"Born to Robert L. Ingram and his wife Naomi Elizabeth Lea in Oneonta, Alabama, Ingram entered the Navy November 24, 1903. His ship, USS Cassin, was attacked by the German submarine U-61 off Ireland on October 15, 1917. Gunner’s Mate First Class Ingram spotted the approaching torpedo, realized it would strike close by the ship's depth charges, thus dooming the ship, and rushed to jettison the ammunition. He was blown overboard when the torpedo struck, thus becoming the United States' Navy's first enlisted man killed in action in World War I[1] as he attempted to save his ship and shipmates. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on that day."
Entry from The Encyclopedia of Alabama.
The park that bears his name is known internationally, not for his bravery, but for the cowardice of the Birmingham police and associated thugs who beat civil rights protestors there.
Ironically, his father was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. We know nothing of his own racial feelings, but it is difficult to imagine the son of a Confederate veteran feeling anything other than support for the causes his father fought for. Then again, who knows? Does anyone have a good citation about his upbringing?
[Sunday Focus is a regular feature of www.timlennox.com, celebrating 10th years online next month.]
No comments:
Post a Comment