Birth of Richard Byrd
Richard Evelyn Byrd was born on October 25, 1888, in Winchester, Virginia. Byrd led three Antarctic expeditions and was the US Navy’s youngest admiral at the time.
World War I
Birth of John J. Pershing
John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing was born on September 13, 1860, in Laclede, Missouri. He led the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI and is the only person to be promoted to the Army’s highest rank (General of the Armies) during his lifetime
Birth of Claire Chennault
Claire Lee Chennault was born on September 6, 1890, in Commerce, Texas. He formed and led the Flying Tigers during World War II.
19th Amendment Gives Women the Right to Vote
On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed, granting women’s suffrage. It was a major victory several decades in the makine.
Death of Edith Wharton
Noted author Edith Wharton died on August 11, 1937. Best known for her novel The Age of Innocence, she was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Birth of Ernie Pyle
Journalist and war correspondent Ernest Taylor Pyle was born on August 3, 1900, in Dana, Indiana. America’s most widely read war correspondent, he earned a Pulitzer Prize for Journalism and was one of a few civilians to be awarded the Purple Heart.
Birth of Henry Ford
Industrialist and auto manufacturer Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Greenfield Township, Michigan. He was a pioneer in the automotive industry, starting a company that’s still in business today.
The Second Battle of the Marne
On July 15, 1918, the Germans launched the Second Battle of the Marne. The battle resulted in a major Allied victory, bringing a much-needed morale boost following a string of losses to the Germans.
America Issues First Airmail Stamp
On May 13, 1918, the United States issued its first airmail stamp – US #C3. It carried America’s first airmail two days later, and sparked one of the world’s most famous stamp rarities.