| 1967 |
| By Diane Oryall |
| On January 27, 1967 as two people celebrated the birth of their first child, a baby girl, named Diane Angelic Edmiston, the nation mourned the loss of three astronauts killed in a flash fire.� The nation also mourned the loss of many men in the Vietnam War.� Others celebrated the end of a boycott in Mississippi. |
| The Apollo 1 |
| The Apollo1, was scheduled to launch on February 21, 1967, was manned by Lieutenant Colonel Virgil Ivan (Gus) Grissom, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Higgins White, and Lieutenant Commander Roger B. Chaffee.� On January 27, 1967 the three men had suited up, entered the capsule at approximately 1:00p.m. for pre-launch testing.� According to World News Digest, The fire started at 6:31p.m.� The astronauts apparently died in 13 frantic seconds as they fought unsuccessfully to open the capsule's single hatch.� The launch pad crew worked for five minutes to open the hatch.� The interior of the capsule was burned beyond repair.� The rocket seemed untouched other than some blistered paint. |
| President Lyndon B. Johnson paid tribute to the three astronauts stating, "Three valiant young men have given their lives in the nation's� service, we mourn this great loss, and our hearts go out to their families" ("Space").� The Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space council expressed his feelings of� "personal loss".� He also added, " The U.S. will push ever forward in space.� The memory of these men will be an inspiration to all future spacefarers" (qtd. by "Space"). |
| The Soviet press also paid tribute to the three astronauts.� A Soviet Scientist writer T. Borisov stated in the USSR trade-union newspaper, "This tragedy is far form being a pure accident, the astronauts fell victim to the space race" ("Space"). |
| Grissom, White, and Chaffee were the first U.S. astronauts to have died in a spaceship.� Several astronauts have died since then in spaceships. |
| The Vietnamese War |
| The Vietnamese War was in full operation by 1967.� According to World News Digest, Operation Cedar Falls was launched on January 8, 1967 by approximately 16,000 U.S. troops and approximately 14,000 South Vietnamese troops against the Viet Cong's Iron Triangle, located 25-30 miles north of Saigon, ended on January 27, 1967.� Other details released by the U.S. Command said that 722 civilians were detained as suspected Viet Cong.� Nearly 6,000 Vietnamese civilians were removed to refugee centers.� Their houses destroyed ("Vietnamese").� "GI's felt they could trust none of the Vietnamese civilians they met"(Turbulent 113). |
| Operation Cedar Falls contributed to the record number of Americans killed or wounded in the Vietnamese war.� On record 144 Soldiers killed 1,044 wounded, and 6 listed as missing in action ("Vietnamese"). |
| The fighting in Vietnam had the people in the U.S. protesting for peace.� Most Americans did not understand the reasons for fighting in Vietnam.� Many people considered the war to be Johnson's personal war.� One notable chant by protesters, "Hey, Hey, LBJ how many kids did you kill today" (Turbulent 133). |
| In October 1967 approximately 50,000 people marched on the Pentagon chanting, "Hell No We Won't Go" and burning draft cards.� Selective Services excused college students from the raft for most of the war (Turbulent 113). |
| Some other notable events in 1967 included:� Muhammad Ali refused induction into the Armed Services.� McCarthy announced he would run for presidency dedicated to ending the war. |
| Racial Issues |
| Racial issues were very prominent in the 60's.� According to World News Digest, On January 27, 1967, a 10-month long boycott in Mississippi ended.� African Americans in Port Gibson, Mississippi were boycotting the white business community for desegregation.� The African Americans wanted to have jobs equal to whites, be able to eat at the same counter as a white, and to have an African American in some type of political means.� |
| The conditions they wanted had been finally agreed upon.� White businessmen agreed to hire 15 African American clerks in downtown stores.� They agreed to hire an African American policeman. �They agreed to hire an African American deputy sheriff.� They agreed to desegregation of hospitals, schools and public places. |
| Fashions |
| The fashions of 1967 as described by Myron Marty, had become neutral.� Jeans had become very popular.� Long hair was the style worn by either boy or girl.� Tennis shoes replaced saddle shoes.� If looking at someone from behind in jeans and long hair, it would be very hard to distinguish whether it was male or female.� Leisure suits, pantsuits and mini-skirts were also popular clothing (36-37). |
| Fun Facts |
| Some fun information for January 1967 was Green Bay Packers against the Kansas City Chiefs played in the first Super Bowl.� Green Bay won 35-10.� MGM turned down a $10 million offer to air Gone With The Wind on television. |
| Conclusion |
| �The year I was born was a period of unrest.� History seems to repeat itself.� The year I was born seems to be mirrored with the present.� The fire in the Apollo 1 compared to the Shuttle explosion.� The Vietnam War compared to the threat of war in Iraq.� Racial issues are not as prominent now as they were then, but they seem to still be an underlying problem. |
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