Charles W. David, Jr. "I have to die some day,
and I can't think of a better way. So don't worry." These prophetic words spoken to his family in the early days of World War II, as he enlisted in the Coast Guard, provide evidence of Charles Davis's bravery and
dedication to his fellow man at a time of extreme prejudice. An African-American mess attendant aboard the USCG Cutter Comanche, David risked his life to save that of his executive officer and others during rescue
operations of the U.S. Army Troopship Dorchester on which the "Immortal Chaplains" died. Described as "a giant with tremendous physical strengths", David, 26, of New York City, repeatedly dived into
the freezing Atlantic in total darkness to help pull survivors aboard the Cutter. Among those he rescued was his executive officer, Lieut. Langford Anderson, who also had gone into the water to help with a
rescue. Lt. Anderson who had been pulled under water by drowning man, was rescued when David dived in, broke the survivor's stranglehold and pulled both men to safety. David died of pneumonia following his
exposure to the extreme conditions.Amy Biehl Amy Biehl was a young American Fulbright scholar who was stoned to death in South Africa in 1993, where she had gone to help in the struggle against
Apartheid. She was very interested in working with disenfranchised voters in the country and had worked there previously studying multi-party elections in various African states. She was especially
interested in helping to empower the women of the country and insure that their interests were protected under the majority-rule system. Her parents, Linda and Peter, and their family, have established the Amy
Biehl foundation to continue their daughter's work and have been highly supportive of groups concerned with the lasting effects of Apartheid. The Biehl's established The Youth on Violence Center in South Africa to
carry on Amy's ideals and plans. Her family, originally from Southern California, now travels between United States in South Africa to continue to help promote civil rights.
There is a website devoted to Amy Biehl at: http://www.amybiehl.org/
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archbishop Desmond Tutu has become an international spokesperson of all people in defending the rights of the
downtrodden of many nations. He first drew worldwide attention as the nearly lone voice against Apartheid despite the risk of certain assassination, while Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in
South Africa. As the Anglican Archbishop of the country, he called upon the world to cease supporting the regime that ignored the rights of the black majority and contributed greatly to
its downfall. Archbishop Tutu received the Nobel peace Prize in 1984 for his courageous stand against great odds. He continues to travel widely promoting his work of reconciliation among
nations, after acting as Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which set an International precedent in finding a peaceful resolution for the pain in humiliations suffered by South
Africa. He is presently teaching at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and manages to find a moment or two to work on his new book
Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaking before the First Annual Presentation of The Immortal Chaplains Prize for Humanity, February 7th, 1999. (Photo courtesy Sun Newspapers. Full article, click here ).. |
