World War II

2006 39¢ Baseball Sluggers: Hank Greenberg
January 1, 1911,

Happy Birthday “Hammerin’ Hank”

On January 1, 1911, Henry Benjamin Greenberg was born in New York City, New York. One of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, he put his career on hold to serve 47 months with the Army during World War II, the most of any major league player.

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1943 2¢ Nations United for Victory
December 22, 1941,

The Arcadia Conference

On December 22, 1941, US and British leaders met at the White House for the first time to discuss military strategy for World War II. The Arcadia Conference, as it was known, established Allied goals for the war and laid the groundwork for the United Nations.

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1991 29¢ World War II: Civil Defense Mobilizes Americans at Home
December 1, 1941

Founding of the Civil Air Patrol

On December 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), was established in Washington, DC. Unpaid volunteers formed the Civil Air Patrol, using privately owned aircraft and their own funds to support the military.

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1966 8¢ Prominent Americans: Albert Einstein
November 21, 1905

Einstein’s Greatest Breakthrough

On November 21, 1905, Einstein published a paper that presented one of the world’s most famous formulas — E=mc2.

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2011 44¢ Mercury Project
November 18, 1923

Birth of Alan Shepard

Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr was born on November 18, 1923, in Derry, New Hampshire. He was the first American (second person after Yuri Gagarin) to travel into space and the fifth person to walk on the Moon.

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2001 34¢ Honoring Veterans
November 11, 1954

Veterans Day

On November 11, 1954, America first observed Veterans Day, previously known as Armistice Day.  Initially a day set aside to honor the veterans of World War I, it was expanded in 1954 to pay tribute to all veterans.   

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1993 29¢ Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
November 4, 1986

Northern Marianas Becomes U.S. Territory

On November 4, 1986, the Northern Marianas became a territory of the United States. Having previously been a UN Trust Territory of the United States, this change made eligible residents US citizens.

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1997 32¢ Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr. Black Heritage Series
October 25, 1940

Benjamin Davis Becomes First African American General In The U.S. Army

On October 25, 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was appointed the first African American general in US Army. He was a driving force behind the desegregation of the Army, which was finally achieved just days after his retirement.

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1937 3¢ Alaska
October 18, 1867

U.S. Takes Possession of Alaska

On October 18, 1867, Alaska became part of America in a move dubbed “Seward’s Folly.” 

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