#1 New Release in Ethiopian History

Since the October 30, 2019, release, Emperor's Own has remained the #1 New Release in Ethiopian History on Amazon for most of the past three weeks. Thank you everyone for your support. I hope you enjoyed reading about a part of history that was almost lost.

ROK Repays the Debt

Nov. 11, 2019 - A welfare center for Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War was opened in Addis Ababa with both Ethiopian and South Korean officials in attendance. The 712.8-square-meter, two-story facility was sponsored by the Lotte Group, a South Korean multinational conglomerate. The first such facility was established in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2014, and the second in Bogota, Colombia, in 2017.

Both Colombia and Thailand contributed ground troops to fight under the United Nation during the Korean War. In fact, the Colombians were attached to the US 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. While the Ethiopians were attached to the US 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The news agency reported about 150 Ethiopian veterans are still alive. They are grateful for the support they receive from the Korean people.

YONHAP NEWS: S. Korea builds welfare center for Korean War veterans in Ethiopia

Veterans Day: Remembering the Lynching of George Dorsey and Friends

 

From left, May and George Dorsey, Roger and Dorothy Malcolm.

 
Veterans Day (called Armistice Day outside the US) is celebrated on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I where hostilities ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Ever since, we have taken that day to express gratitude to those who served in our armed forces.

A previous blog post on the history of African-Americans in the US Army made mention of George Dorsey, a sharecropper and WWII veteran who along with his wife and friends (Mae Murray Dorsey, Roger Malcom and Dorothy Malcom) was murdered on July 25, 1946, in the last documented lynching in the United States. Since there has been some developments in the case as of late, I felt it would be appropriate to remember this man.

The incident, often referred to as the Moore’s Ford Lynchings or the 1946 Georgia Lynching, happened in Walton County, Georgia. Much of the nation was outraged when details of the killings became known. Federal authorities interviewed thousands of people and assembled a grand jury to investigate the case, but no one was ever arrested despite claims by some that the perpetrators were identified.

Historian and author Anthony Pitch located the sealed grand jury testimony in the National Archives and started a lengthy legal battle to obtain the documents which are sealed as mandated by the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Mr. Pitch died in 2019, but his attorney has continued the fight. The matter is now under review by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Thank you George Dorsey and others who served this nation honorably.

CBS News: Activists hope answers about 1946 lynchings will bring "healing"

NBC News: A mob lynching of 4 black sharecroppers in 1946 is focus of court battle over grand...

Kagnew Battalion Honors

In addition to dozens of Ethiopian decorations, members of Kagnew Battalion earned various honors from the governments of the United States, Republic of Korea, and Belgium, including: at least four US Legions of Merit, nine Silver Star Medals, 42 Bronze Star Medals for Valor, 41 Bronze Star Medals for Meritorious Service; seven ROK Medals including the Eulji Cordon and Hwarang Cordon as well as the Belgian Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Couronne avec palme, Belgian Decoration Militaire 2me classe avec palme, and La Croix de Guere 1940 avec palm. Some of these medals were awarded posthumously.