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BATTLE OF SELMA

BLOODY SUNDAY

Selmapostherald.com

36701 (Selma Weather Forecast, AL)

HISTORY LIVES IN SELMA VIDEO

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CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS RECOUNTS BLOODY SUNDAY CLICK PICTURE BELOW

SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY HISTORY SECTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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LOCAL BORN HEROES GAVE THEIR LIVE’S IN WWII

CDR Howard Walter Gilmore

Commanding Officer, USS GROWLER

"For conspicuous gallantry and valor above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the USS GROWLER during her Fourth War Patrol in the Southwest Pacific from 10 January to 7 February 1943.Boldly striking at the enemy in spite o ontinuous hostile air and antisubmarine patrols, Commander Gilmore sank one Japanese freighter and damaged another by torpedo fire, successfully evading severe depth charges following each attack. In the darkness of night on 7 February, an enemy gunboat closed range and prepared to ram the GROWLER. Commander Gilmore daringly maneuvered to avoid the crash and rammed the attacker instead, ripping into her port side at 17 knots and bursting wide her plates. In the terrific fire of the sinking gunboat's heavy machine guns, Commander Gilmore calmly gave the order to clear the bridge, and refusing safety for himself, remained on deck while his men preceded him below. Struck down by the fusillade of bullets and having done his utmost against the enemy, in his final living moments, Commander Gilmore gave the last order to the deck, 'Take her down.'The GROWLER dived; seriously damaged but under control, she was brought safely to port by her well-trained crew inspired by the courageous fighting spirit of their dead captain."

March 7 is known around the world as the date Bloody Sunday took

place in 1965 in Selma. But Selma has another connection with that date in March.On March 7, 1942 Selma born Mac Ross and four others, Roberts, Benjamin Davis Jr., Charles BeBow Jr., Mac Ross and Lemuel Custis received silver wings of Army Air Force pilots. “These men completed the standard Army flight classroom instruction and many hours of flight time. Receiving their silver wings marked a milestone in being the first African Americans to qualify as military pilots in any branch of the armed forces.” (quoted from www.af.mil) These men were the first of the Tuskegee Airmen now known as the Red Tails. Mac Ross became the first to loose his life in combat. In 2011 The City of Selma issued a proclamation in his honor it read as follows:

RESOLUTION HONORING MAC ROSS