This Week in American History: 1828 – First Issue of Cherokee Phoenix is Published

By ANDY KOBER
Here is what happened this week in American History.
• Feb. 19. On this day in 1985, former Sergeant in the Air Force William Schroeder makes history. Schroeder became the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave the hospital alive. Schroeder received the Jarvik 7 at the Humana Heart Institute International in Louisville, Kentucky. He lived an additional year and 255 days before dying after a series of strokes.
• Feb. 20. In 1950, Operation Killer begins in the Korean War. Gen. Matthew Ridgway, commanding the UN, US, and South Korean forces, and his intelligence staff had discovered that after each significant action, the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army and North Korean Peoples Army had to stop or withdraw due to lack of supplies. With the UN, US and ROK forces winning battles at Chipyong-ni and Wonju, the PVA and KPA were reeling and retreating. In an effort to annihilate much of the enemy’s forces, Ridgway concocted Operation Killer to drive enemy forces north of a line from Yangpyeong to north of Hoengsong and P’yongch’ang, an advance of 10 to 15 miles. Unfortunately, the weather played havoc with the plan. The first 20 days of February had been cold with temperatures ranging from freezing to 15 degrees below zero. The area was blanketed in snow which turned to ice in many places. Today the temperatures suddenly rise to nearly 50 degrees and the warmer temps remain for three days along with intermittent rainfall. This causes massive snow melt that results in flooding and washes out roads and bridges. Advances were made, but they were slowed by the conditions giving the PVA and KPA soldiers time and opportunity to slip away.
• Feb. 21. Today in 1828, the first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper is published in New Echota, capital of the Cherokee Nation, located in Gordon County, Georgia, close to the present-day unincorporated community of New Town, between Calhoun and Resaca. The newspaper is published in both the Cherokee syllabary and English. Publication ceases in 1834 and the printing press is taken by the Georgia Guard largely in an effort to protect it. After the Cherokee were moved to Oklahoma, the newspaper was published intermittently, resuming regular publication in the late 20th century though in Tahlequah, OK. The original press can be seen in the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee, North Carolina. New Echota is a National Historic Landmark maintained and operated by Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites with some of the original buildings having been rebuilt.
• Feb. 22. On this day in 2018, it is about midnight and the US Embassy in Podgorica, Montenegro, is closed when Dalibor Jaukovic tosses an explosive grenade into the embassy. He attempts to throw a second explosive device but ends up blowing himself up. There were no other injuries and damage was minimal. Jaukovic was a former soldier in the Yugoslav Army and opposed Montenegro’s membership in NATO. Of course, Russian authorities denied any involvement.
• Feb. 23. In 1954, the first mass inoculation of children to prevent polio takes place in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and soon inoculations are taking place around the country. Polio is considered to have been eradicated in the US since 1979, though it can still be found in other countries.
• Feb. 24. Today in 1813, the War of 1812 is ongoing and the USS Hornet, a 20-gun sloop of war under the command of Master Commandant James Lawrence, is in pursuit of a British merchant vessel heading into the Demerara River in Brazil. Lawrence spots the 16-gun British brig-sloop HMS Espiegle at anchor in the river, and the British 18-gun brig-sloop HMS Peacock approaching from the sea. Hornet turned to meet the threat from Peacock and as the ships pass, both fire broadsides. Peacock’s shots went high into Hornet’s sails and rigging, killing one sailor and injuring four while Hornet’s shots caused heavy damage to the British ship’s hull. Both ships turned to engage again, but Lawrence was able to maneuver Hornet against Peacock’s stern. Hornet’s guns ravaged Peacock while British guns unable to bear on her. It took just four minutes before Peacock was a wreck and the senior surviving officer surrendered the ship which would later sink with the loss of five killed and 33 wounded. HMS Espiegle never joined the fight to aid Peacock, the captain claiming he never heard the cannon fire – or perhaps he had no taste for a fight against the Hornet.
• Feb. 25. On this day in 1950, Operation Killer is moving as engineers repair roads and bridges damaged by the flooding. The US IX and X Corps along with the ROK III Corps are moving northward, eliminating pockets of resistance. The US 1st Marine Division is moved from Pohang to Chungju and attached to IX Corps. The PVA and KPA are being slowly and systematically pushed northward.