Oklahoma
Ruben Rivers: Oklahoma’s Own American Hero
As combating raged in Europe throughout World Warfare II, members of the 761st tank battalion, comprised primarily of all-black teams of troopers, first needed to combat stereotypes.
The army was segregated and a few leaders had reservations about utilizing African American troopers in fight.
“It was thought-about sort of an experiment on the time, sort of just like the Tuskegee Airmen,” historian and writer Artwork Burton mentioned.
After coaching longer than another tank battalion, two years in contrast to some months for white troopers, the Black Panthers lastly bought an opportunity to combat the Nazis and show naysayers mistaken.
“Some folks believed African People did not have the intelligence to be good tankers,” Burton mentioned.
Artwork Burton has studied African American historical past extensively. He mentioned army leaders, skeptical of the Black Panthers means to combat, did not wish to ship them, however Common George Patton wanted them.
After arriving in Normandy in October of 1944, the Black Panthers would undergo 183 straight days of fight, liberating 30 cities on their means towards Germany.
The primary African American tankers to see fight took half in campaigns by means of six nations.
“They had been able to combat, they had been able to combat the Germans and after they despatched them over they proved their mettle,” Burton mentioned.
One of many males who proved his mettle is Workers Sergeant Ruben Rivers from Tecumseh, Oklahoma.
“I feel Ruben Rivers is a real American hero of World Warfare II and I feel Oklahomans may be happy with what he did, his service to his nation,” Burton mentioned.
Because the 761st pushed by means of Jap France towards Germany, Rivers’ tank hit a mine, shrapnel slashed his leg to the bone. Rivers refused to evacuate.
Information On 6 interviewed David Williams, Rivers’ commanding officer in 1996.
“So I attempted to provide him morphine,” Williams recalled. “Ray tried to provide him morphine. And he pushed our palms away. He mentioned, ‘Captain, that is gonna be dangerous. You gonna want me. Couple of days will not make any distinction.’”
As a substitute, Rivers took command of one other tank, and superior along with his firm to maintain combating. The subsequent day, as his fellow Black Panthers pulled again to take cowl underneath heavy hearth from a German anti-tank unit, Rivers lined their withdrawal.
“He had no worry,” Burton mentioned. “He was able to die for what he was attempting to do.”
Rivers was killed when his tank took a direct hit from two excessive powered artillery shells. He is buried on the American Cemetery in Lorrain, France.
Due to his heroic actions in France, Rivers’ Captain nominated him for the Medal of Honor, however it might take practically 50 years for it to be awarded.
In 1997, President Invoice Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to Rivers and different African American troopers from World Warfare II missed for the award.
The president mentioned Rivers’ combating spirit and daring management had been an inspiration to his unit.
Burton mentioned Rivers ought to be an inspiration to all Oklahomans.
“They need to keep in mind him every time they keep in mind the veterans of Oklahoma that Ruben Rivers was proper there on the prime of the heap by way of being courageous, and combating for his nation,” Burton mentioned.
Oklahoma
What will the weather be like on Christmas Day in OKC? See 2024 Christmas forecast
Watch mom’s happy tears when her son delivers a snowy Christmas surprise
The weather outside is frightful but the feeling’s so delightful when a son surprises his mom for the holidays.
USA Today
Oklahoma City won’t have a white Christmas in 2024, but we also won’t be breaking any high temperature records.
Here’s what you need to know about the Christmas forecast in OKC and across Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Christmas 2024 forecast
According to the National Weather Service, it will be cloudy but dry on Christmas Day in Oklahoma.
A chance of rain will increase in the late evening hours.
Here are the forecasted highs and lows across central, western and northern Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma City: Low of 44°F, high of 52°F
- Enid: Low of 36°F, high of 50°F
- Lawton: Low of 46°F, high of 57°F
- Woodward: Low of 30°F, high of 52°F
- Ada: Low of 46°F, high of 56°F
Oklahoma
Former Oklahoma State DC Bryan Nardo Expected to Join Charlotte Staff
Oklahoma State’s former defensive coordinator is wasting no time finding another gig.
On Monday, Doug Samuels of FootballScoop reported that Bryan Nardo is expected to join the defensive staff at Charlotte. One of the most recent teams to jump to the FBS level, Charlotte could soon be adding a coach with Big 12 experience.
Nardo spent the past two seasons in Stillwater as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. While his first season wasn’t necessarily the most impressive, it seemed his adjustments and overall scheme were key in OSU’s ascension to a 10-win season and Big 12 Championship appearance.
However, everything fell apart for Nardo in year 2. With the Cowboys ranking among the bottom 10 in the FBS in most statistical categories, OSU’s defense was the main issue in the team’s winless Big 12 campaign.
However, not all of the blame for OSU’s three-win season can be placed on Nardo. OSU’s offense also struggled mightily throughout the season, but the injuries piling up for the OSU defense sealed Nardo’s fate.
With future NFL players Collin Oliver and Nick Martin not playing a snap after September, the Cowboys were without their anchors and other injuries piled up from there. With a myriad of backups and players not playing in their natural positions, Nardo had no true opportunities to run his desired scheme. Still, OSU’s horrendous rankings and results on the field were still too much to overlook as the team overhauled virtually its entire staff this offseason.
With Nardo heading east, the Cowboys hired Todd Grantham as his replacement shortly after the position opened. Nardo is also not the first former OSU defensive coordinator to head to Charlotte.
After being let go following the 2017 season, Glenn Spencer went to Charlotte and was its defensive coordinator for the 2018 season.
Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Oklahoma
Navy Midshipmen Keys to Beating Oklahoma Sooners in Armed Forces Bowl
The Armed Forces Bowl is the Navy Midshipmen’s kind of bowl game. As they prepare to take on the Oklahoma Sooners, they are familiar with the surroundings at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Kickoff on Friday is at noon eastern on ESPN.
This is Navy’s (9-3) third appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl, as they beat Middle Tennessee in 2013 and then played a highly-dramatic affair with Louisiana Tech in 2016, which Navy lost 48-45.
At stake for the Midshipmen is their first 10-win season under second-year coach Brian Newberry and their sixth 10-win season in program history. Also with the win the Midshipmen can double their win total from a season ago in Newberry’s debut.
All in all, it would be the capper for a successful second year under their former defensive coordinator.
Oklahoma (6-6) is coming off a sluggish debut in the SEC, where at times the Sooners struggled to score points but scored a huge elite season win over Alabama, a victory that likely kept the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoff.
Third-year coach Brent Venables is also dealing with losing players to the transfer portal and two potential defensive stars who may not play in the game as they prepare for the NFL.
How does Navy win? Here are three keys to watch.
Wanna see a simple cause-and-effect relationship?
In Navy’s nine wins, the Midshipmen have outscored teams 104-7 in points off turnovers. The only team to score any points off a Navy turnover in those nine games? Incredibly, it was Bucknell in the season opener.
In the Midshipmen’s three losses, Navy has been outscored 48-0 in points off turnovers.
Navy needs to avoid turnovers, avoid giving up points when it turns the ball over. It also needs to force turnovers and score points off those turnovers.
Yes, that’s rather simple. But the Midshipmen are polar opposite teams in this category, which means that first turnover of the game, whoever commits it, could be telling.
It’s not as if Navy is going to become a different team than it was against Army West Point, and certainly quarterback Blake Hovarth’s ability to throw the ball as a differentiator. But, the Midshipmen just need to be who they are.
Navy is averaging 249.3 rushing yards per game, the seventh-best average in FBS and the program’s best since 2019.
Navy hasn’t played Oklahoma in decades comma but Army played the Sooners recently in Norman. Back in 2018, OU needed overtime to beat Army, 28-21. Oklahoma doesn’t see option teams at all during the season. That’s an edge for Navy.
Oklahoma has had some turnover at quarterback since the end of the regular season. Starter Jackson Arnold transferred to Auburn and another quarterback is in the portal.
The Sooners expect to start Michael Hawkins Jr. behind center, who actually began the season as the starting quarterback. So Navy’s defensive staff will need to break down some tape from earlier in the season.
He has 536 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He’s a solid runner. But he was benched for fumbling the ball multiple times against South Carolina. Ball protection is key against Navy, which does a good job of creating turnovers. Pressure on Hawkins will be a difference-maker in the game.
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