1066 - Westminster Abbey opens
1570 - Anti-Portugese uprising on Ternate, Moluccas
1653 - 3 Day Sea battle English beat Dutch
1667 - English colony Suriname in Dutch hands
1692 - Salem witch hunt begins
1704 - Indians attack Deerfield MA, kill 40, kidnap 100
1708 - Slave revolt, Newton, Long Island NY, 11 die
1778 - Rhode Island General Assembly authorizes enlistment of slaves
1826 - M. Biela, an Austrian officer, discovers Biela's Comet
1827 - 1st commercial railroad in US, Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) chartered
1844 - 12-inch gun aboard USS Princeton explodes
1847 - US defeats México in battle of Sacramento
1854 - Republican Party formally organized at Ripon, WI
1859 - Arkansas legislature requires free blacks to choose exile or slavery
1861 - Territories of Nevada & Colorado created
1863 - Confederate raider Nashville sinks near Fort McAllister, GA
1864 - Raid at Kilpatrick's, Richmond; Skirmish at Albemarle County Virginia (Burton's Ford)
1871 - 2nd Enforcement Act gives federal control of congressional elections
1878 - US congress authorizes large-size silver certificate
1888 - Ferry in San Pablo Bay explodes
1893 - Edward Acheson, Pennsylvania, patents an abrasive he names "carborundum"
1896 - France dismisses Queen Ranavalona of Madagascar
1900 - General Buller's troops relieve Ladysmith Natal
1908 - Failed assassination attempt on Shah Mohammed Ali in Teheran
1917 - AP reports México & Japan will ally with Germany if US enters WWI
1922 - Egypt regains independence from Britain, but British troops remain
1923 - Swedish, King Gustaaf V begins state visit to Netherlands
1924 - US begins intervention in Honduras
1925 - Congress authorizes a special handling stamp
1933 - 1st female in cabinet - Francis Perkins appointed Secretary of Labor; German President Von Hindenburg abolishes free expression of opinion; Hitler disallows German communist party (KPD)
1935 - Nylon discovered by Dr. Wallace H. Carothers
1939 - Great-Britain recognizes Franco-regime in Spain
1941 - 39 U Boats (197,000 ton) sunk this month; British-Italian dogfight above Albania
1942 - Japanese land in Java, last Allied bastion in Dutch East Indies; Race riot, Sojourner Truth Homes, Detroit; 1st weapon drop on Netherlands
1943 - 63 U Boats (359,300 ton) sinks this month
1951 - Senate committee reports of at least 2 major US crime syndicates; French government of Pleven dissolves
1953 - Stalin meets with Beria, Bulganin, Khrushchev & Malenkov
1956 - 13 die in a train crash in Swampscott, MA; Forrester issued a patent for computer core memory
1959 - Launch of Discoverer 1 (WTR)-1st polar orbit
1960 - US wins Olympics hockey gold medal by defeating Czechoslovakia 9-4; 8th Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, CA close
1961 - JFK names Henry Kissinger special advisor
1970 - Bicycles permitted to cross Golden Gate Bridge
1972 - President Richard Nixon ends historic week-long visit to China
1973 - Suriname government of Sedney arrests 13 union leaders
1974 - US & Egypt re-establish diplomatic relations after 7 years; Ethiopian government of Makonnen forms; Labour Party wins British parliamentary election; Taiwan police shoot into crowd
1981 - Calvin Murphy (Hou), sets NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws
1981 - China PR throws out Netherlands ambassador due to submarine sale to Taiwan
1982 - FALN (PR Nationalist Group) bombs Wall Street
1983 - Final TV episode of "MASH" airs (CBS); record 125 million watch
1988 - 15th Winter Olympics games close at Calgary, Canada; Anti-Armenian pogrom in Azerbaijan, 30 killed
1991 - US & allied forces grant Iraq a cease fire
1993 - Gun battle erupts at Waco, TX, between FBI & Branch Davidians
1994 - Brady Law, imposing a wait-period to buy a hand-gun, went into effect
1995 - Denver International Airport opens
1997 - in Pakistan, kills 45; Smokers must prove they are over 18 to purchase cigarettes in US

Birthdays
1690 - Aleksei P. Romanov Russia, son of Peter the Great
1712 - Louis Joseph de Montcalm, de Saint-Véran France, General
1786 - D. François J. Arago, French astronomer/physicist/politician
1792 - Henriette, countess d'Oultremont de Wégimont wife of King Willem I
1797 - W. Frederik K., prince of Netherlands/General/Admiral (10 day campaign)
1817 - James Craig, Union Brigadier General
1822 - Matthew Duncan Ector, Confederate Brigadier General
1824 - John Creed Moore, Confederate Brigadier General
1825 - Quincy Adams Gillmore, Union Major General
1833 - Alfred von Schlieffen, Count/Prussian General-field marshal
1882 - José Vasconcelos, Mexican politician/essayist/philosopher
1906 - Bugsy Siegel, gangster created casinos in Las Vegas
1915 - Sir Peter Medawar, zoologist, immunologist (Nobel 1953)
1920 - Jim Olin (Representative-VA)
1924 - Robert A. Roe (Representative-NJ)
1927 - John Swire, British aircraft magnate (Cathay Pacific)
1930 - Leon Cooper, US physicist (Nobel 1972)
1938 - Martin Olav Sabo (Representative-MN)
1943 - Hans F. Dijkstal, Dutch minister of the Interior

Passings
1261 - Hendrik, Duke of Brabant (1248-61)
1618 - Filips Willem, Prince of Orange, dies at 63
1665 - Lodewijk van Nassau, Dutch governor (Bois-le-Duc)
1781 - Richard Stockton, US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 50
1844 - Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State, dies in explosion on USS Princeton; Thommas W. Gilmer, Navy Secretary, dies in explosion on USS Princeton
1925 - Friedrich Ebert, Social-Democrat president of Germany
1935 - Alexander W.F. Idenburg, Governor-General of Netherlands Indies (1909-16), dies at 73
1940 - Johan C. Braakensiek, Dutch political cartoonist, dies at 81
1941 - Alfonso XIII de Borbón, King of Spain (1902-31)
1965 - Adolf Schärf President of Austria (1957-65), dies at 74
1966 - Charles A Bassett II astronaut, dies in a crash of T-38 jet at 34; Elliot McKay See, Jr., astronaut, dies in T-38 jet crash at 38
1979 - Mr Ed, talking horse
1986 - Olof Palme, Swedish PM, assassinated in Stockholm; Sven Olof Palme Swedish PM (1969-76, 82-86), assassinated at 59
1991 - Guillermo Ungo, member of El Salvador junta (1979-80)
1993 - Fer A. Olthoff, Dutch WWII resistance fighter (Het Parool)
1994 - Aisin Giorro Pu Chieh brother of Last Emperor of China, dies at 86; Pu Yi, last Chinese emperor, dies at 87

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Moore, James Rodney, USMC (NY); presumed KIA

1968
Coons, Henry A., USN (NY); A6A crashed (w/Stegman), presumed Killed

Hunt, Robert W., US Army (WV); M113 hit with RPG fire, possibly captured, DIC (w/Scuitier)

Stegman, Thomas, USN (MD); A6A crashed (w/Coons), presumed Killed

Scuitier, James J., US Army (NJ); M113 hit with RPG fire, captured (w/Hunt) - PRG says DIC January, 1973

1969
Long, Stephen, G., USAF (OR); O2A shot down, released by PL March, 1973 - retired as a Major - alive and well as of 1998
** earned Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal **

1970
Boyle, William, US Army SF (PA); had just finished loading wounded into a CH34 when it was hit with rocket fire, presumed KIA

Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission is honored to host Colonel Richard Stevens, who is currently stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, in our first online chat. You may send in your question to Colonel Stevens here.

And don't forget to join us tonight at 8:00 p.m./EST!



Deputy Commander, Gulf Region Division United States Army Corps of Engineers

Colonel Stevens hails from Vincennes, Indiana, and received his commission as an Engineer officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1982. He has held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his career. Most recently, he served as the Executive Officer for the Program Analysis and Evaluation Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 in the Pentagon. Awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, Airborne Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association's Bronze de Fleury medal.

Check out this this video of a C-130 making an amazing approach and landing - the type often done in combat zones -- wow.

Make sure you have your volume up so that you can hear the comment made by one of the observers. :)

There are other great videos at the same site - so be sure to check them out.

H/T to Seamus

LTC Tim Murphy has one heck of a great blog -

Murphy Around the World

It's full of great writing and wonderful pictures from the LTC's travels. A sample:

I’ve had a lot of fun in particular working with one British Officer (LTC Rob T.) from that group. We all trade good natured barbs back and forth and he keeps a running list of things that he hates about Americans. Rob commented on how cold it gets in the UK, down to 10-15 degrees. We commented that it gets -40 to -60 degrees where we're from and OFF he went, it's always colder or hotter or wetter or dryer, better, faster, higher, blah, blah in America. I think he has empire envy.

We really enjoy working with the coalition partners, though. The Brits and Australians especially send the cream of the crop to work over here, lots of experiences shared, top talent. Talking to Rob, he's been awarded the Order of St. George which is given only by the Queen. It’s the lowest award in their highest Honour system and a great achievement in the U.K. I told him if he came to a bigger country, he’d probably have stiffer competition for the awards. Now we’re all looking for the definition of tosser...

Check it out!

P.S. - I passed along the definition of "tosser"

'God" Is My Co-Pilot' WW II Fighter Ace Dies at 97

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Retired Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott, the World War II flying ace who told of his exploits in his book "God Is My Co-Pilot," died Monday. He was 97.

His death was announced by Paul Hibbitts, director of the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, where Scott worked in recent years.

The Georgia-born Scott rose to nationwide prominence during World War II as a fighter ace in the China-Burma-India theater, then with his best-selling 1943 book, made into a 1945 movie starring Dennis Morgan as Scott...

FULL STORY - from Fox News

FLIGHT DECK — Like their civilian counterparts, military photographers are on the frontlines of the war on terror. "Military Photographers On the Frontlines" is a collection showcasing the work of some of our best military photographers. The most recent addition features U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad McNeeley.

Launch Slide Shows

Worldwide Wackos
Iran minister says won't give up nuclear program
IAEA Cites Tehran's Lack of Cooperation

Politics
Hillary: Rove Is 'Obsessing About Me'
Bush job rating falls to all-time low: poll
Democrats seek special probe of Bush's NSA program
India Prepares for Visit by President Bush

Supreme Court
Abortion measure could mean big U.S. legal battle

Mardi Gras
The Sounds of Celebration - Video
Mardi Gras Lives On in New Orleans
Reporter's Notebook: Resilient Spirit
Hospitals Brace for Injuries
Video: Mobile

Oddities
Ringling Bros. Circus On Trial Over PETA Spy Charges
Witnesses report seeing nothing unusual...
His lost wedding ring story is no croc...
Wisconsin burglar's calling card turns out to be his parole card

Other News of Note
One of top 10 FBI fugitives captured in Mexico

Fox News
Stocks to Watch: Staples
Alleged Maoist Rebels Kill 23
Taiwanese Prez Nixes China Reunification Panel
Colombian Rebels Kill Eight Officials in Attack
Man Charged With Homicide After Girlfriend Falls
Yates Rejects Plea Offer
U.K. Bank Heist a Record $92M
FULL SPORTS COVERAGE

Reuters: Top News
HK villager sues govt over backyard poultry ban
Guardian Angels founder testifies at NY Gotti trial
Louisiana seen facing post-Katrina mosquito boom
Seeking change, Israelis turn to Kadima
Katrina gives dire New Orleans schools a fresh start
Australian scientists test Nipah virus vaccine
Sony sets date for rollout of next-generation DVDs
Trucker fatigue rule challenged again in court
Financial stocks look stronger
Car makers embrace smaller partnerships
Sony Ericsson puts Cybershot brand on photo phones
Staples posts higher profit, raises dividend
RBS to buy back shares as profit jumps, shares gain
Drug maker Teva posts higher quarterly profit
UK cable company NTL Q4 loss widens
Amazon.com acquires Shopbop.com
DJ Orthopedics to buy Aircast for $290 mln
Stock index futures slip before GDP data
E.ON shares fall ahead of Gas Natural board meeting
BBA says profits fall, favors Fiberweb demerger
Insurer AXA's 2005 profit rise beats forecasts
Elixir shares plunge on drilling disappointment
Motorola in design deal with Pininfarina
CEO says TiVo may give away set-tops

AP World News
China Warns Taiwan of 'Disaster'
Record $92M Stolen in British Heist
Taiwan Leader Halts China Unifying Panel
Colombian Rebel Talks End With No Deal
Chilean President Says Leftists No Threat
Burundi Acknowledges Rogue Executions
Rio's Carnival Parade Pays Homage to Women
Eyes of Sports World Turn Toward Beijing
Spain Arrests Suspected Serb Hit Man

The Seattle Times
GOP governors aren't feeling too secure
California stem-cell agency fights in court to stay alive
Two-thirds of Katrina donations exhausted; charities faced tough decisions
New Orleans hurricane humor searching for gales of laughter
Red Cross spent $500,000 to boost its public image
Brooklyn's refineries are gone, but oil isn't
Chicago program aims to step in before the trigger is pulled
Q&A with Karen Hughes Improving America's image abroad
Relics linked to civilization buried by volcano in 1815
Report alleges "dirty war" atrocities

Chicago Sun-Times
Black Panther street name outrages cops
False alarm halts Metra trains
Jones: Ban on assault guns unlikely to pass
Most of Pilsen is named to historic list
Civil rights photos finally shown
Scientists unearth town buried in 1815
Jail ripped for showing 'Kill Bill,' 'Blow'
New Catholic town may keep birth control out

Boston Globe: World
Darfur battles said to spread to Chad
In vitro embryos have right to life, pope says

Military.com
Vets May Be Denied Health Care
Osprey Heads Into Combat
Port Deal Flawed
Bush Reassures Governors
Iran Expands Nuke Program
Army Slashes Abrams, Bradley Funding

CENTCOM: News Releases
9TH IAD, 1ST BCT SOLDIERS CONDUCT COMBINED COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM

IRAQI POLICE CAPTURE SUSPECTED IED EMPLACER

DETAINEES RELEASED FOLLOWING CRRB REVIEW

Department of Defense
Bush: U.S. Must Pursue Iraqi Democracy - Story - Remarks
U.S. to Review Port Operations Transaction - Story
Iraqi Security Forces United Despite Violence - Story - Video
Iraqis Can Draw Hope From Recent Tragedy - Story

ON THE GROUND
Joint Search of Farmland Yields Mortar Round - Story - Photos
Iraq's Diyala Province Schools Get a Makeover - Story
New Fueling Station Opens in Djiboutian Port - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi, Coalition Forces Bring First Aid, Supplies
Posters Bridge Gap Between Iraqis, Locals - Photos

IN AFGHANISTAN
New Graduates Ready to Join Afghan Workforce
Team Brings Medical Care to Afghan Village

FACE OF DEFENSE
Father, Son Reunite in Iraq - Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Toyota Helps Troops Find Jobs - Story

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Diwaniyah: 32nd Police Station
Provinces Select Rebuilding Projects
Bomb Kills Iraqis
U.S., Iraqi Troops Step Up Patrols
Report Charts Progress
Bush: Iraqis Will Overcome Divisions
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (pdf)
Multinational Force Iraq
Eye on Iraq Update (pdf)
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (pdf)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Tripartite Commission Meets
Afghan Troop Wounded in Attack
Police, Coalition Respond to Attack
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Bush, Governors Topic: Terror War
C-12s: Valuable Maritime Ops Asset
McHale Visits USNORTHCOM
USCG Defends Against Terror
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Judge Blocks Personnel System
USS Emory S. Land Sailors Deploy
Gulf War Sacrifices Honored
Photos: Gulf War Ceremony
Bush: Vets Inspire Today’s Heroes
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualties - Story

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo