Ridgefield Allies

Today in “Hidden” History is a daily listing of important but little-known events illustrating the range of innovators, contributors, or incidents excluded from formal history lessons or common knowledge. Hidden history is intended not as an exhaustive review, but merely as an illustration of how popular narratives "hide" many matters of fundamental importance. Bookmark this page and check daily to quickly expand your knowledge. Suggest entries for Today in “Hidden” History by clicking the Contact Us link. Entries for August 20:

Date	Type	Event
1619		The first enslaved Africans are brought to what would later become the United States. The stage was set for slavery in the U.S. as early as the 14th century, when Spain and Portugal began to capture Africans for enslavement in Europe. Slavery eventually expanded to colonial America, where the first enslaved Africans were brought into the Virginia colony at Point Comfort on the James River on August 20, 1619. It was reported that, “20 and odd Negroes” from the White Lion, an English ship, were sold in exchange for food; the remaining Africans were transported to Jamestown, Virginia and sold into slavery. Learn more.
1948		Perry James Henry Watkins, the only openly gay person to be discharged from the U.S. Army with full honors, is born in Joplin, Missouri. After serving almost two decades in the Army, Watkins had to fight to secure this distinction, suing the Army after being forced out because of his sexual orientation. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. In 1967, during the Vietnam War, Watkins received his draft summons. He marked “yes” on his inductee questionnaire when asked about “homosexual tendencies.” The Army responded by sending him to a psychiatrist who interrogated Watkins about his sexuality but also asked if Watkins had a problem serving his country. Watkins answered, “No problem.” Consequently, his military career as an openly gay man began in May 1968. Several times in those early years he tried to leave the military due to his sexual orientation after hearing that the Army dismissed several white gay peers for that reason. The military, however, denied Watkins’ requests. He surmised that the primary reason for this differential treatment was his race. He reenlisted, again honestly answering the homosexuality question and again, the Army accepted him. Watkins served twice in Korea in the early 1970s. During this period he signed up to entertain the troops using his female impersonator role, Simone, and performed in Army clubs in Germany and throughout Europe. Watkins received several commendations during his years of service. In 1975, without warning, Watkins’ commanding officer started proceedings to discharge him. Watkins, however, fought these charges. In 1979, his military-clearance renewal was rejected due to his gay status. Two years later he sued the Army, which responded by discharging him for being gay. That the Army had earlier accepted Watkins’s sexual orientation early in his career and then later removed him for it, became the center of his nine year legal challenge, which was decided in 1990 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court rejected the Army’s argument and ordered him to be reinstated with back pay, retirement benefits, and retroactive promotion to Sergeant First Class. Watkins was then honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1990. Learn more.
1993		Fionnghuala O’Reilly is born in Hardin County, Kentucky, the daughter of Irishman Fergal O’Reilly, a bricklayer and painter, and Vanetta O’Reilly, an African American he met in San Francisco. When her father was finally able to enlist in the United States Army the family, comprised of six girls, made visits to Sword, Ireland, her father’s birthplace. After years spent living outside a military base in Germany the family relocated in California. At age 9 an affinity for math and science resulted in O’Reilly’s attendance at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and as a teenager participation in the Summer Math and Science Honors Academy at the University of California at Berkeley. O’Reilly earned her bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from George Washington University. A tip from a friend lead to a position in the Datanaut program at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and promotion to executive director of the NASA Space Apps Challenge which allowed her work remotely from her home in Dublin, Ireland. On August 1, 2019, O’Reilly competed for the title of Miss Universe Ireland against 28 finalists in the Round Room of the Mansion House on Dublin’s Dawson Street, where she won the crown, the first person of color and the first person of African heritage to claim victory in the history of the contest. Returning from Atlanta, Georgia, representing Ireland in the 2019 Miss Universe Contest, O’Reilly continued her association with Girls Who Code, a NASA-related program aimed at girls interested in STEM fields, and #ReachForTheStars, a social media initiative she launched that promotes women and diversity in STEM. Learn more.