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Members of the 101st Airborne land on Hill 937, aka "Hamburger Hill." Many LZ's (landing zones) like this one were under constant fire from PAVN positions. (Je Me Souviens) On this day in 1969, American UH-1 "Huey" helicopters began landing in the A Sầu Valley, a remote, densely-jungled region of Vietnam close to the Laotian…
Fête de l'Etre suprême, by Pierre-Antoine Demachy. Complaints about the "creaking stiffness" of the highly-organized event did not bode well for the success of Robespierre's pet "religion". (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1794, French lawyer Maximilien Robespierre proposed an idea for a new state religion in France. Known as the Cult of the Supreme…
A modern interpretation of Hermann's knights charging across Lake Peipus. (SF Girl) On this day in 1242, thousands of Crusading Knights faced off against the armed hordes of the Republic of Novgorod. No, this was not a televised figure-skating competition but a clash between the forces of Catholic Good™ and Orthodox Evil™. Seeking to expand…
The Cantino planisphere, a 1502 map depicting a world carved in half by the Portuguese and Spanish. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1493, a papal bull by the name of inter caetera ("Among other works") was issued by Pope Alexander VI from the Vatican. The decree stated that the Americas would be split into…
Continue reading ➞ 05/04 – Inter Caetera: A World Split in Two
Filipino president Manuel L. Quezon, a proponent of women's rights, depicted in a 1937 editorial cartoon. (Flickr) On this day in 1937, women in the Philippines won the right to vote after a national referendum. A full 90% of participants supported women's suffrage, a surprise result in a country that still (in many areas) embraced…
Continue reading ➞ 04/30 – The Philippine Women’s Suffrage Referendum
Delta Force assaulters preparing for the rescue mission. Operators dressed in civilian clothes and concealed their weapons and ammunition beneath black-dyed BDU jackets. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1980, Operation Eagle Claw - the US mission to rescue the 52 hostages held at the American embassy in Tehran, Iran - began after months of…
The "Red Baron" during WWI in front of his bright-red Fokker DR.I aircraft. Many sources indicate that Richthofen resented the publicity he gained from his combat record. (Pinterest) On this day in 1918, German Air Force pilot Manfred von Richthofen was killed while engaging in aerial combat over Vaux-sur-Somme, France. Richthofen - known as Der…
Curie at work in her lab around the turn of the century. Prolonged exposure to radioactive materials likely killed Curie, who died in 1934. (Biography.com) On this day in 1902, Polish scientist Marie Curie succeeded in refining radium-chloride (RaCl2), a salt compound used in cancer treatments and various other technologies. Aided by her husband Pierre,…
An American political illustration from soon after the Kishinev pogrom. President Theodore Roosevelt is pictured, admonishing Tsar Nicholas II for his treatment of Russia's Jewish population. (Public Domain) On this day in 1903, an angry mob began attacking Jewish people in Moldova's capital city, Kishinev. Then a part of the Russian Empire, Kishinev had recently…
Robinson early on in his career as "no. 42". Although he began his career on first base, Robinson - through relentless practice - eventually became one of the best hitters in the league. (Jackie Robinson.com) On this day in 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers faced off against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field, NYC. At first…
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