2016 Postmortem
Showing Original Post only (View all)"I've Never Had a Bad Day Since" [View all]
Last edited Mon Jun 18, 2012, 11:43 AM - Edit history (2)
Congressman Charlie Rangel often says that the last bad day he had was way back in 1950. Let me explain what he means by that.
Rangel joined the US Army at 18. He was assigned to the segregated, all-African-American 503rd Field Artillery Battalion. His nickname was Sarge, which was funny, because Rangel actually was a private first class, not a sergeant.
On November 27, 1950, Rangels commander, General Douglas MacArthur, learned that the Chinese Army was about to surround Americas Eighth Army. MacArthur ordered the Eighth Army to retreat. But that could happen only if American units held off the Chinese forces on the Eighth Armys right flank. Charlie Rangels unit was given that suicide mission, in what became known as the Battle of Kunu-Ri.
The Chinese Army quickly surrounded Rangels unit. His unit kept fighting.
Sundown brought less shooting, but also bitter cold. The temperature dropped below zero. Even at night, the Chinese Armys bugle orders rang out, and the night sky was lit by Chinese flares. Rangel called it a waking nightmare. He kept fighting.
Having the high ground, the Chinese Army pounded Rangels unit with artillery fire. On the third day, an explosion sent shrapnel into Rangels back. The shrapnel hit him so hard that he was tossed into a ditch. He kept fighting.
Rangel and his unit could hear American soldiers screaming and moaning. They could hear American soldiers being taken prisoner. Rangel said, We couldnt see any possible way out of the situation. They could have surrendered. But they didnt.
Rangel and his unit were trapped behind enemy lines for three days of heavy fighting. After three terrible days, under cover of darkness, Charlie Rangel, sleepless, wounded, bleeding and freezing, led 40 American soldiers to safety.
Half of Rangels battalion died in the fighting. Rangel spent a long time in the hospital, recuperating. For his courage and leadership, he was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, two Presidential Unit Citations, and three battle stars.
And Charlie Rangel was awarded a certain perspective on life itself. As Charlie always says, Since Kunu-ri, I have never, never had a bad day.
One week from Tuesday, Congressman Charles Rangel faces the voters in the New York Democratic Primary. National Public Radio calls it Rangels toughest reelection challenge since he won the seat in 1970.
Win or lose, it wont be a bad day for him. Not after what he went through at Kunu-ri. But I want it to be a good day for him. Thats why Im helping him, and why you should, too. Click here.
Courage,
Alan Grayson