Birth of Yogi Berra
Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra was born on May 12, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is widely considered to be one of baseball’s greatest catchers and best clutch hitters of all time.
World War II
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Birth of Jacqueline Cochran
Jacqueline Cochran was born Bessie Lee Pittman on May 11, 1906, in Pensacola, Florida. The first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, she held more speed, altitude, and distance records than any other pilot, male or female, in the world.
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Birth of Naval Aviation
On May 8, 1911, the US Navy purchased its first airplane. This date is celebrated as the birth of US naval aviation.
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Happy Birthday to Amadeo Giannini
Banker Amadeo Pietro Giannini was born on May 6, 1870, in San Jose, California. Giannini found his success in offering loans to immigrants who were denied elsewhere. He also helped fund projects such as the Golden Gate Bridge and World War II ships.
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National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
On April 9, 1942, the largest number of US forces was captured at the end of the Battle of Bataan, leading to the Bataan Death March. Today, this date is commemorated as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
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“Go For Broke” Day
April 5 is known as “Go For Broke” Day, in honor of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, the most decorated unit for its size in US military history. The regiment was composed entirely of Nisei (children of Japanese immigrants) who volunteered to join the war effort, displaying inspiring valor and loyalty to America.
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Birth of Bradbury Thompson
Award-winning graphic designer J. Bradbury Thompson was born on March 25, 1911, in Topeka, Kansas. Thompson designed more than 100 US postage stamps and influenced countless others, making him one of the most prolific US stamp designers in history.
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Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
On March 16, 1937, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in Delaware. The refuge projects vital wetlands and salt marshes that serve as important breeding and wintering grounds for hundreds of species of waterfowl and migrating birds.
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Happy Birthday Ezra Keats
Ezra Jack Keats was born on March 11, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York. Keats was a writer and illustrator of children’s books, most famously, The Snowy Day.
