Biography: Louis Zamperini: Known for the movie "Unbroken"

 Louis Zamperini, the character in the movie "Unbroken" was a real person.  He was born in New York but his family relocated to California when he was two.  His brother got him involved in track and field to keep him out of trouble.  He was a fighter and learned to be tough to counteract persecution due to his being Italian.  He took to middle distance running and eventually could out run his brother.  He set a highschool record in the mile and earned a scholarship to USC.  

When he was 19 he qualified for the Olympics in the 5000 meter run.  He is the youngest American runner to ever qualify in this event.

At the Olympics, 1936 Berlin, he placed eighth.  However he had the fastest recorded lap time, his final lap time was 56 seconds.  This caught the attention of Adolf Hitler who insisted on meeting him.  "Ah, you're the boy with the fast finish."

Zamperini continued his college career and set a collegiate record in the mile, 4 minutes 8.3 seconds, which stood for 15 years.  He earned the nick name "Torrance Tornado" the name of his high school.

After college he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force.  He was a second lieutenant and served as a bombardier aboard the B-24 Liberator bomber Super-Man.  In April 1943 His plane was badly damaged by three Zeros.  The made it back to base landing on a flat tire.  One crew man died in the attack and five were wounded.  594 bullet and fragment holes were counted and the plae was scrapped.  

They were reassigned to the "Green Hornet" a plane known as a lemon.  While on a search mission, due to mechanical issues, the plane crashed into the ocean.  Eight crew members were killed.  The three survivors were the pilot, Zamperini and another crew member who would die as they were adrift for 47 days with little food and water.  They finally landed on Marshall Islands and were quickly captured by the Japanese.  This began a more than two year period of torture.  Zamperini was especially singled out because of his status as an Olympic athlete.

He was released in August 1945 at the end of the war.  He then dealt with PTSD and hatred towards his captors.  He married, but became an alcoholic.  His wife almost divorced him.  However after attending a Billy Graham meeting, she changed her mind and encouraged him to also attend.  This saved him from his demons and began a period of healing and evangelism.

He has been the subject of three movies, and passed away in 2014; his wife in 2001.  He fathered a daughter and a son.

Native American Review: Redbone

 Redbone is a Native American/Mexican American rock band.  Redbone means mixed blood.  Brothers Patrick and Candido "Lolly" are of Yaqui, Shoshone and Mexican heritage.  They were joined by Peter DePoe of mixed Native american and white heritage on drums.  The last member of the ban was Tony Bellamy of Yaqui and Mexican descent.  The brothers had been playing together in the L.A. area for about ten years but in 1970 released their first album with the Redbones.  The wore Native Mmerican costumes, and were influenced by Native American, rock, cajun and funky rhythms

Their most famous song is "Come and Get Your Love.  This use to be on the radio when I was younger and made an impression, although I never knew the group at that time.  One of their songs is entitled "Wovoka" where they sing of the prophet and the Ghost Dance.  "All people must dance.  Keep on dancing."  Some of their songs were more popular overseas.  "We were all Wounded at Wounded Knee" has a very catchy Native American drum line and a nice melody.  It is a protest song against manifest destiny.  

Come and Get Your Love

Truxton Canyon Indian Training School

 The Truxton Canyon Training School was completed in 1903.  It was built along the old Beale wagon trail (which later became Route 66).  It was part of a federal program to assimilate Native American children.  It had been operating a couple years in smaller buildings before the school house was completed.  Federal policy mandated attendance.  For the children half of the day would be involved in school work.  For the other half the boys were involved in learning trades and producing things which could be sold which supplemented the budget for the school.  The young women were involved in learning domestic chores.  The school is located 15 miles West of Peach Springs--Tribal headquarters of the Hualapai reservation.  Even though the school is somewhat close to the reservation, it was a boarding school and students were forced to leave their homes and reservations to attend.  Lessons were in English and students were not allowed to speak their native languages.  Students' hair was cut upon arrival and their clothes burned.  They were given American names.  Curriculum was of a militaristic style with marches to class, and falling in to stand at attention.  School life involved hard work and was traumatic for the kids.  Some of the young women would adopt younger children and thus they became a makeshift family.  Living in close quarters there was some spread of disease, including measles, influenza and tuberculosis.  Eventually children from other reservations were sent to the school.  This included Apache, Havasupai, Hopi, Pima, Papago Yavapai and Navajo.  At its peak the school accommodated 300 children,  It closed in 1937, shortly after a day school was opened in Peach Springs.  It is now owned by the Hualapai Tribal Nation.  It is currently closed to the public and plans are unclear for the future of the school.  The dormitory and the teacher-age were torn down and brick used for the construction of Mojave County Museum in Kingman.

old picture from internet

rest are pictures I took of the area.  There once were a dozen buildings, but now only the two-story school house remains.

This is BIA offices in the area.

Book Review: Indians of North America: The Iroquois

by Barbara Graymont, Chelsea House Publishers, New York, 1988.
The most significant thing about this book is its description of how the Iroquois confederacy came to be, from warring tribes, often warring with each other.  This of course includes the story of Hiawatha or Hayenwatha, who always pursued peace, but was not successful.  It was not until he combined with the efforts of the prophet Deganawidah, who came with a message of peace, that they actually made progress.  From the efforts of these two came a great peace.  Becasue of the peace, the tribes flourished.

Webb Blacksmith Shop and Wainwright in Nauvoo, Illinois

 

The blacksmith shop in Nauvoo is ery interesting.  The talk of the use of manure in the proces.  The also presnet information on the wheel wright and wainwright businesses--building of wagons which was done for the trek west.  missionary doscents tell the story.

Book Review: The Joshua Tree by James W. Cornett

 I picked this up and some National Park book store.  I have been fascinated by Joshua Trees since moving to Arizona.  Well even before but more now.  There were Joshua Trees on the trip through Barstow.  They have such and unusual appearance.  Now wonder the early Mormon pioneers gave them the name Joshua Tree.  They reminded the pioneers of Joshua with his hands being held up so the Israelites would win the battle.

I hadn't realized there were two different types of Joshua Trees, Eastern and Western.  Close to us in Kingman there are the Eastern variety.  While Joshua Tree National Park and California have the Western variety.  Only in Tikaboo Valley in Nevada are both types present, and with some cross breeding.

The Joshua Tree makes the desert landscape interesting.  There are two Joshua Tree forests close to Kingman.  The closest is a half hour north on Stockton Hill Road.  The other is between Kingman and Wickenburg on Highway 93.  There are also Joshua Trees on Highway 95 traveling from Laughlin to Las Vegas.

The range of the Joshua tree extends beyond the Mojave Desert.  It extends into the Great Basin in St. George and Nevada.  It also has forestes in the Sonoran Desert.  They range from Arizona, Southwest Utah, Nevada, California and into Mexico.  

The Joshua Tree has a vital place in the eco system of the desert.  Some places they are they only tall tree which provides habitat for birds.  The desert night lizard lives under fallen trees.

The Joshua Tree is a yucca and as such its fibers are useful.  Native Americans have used the tree in the manufacture of rope and baskets.  Some Native American groups also ate the buds and fruit.  In modern times the roots have been harvesting for use in dietary supplements.

With regards to Joshua Trees all is not rosy.  Drought, higher temperatures and fire have left their mark.  The number of Joshua tree specimens is declining.  

Summer Trip to Liberty Jail

 We went with Charity's family to Liberty Jail traveling from Pohlsander Reunion in Arkansas to our family reunion in Nebraska.  Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith and other church leaders were imprisoned here for over two months form December 1, 1838 and were released in early April of 1839.  This is one of those places that has great power.  Section 121 of the Doctrine and covenants was received here.  One of my favorite verses: 45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.