U.S. Census Bureau Black History Month Feature for February 2

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2: WWII MEDAL OF HONOR

Profile America for the second day of Black History Month.  On the list of those who have been awarded the nation's highest honor is Milton Olive III, a slightly built young man from the South Side of Chicago.  Pfc Olive was a member of the 503rd Infantry Regiment fighting in Vietnam, as he and four fellow soldiers were pursuing the enemy through the jungle, a grenade suddenly landed in their midst.  Olive saved the lives of his fellow soldiers by throwing himself on top of the grenade, his body absorbing its full blast.  He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for this extraordinary heroism by President Johnson.  There are 7.5 million veterans of the Vietnam War, and 2.4 million African-American military veterans in the U.S.  This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau -- Measuring America:  People, Places and Our Economy. 

Sources:  U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB12-FF.01
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 521

Profile America Special Edition:  Black History Month  2012  is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov  (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau