackwell at Specialty Records in Los Angeles, Calif., heard a demo tape of the band and felt that Little Richard’s dramatic, “churchy” voice might compete with Atlantic Records’ latest hit-maker, Ray Charles.
(To be continued)
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to http://georgiaencyclopedia.org
Unusual structure might trick you in this Mystery Photo
Hmmm. What is this scene? Bigger than a gate, maybe a ruin, but what is it and where is it? This Mystery Photo might be closer than you might think. Identify it and tell us where it’s located by sending to elliott@brack.net, including your hometown.
The last mystery photo drew a big audience of correct pinpointers. Not only that, but we learned from George Graf of Palmyra, Va. that we had previously run the photo back in 2018, when it was sent in by Karen Garner, then of Dacula, now of Robersonia, Penn.
Cindy Evans, Duluth was first in: “That statue is in Gloucester, Massachusetts by the harbor! P.S.: He might be wearing a mask now!” Indeed, he might be. Lynn Naylor of Norcross wrote: “It’s known as the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial. This iconic statue is often confused with the classic image of the Gorton’s Fisherman. Gorton’s, a seafood company started in Gloucester, is credited with inventing fish sticks.
“The bronze statue is eight feet tall on a five-foot granite base. Gloucester bills itself as the ‘America’s Oldest Seaport,’ and the monument was completed in 1925 to honor 300 years of Gloucester losing fisherman. Inscribed on the base is ‘They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships, 1623-1923.’ Circling the cenotaph are plaques with the names of those lost at sea from 1716 through 2001. The six that make up the class of 1991 are the captain and crew of the Gloucester-based Andrea Gail, the fishing boat made famous in the book and film, The Perfect Storm. But it’s not clear what it takes to get one’s name on the plaques, since there are maybe 500 or so listed, whereas a city hall mural has the names of more than 5,000.
“Just down the Stacy Esplanade is a newer memorial to the long-suffering fisherman’s family. Conceived by the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association, it was dedicated in August 2001. This statue, also 8 feet high, stands on a 20-ton boulder, and shows a fisherman’s wife with her two children, looking out over the harbor.”
Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill, wrote: “I took a photo from the back of the statue looking out to the harbor a couple years ago, but I can’t find it now. Anyway, the only problem I see with this statue is that I would prefer it to say, “They WHO go down to the sea in ships.”
Others recognizing it included Molly Titus, Peachtree Corners; Virginia Klaer, Duluth; Jim Savadelis, Duluth; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; Therin Scott of Lawrenceville; and Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville.
A comment from Ann Serrie, Lawrenceville: “Thank you for the Mystery Photo challenge in the Gwinnett Forum. It is fun to guess. Today, I can say with some confidence that the image is the ‘Fisherman or Man at the Wheel’ – a statue dedicated to sailors and located in Gloucester, Mass. I grew up in New England and visited Gloucester often.”
Bob Foreman of Grayson: “This one was easy, especially since we stopped there a few years ago on a trip to New England. The Foreman family were commercial fishermen. My grandfather was killed by lightning while fishing in Little Sarasota Bay in 1927. So a memorial to fishermen is important in my family, even if Gloucester, Mass. is a long way from the west coast of Florida.”
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. tells us: “Today’s mystery photo is of the Gloucester Fisherman Memorial Cenotaph, also known as The Man At The Wheel Statue, located on Stacy Boulevard at Gloucester Harbor in Gloucester, Mass. Gloucester was founded in 1623 and, as such, is one of the oldest English settlements and seaports in the United States. Although the Mayflower pilgrims had already landed at Plymouth in 1620, it did not officially become a city until 1626, so technically Gloucester predates Plymouth as a city by three years.
“The English sculptor Leonard F. Craske (1882-1950) designed the sculpture in response to a competition sponsored by the Gloucester Tercentenary Permanent Memorial Association to commemorate Gloucester’s 300th anniversary (i.e. 1623 – 1923) and to permanently memorialize more than 10,000 fishermen lost at sea in the first three centuries of Gloucester’s history. In preparing for the competition, Craske spent many hours aboard fishing schooners, sketching and photographing fishermen at work. His design was accepted and cast at a cost of $10,000. Generally acknowledged as Craske’s finest work and has become a symbol of the city, commemorating Gloucester’s link to the sea.”
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