For the best experienceDownload the Mobile App
App Store Play Store
One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen remembers struggle for recognition amid Trump's DEI purge
One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen remembers struggle for recognition amid Trump's DEI purge
One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen remembers struggle for recognition amid Trump's DEI purge

Published on: 03/26/2025

This news was posted by Oregon Today News

Go To Business Place

Description

The Tuskegee Airmen unit was established in 1941 as the 99th Pursuit Squadron based at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

News Source : https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/last-surviving-tuskegee-airmen-remembers-recognition-struggle-trump-dei-purge/507-d673d31b-a8a5-409c-8aa7-172f941fedc6

Other Related News

Eugene police officer resigns after comments about race and protesters shared online
Eugene police officer resigns after comments about race and protesters shared online
Eugene police officer resigns after comments about race and protesters shared online

05/11/2026

An officer with the Eugene Police Department resigned after bodycam video posted online sh...

This electric lawn mower is under $240 on sale for Father's Day
This electric lawn mower is under $240 on sale for Father's Day
This electric lawn mower is under $240 on sale for Father's Day

05/11/2026

Do you have a smaller yard or are you short on outdoor storage space It might be time to u...

Mother’s Day Novig Promo Code OREGON: Extended “Spend $5, Get $50″ promo for Thunder vs. Lakers Game 4
Mother’s Day Novig Promo Code OREGON: Extended “Spend $5, Get $50″ promo for Thunder vs. Lakers Game 4
Mother’s Day Novig Promo Code OREGON: Extended “Spend $5, Get $50″ promo for Thunder vs. Lakers Game 4

05/11/2026

Novig has extended their new promo code OREGON through tonights high-stakes playoff action...

🏠 History Bites: If Walls Could Talk | May 13 🏠 History Bites: If Walls Could Talk takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on May 13 at Albany Regional Museum. Camron Settlemier will share methods and resources for researching a historic home, using his own home’s story as an example. Albany’s historic homes have seen generations of everyday life, community change, and architectural care. This Preservation Month presentation is a chance to learn how to follow the clues, dig into the records, and discover what your walls might say if they could talk. This event is free to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. Plan your visit and bring your curiosity. 📸 Rohrbough House by Camron Settlemeir #VisitAlbanyOregon #AuthenticallyAlbany #AlbanyOregon #HiddenGemsOfAlbany #MyAlbanyStory
🏠 History Bites: If Walls Could Talk | May 13 🏠 History Bites: If Walls Could Talk takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on May 13 at Albany Regional Museum. Camron Settlemier will share methods and resources for researching a historic home, using his own home’s story as an example. Albany’s historic homes have seen generations of everyday life, community change, and architectural care. This Preservation Month presentation is a chance to learn how to follow the clues, dig into the records, and discover what your walls might say if they could talk. This event is free to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. Plan your visit and bring your curiosity. 📸 Rohrbough House by Camron Settlemeir #VisitAlbanyOregon #AuthenticallyAlbany #AlbanyOregon #HiddenGemsOfAlbany #MyAlbanyStory
🏠 History Bites: If Walls Could Talk | May 13 🏠 History Bites: If Walls Could Talk takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on May 13 at Albany Regional Museum. Camron Settlemier will share methods and resources for researching a historic home, using his own home’s story as an example. Albany’s historic homes have seen generations of everyday life, community change, and architectural care. This Preservation Month presentation is a chance to learn how to follow the clues, dig into the records, and discover what your walls might say if they could talk. This event is free to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. Plan your visit and bring your curiosity. 📸 Rohrbough House by Camron Settlemeir #VisitAlbanyOregon #AuthenticallyAlbany #AlbanyOregon #HiddenGemsOfAlbany #MyAlbanyStory

05/11/2026

History Bites If Walls Could Talk May 13 History Bites If Walls Could Talk takes place...

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls as Police Week. This is a time when our country memorializes law enforcement personnel who died in the line of duty. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC to pay their respects and honor officers who have died in the line of duty. Our own county has had many deputies – and even a sheriff – lay down their lives in service to the people of our county. Join us in remembering their sacrifice. ⭐️ Sheriff William W. Withers February 7, 1903 - Sheriff Withers was killed attempting to apprehend Elliott Lyons, a horse thief, wanted in Jackson County. The slayer escaped, but a huge posse was formed and he was captured in Creswell under a train that was heading out of town. In Eugene, Oregon, under the direction of Fred Fisk, a deputy under Withers and a Lane County Judge, witnessed the hanging of Lyons outside the Lane County Courthouse. This was the last public function of the kind in the state. He was survived by his wife and son. ⭐️ Deputy C. Rollin Wicks May 14, 1937 - Deputy Wicks was killed by a neighbor during arrest after the man shot and wounded another neighbor while engaged in a dispute. Deputy Wicks was unarmed at the time. Deputies surrounded the house for five hours while tear gas was rushed to the scene from Salem. The suspect later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after holding off deputies, state police officers, employees of the nearby Booth Kelly Mill and residents of Wendling. ⭐️ Chief Criminal Detective David D. Hefner July 13, 1957 - Chief Criminal Detective Hefner responded to a family disturbance call in the River Road area. During the altercation, Detective Hefner was shot in the back. Trooper Charles Sanders was shot and killed when he arrived on scene to assist. Detective Hefner spent four months in a local hospital before succumbing to the wound. The suspect was sentenced to 25 years, but was paroled after 9 years. Hefner was survived by his wife and five children. ⭐️ Deputy Robert Riley August 17, 1958 - Deputy Riley was riding in an off-duty capacity with a Springfield Police Officer and merchant patrolman. While in pursuit of a speeding vehicle that was fleeing the scene of a reported alarm activation, an intoxicated driver turned in front of the patrol car. The officer used evasive measures to avoid the drunk driver, but in doing so ran into a car in a gas station lot and then a telephone pole. Mr. Riley, a Lane County reserve deputy, died as a result of the injuries suffered in the accident. Riley was survived by his wife and son. ⭐️ Deputy Carlton Smith July 6, 1965 - Deputy Smith was killed on his first night of patrol as a solo officer. While making a traffic stop in the area which is now the Valley River Center off ramp, he was shot by Carl Cletus Bowles and Wilford Gray, both escaped convicts. Carl Cletus Bowles escaped from Oregon State Penitentiary custody June of 1974 and was the focus of a huge manhunt in Eugene on June 14, 1974. He subsequently kidnapped a couple from South Eugene and later murdered them in Washington. He was recaptured and convicted of the homicides. Deputy Smith left a widow, Margaret Perdue, five sons and a daughter. Randy Smith became a Captain with the Lane County Sheriff's Office and another son, Don Smith, worked as a Eugene Police officer. One of his step-grandsons is currently a patrol sergeant at the Sheriff’s Office. ⭐️ Officer Curtis Avery Van Derson November 5, 1971 - Officer Van Derson, one of only two Creswell police officers at the time, was responding to a robbery at the local bank when he was shot and killed by a suspect armed with a rifle who was in an ambush position across the street from the bank. His wife was working as the dispatcher at the time. The suspect served only 14 years in prison for the murder, and was later convicted of manslaughter in a later incident. In 2008 he was convicted of attempted murder for a plot to murder a Lane County deputy district attorney. Officer Van Derson was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Creswell now contracts with the Sheriff's Office for police services, and we include his sacrifice to keep his memory alive. ⭐️ Detective Roy Dirks April 11, 1975 - Detective Dirks was investigating a drowning incident in the Blue River area when he was shot and killed by Belinda Lederer, a member of the Norman
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls as Police Week. This is a time when our country memorializes law enforcement personnel who died in the line of duty. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC to pay their respects and honor officers who have died in the line of duty. Our own county has had many deputies – and even a sheriff – lay down their lives in service to the people of our county. Join us in remembering their sacrifice. ⭐️ Sheriff William W. Withers February 7, 1903 - Sheriff Withers was killed attempting to apprehend Elliott Lyons, a horse thief, wanted in Jackson County. The slayer escaped, but a huge posse was formed and he was captured in Creswell under a train that was heading out of town. In Eugene, Oregon, under the direction of Fred Fisk, a deputy under Withers and a Lane County Judge, witnessed the hanging of Lyons outside the Lane County Courthouse. This was the last public function of the kind in the state. He was survived by his wife and son. ⭐️ Deputy C. Rollin Wicks May 14, 1937 - Deputy Wicks was killed by a neighbor during arrest after the man shot and wounded another neighbor while engaged in a dispute. Deputy Wicks was unarmed at the time. Deputies surrounded the house for five hours while tear gas was rushed to the scene from Salem. The suspect later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after holding off deputies, state police officers, employees of the nearby Booth Kelly Mill and residents of Wendling. ⭐️ Chief Criminal Detective David D. Hefner July 13, 1957 - Chief Criminal Detective Hefner responded to a family disturbance call in the River Road area. During the altercation, Detective Hefner was shot in the back. Trooper Charles Sanders was shot and killed when he arrived on scene to assist. Detective Hefner spent four months in a local hospital before succumbing to the wound. The suspect was sentenced to 25 years, but was paroled after 9 years. Hefner was survived by his wife and five children. ⭐️ Deputy Robert Riley August 17, 1958 - Deputy Riley was riding in an off-duty capacity with a Springfield Police Officer and merchant patrolman. While in pursuit of a speeding vehicle that was fleeing the scene of a reported alarm activation, an intoxicated driver turned in front of the patrol car. The officer used evasive measures to avoid the drunk driver, but in doing so ran into a car in a gas station lot and then a telephone pole. Mr. Riley, a Lane County reserve deputy, died as a result of the injuries suffered in the accident. Riley was survived by his wife and son. ⭐️ Deputy Carlton Smith July 6, 1965 - Deputy Smith was killed on his first night of patrol as a solo officer. While making a traffic stop in the area which is now the Valley River Center off ramp, he was shot by Carl Cletus Bowles and Wilford Gray, both escaped convicts. Carl Cletus Bowles escaped from Oregon State Penitentiary custody June of 1974 and was the focus of a huge manhunt in Eugene on June 14, 1974. He subsequently kidnapped a couple from South Eugene and later murdered them in Washington. He was recaptured and convicted of the homicides. Deputy Smith left a widow, Margaret Perdue, five sons and a daughter. Randy Smith became a Captain with the Lane County Sheriff's Office and another son, Don Smith, worked as a Eugene Police officer. One of his step-grandsons is currently a patrol sergeant at the Sheriff’s Office. ⭐️ Officer Curtis Avery Van Derson November 5, 1971 - Officer Van Derson, one of only two Creswell police officers at the time, was responding to a robbery at the local bank when he was shot and killed by a suspect armed with a rifle who was in an ambush position across the street from the bank. His wife was working as the dispatcher at the time. The suspect served only 14 years in prison for the murder, and was later convicted of manslaughter in a later incident. In 2008 he was convicted of attempted murder for a plot to murder a Lane County deputy district attorney. Officer Van Derson was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Creswell now contracts with the Sheriff's Office for police services, and we include his sacrifice to keep his memory alive. ⭐️ Detective Roy Dirks April 11, 1975 - Detective Dirks was investigating a drowning incident in the Blue River area when he was shot and killed by Belinda Lederer, a member of the Norman
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls as Police Week. This is a time when our country memorializes law enforcement personnel who died in the line of duty. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC to pay their respects and honor officers who have died in the line of duty. Our own county has had many deputies – and even a sheriff – lay down their lives in service to the people of our county. Join us in remembering their sacrifice. ⭐️ Sheriff William W. Withers February 7, 1903 - Sheriff Withers was killed attempting to apprehend Elliott Lyons, a horse thief, wanted in Jackson County. The slayer escaped, but a huge posse was formed and he was captured in Creswell under a train that was heading out of town. In Eugene, Oregon, under the direction of Fred Fisk, a deputy under Withers and a Lane County Judge, witnessed the hanging of Lyons outside the Lane County Courthouse. This was the last public function of the kind in the state. He was survived by his wife and son. ⭐️ Deputy C. Rollin Wicks May 14, 1937 - Deputy Wicks was killed by a neighbor during arrest after the man shot and wounded another neighbor while engaged in a dispute. Deputy Wicks was unarmed at the time. Deputies surrounded the house for five hours while tear gas was rushed to the scene from Salem. The suspect later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after holding off deputies, state police officers, employees of the nearby Booth Kelly Mill and residents of Wendling. ⭐️ Chief Criminal Detective David D. Hefner July 13, 1957 - Chief Criminal Detective Hefner responded to a family disturbance call in the River Road area. During the altercation, Detective Hefner was shot in the back. Trooper Charles Sanders was shot and killed when he arrived on scene to assist. Detective Hefner spent four months in a local hospital before succumbing to the wound. The suspect was sentenced to 25 years, but was paroled after 9 years. Hefner was survived by his wife and five children. ⭐️ Deputy Robert Riley August 17, 1958 - Deputy Riley was riding in an off-duty capacity with a Springfield Police Officer and merchant patrolman. While in pursuit of a speeding vehicle that was fleeing the scene of a reported alarm activation, an intoxicated driver turned in front of the patrol car. The officer used evasive measures to avoid the drunk driver, but in doing so ran into a car in a gas station lot and then a telephone pole. Mr. Riley, a Lane County reserve deputy, died as a result of the injuries suffered in the accident. Riley was survived by his wife and son. ⭐️ Deputy Carlton Smith July 6, 1965 - Deputy Smith was killed on his first night of patrol as a solo officer. While making a traffic stop in the area which is now the Valley River Center off ramp, he was shot by Carl Cletus Bowles and Wilford Gray, both escaped convicts. Carl Cletus Bowles escaped from Oregon State Penitentiary custody June of 1974 and was the focus of a huge manhunt in Eugene on June 14, 1974. He subsequently kidnapped a couple from South Eugene and later murdered them in Washington. He was recaptured and convicted of the homicides. Deputy Smith left a widow, Margaret Perdue, five sons and a daughter. Randy Smith became a Captain with the Lane County Sheriff's Office and another son, Don Smith, worked as a Eugene Police officer. One of his step-grandsons is currently a patrol sergeant at the Sheriff’s Office. ⭐️ Officer Curtis Avery Van Derson November 5, 1971 - Officer Van Derson, one of only two Creswell police officers at the time, was responding to a robbery at the local bank when he was shot and killed by a suspect armed with a rifle who was in an ambush position across the street from the bank. His wife was working as the dispatcher at the time. The suspect served only 14 years in prison for the murder, and was later convicted of manslaughter in a later incident. In 2008 he was convicted of attempted murder for a plot to murder a Lane County deputy district attorney. Officer Van Derson was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Creswell now contracts with the Sheriff's Office for police services, and we include his sacrifice to keep his memory alive. ⭐️ Detective Roy Dirks April 11, 1975 - Detective Dirks was investigating a drowning incident in the Blue River area when he was shot and killed by Belinda Lederer, a member of the Norman "Snake" Brooks family. Lederer was convicted of manslaughter and Brooks was convicted of hindering prosecution. The suspects belonged to a communal group that had prior contacts with Detective Dirks. Roy previously was a resident deputy in the Cottage Grove area. He was survived by his four children. ⭐️ Sergeant Carl L. Frazier October 9, 1979 - Sgt. Frazier died of a heart attack climbing a hill during a marijuana eradication investigation near Florence. Sergeant Frazier had served as the supervisor for the Florence outpost of the Lane County Sheriff's Office. Thank you all for your legacy of service. #CommittedToJusticeAndIntegrity #SwornToProtect #HonoredToServe

05/11/2026

In 1962 President John F Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Offic...

ShoutoutGive Shoutout
500/500