Everyday Patriot

Sergeant David Quentin Douthit was born on October 20, 1966, in Ketchikan, Alaska.  He was an avid skier and motocross rider, winning the Alaskan State Championship in 1982.  Sergeant David Douthit graduated from Soldotna High School in 1984 and enlisted in the US Army in 1986.  He was trained for calvary units and was sent to posts in Germany and Washington State before Sergeant David Douthit deployed with the 134th Armored Detachment to the Persian Gulf in December 1990 for Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War. On February 27,1991, while attempting to rescue soldiers in another disabled vehicle, Sergeant David Douthit was fatally wounded by enemy fire.   He rests at the Spruce Grove Memorial Park in Kasilof, Alaska. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at...

Second Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper was born on March 21, 1856, in Thomasville, Georgia. Despite being enslaved until about 1865, he was still able to maintain his physicality and obtain his education from Atlanta University, which allowed him to accept an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point at the recommendation of Representative James C. Freeman. He graduated n 1877 and was the first cadet of African descent to do so. He was assigned to the 10th Cavalry and sent to Fort Sill, where Second Lieutenant Henry Flipper served as a frontier scout and surveyor.   He also acted as quartermaster.  In 1882 Second Lieutenant Henry Flipper was accused of embezzlement by other officers, and while it was made clear during his court-martial that the charges were false. Second Lieutenant Flipper was still dismissed for "Conduct Unbecoming An Officer." After his service, Second Lieutenant Henry Flipper worked as a civilian engineer for the US government and through th...