This Week in American History: 1978 – 51 Workers Die in Nuclear Construction Accident

By ANDY KOBER
Here is what happened this week in American History.
• Apr. 23. On this day in 1951, the Korean War takes yet another twist as Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army, Peng Dehuai, is determined to push UN and US forces out of South Korea. Fielding an army of 700,000 soldiers, he sends 270,000 attacking toward the South Korean capital of Seoul. Another 214,000 soldiers are held in strategic reserves to exploit breakthroughs, and the balance are spread across battle lines. Chinese forces include four field artillery divisions, two long-range artillery divisions, anti-aircraft divisions, and four T-34 tank regiments. Peng had promised to present Seoul to Chairman Mao as a May Day gift. PVA forces struck South Korean ROK forces that had not prepared defenses as ordered and once again too many ROK forces fled the battlefield, leaving weapons and equipment for the Chinese to use. A Royal New Zealand artillery regiment was then forced into a retreat of about four miles to relocate near the British Commonwealth Brigade near Kapyong. The ROK 27th Field Artillery Battalion left their guns and ran. Worse, as they fled from the developing battle, they choked the roads being used by American forces heading toward the battle. This left the US 24th Division and 1st Marine Division vulnerable. Meanwhile, the US 7th Marines were holding PVA forces at bay near the town of Hwacheon.
• Apr. 24. In 1951, Chinese PVA forces continue moving southward because of the ROK bugout and manage to nearly wipe out the British 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. The US 1st Marine Division and 1st Korean Marine Corps Regiment are in a perilous situation but hold the PVA until ordered to retreat. Then with defense reset near Chuncheon and the Pukhan River, the Marines hold fast. US air assets are hammering the PVA as are US cruisers with naval bombardment, but continued failures of ROK Army forces are costing UN and US forces. With backs to the wall, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry held against two PVA Divisions, about 20,000 soldiers, calling for and spotting artillery fire that caused a huge number of casualties among the PVA, and forcing them to withdraw – at least temporarily.
• Apr. 25. Today in 1917, Ella Jane Fitzgerald is born in Newport News, Virginia. While still a small child, Fitzgerald’s mother moves the family to Yonkers, New York. An outstanding student in school, Fitzgerald is exposed to music in church and develops an interest in jazz. Her mom dies when Fitzgerald is 15, and she drifts into a life bordering on criminal activity that results in her being moved into a reformatory school. At 17 she enters a contest at the Apollo Theater. She plans to dance, but changes and sings, winning the First Place prize. This puts her on the path of greatness, as she dazzles in the genres of jazz, swing, pop, blues, soul and more. She dies at the age of 79 from a stroke. She had suffered from diabetes that resulted in the amputation of both legs below the knees, had damaged her eyesight, and suffered from congestive heart failure.
• Apr. 26. On this day in 1607, long before America is a country, the Virginia Company colonists arrive at Cape Henry. The Virginia Company was an English trading company. Cape Henry is located on the northeast corner of Virginia Beach, Virginia. A memorial is located where the colonists landed.
• Apr. 27. In 1978, construction is underway on a second cooling tower at the Pleasants Power Station in Willow Island, West Virginia. The tower had reached a height of 166 feet when about 10 am, concrete poured the previous day began to collapse. Concrete, wooden forms, and metal scaffolding began collapsing to the ground inside the tower. Falling to their deaths were 51 construction workers. An investigation resulted in the company being cited for 20 safety violations. It remains the deadliest construction accident in US history.
• Apr. 28. Today in 1930, Carolyn Jones is born in Amarillo, Texas. At 18, she enrolls in the Pasadena Playhouse to study acting. At the Playhouse, a talent scout spots her and Jones lands several uncredited roles. But these roles lead to stardom for Jones, both in movies and on television. One of her most noted roles was as Morticia Addams in the hit television series The Addams Family. Jones dies in 1983 of cancer.
• Apr. 29. On this day in 2004, an Oldsmobile Alero rolls off the assembly line which signals the end of Oldsmobile, a car manufacturing company that had lasted for 107 years. The company started as the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897.