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Thursday, April 05, 2007


Michael Yon sends this photo of Iraqi Police in Baghdad. The photo will be part of the upcoming dispatch, "Desires of the Human Heart."

Michael is headed out to Basra with British troops - safe trip, Michael.



Michael's photos are posted with permission; please do not repost or republish without same.

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‘Blue Platoon’ forms Band of Brothers

Soldiers of “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, take a knee in prayer before they head out on a mission into Khalis, Iraq, March 30. The prayer is a tradition of the platoon, said before every mission by a different Soldier, asking for security and protection. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 040107-01
April 01, 2007

By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- With the sun rising in the background, Soldiers gather around each other, get down on a knee and begin their prayer. A tradition for the Soldiers, the prayer is said by someone new before the group heads out on a convoy mission into Baqubah, Iraq.

They ask for safety and security so they can properly conduct their mission, and bring the U.S. Army one step closer to its goal -- provide a safe and secure nation for the people of Iraq.

As these Soldiers get ready to “roll out,” they can’t help but crack one last joke at their fellow Soldiers, breaking the tension from the possibility of dangers they might experience outside of the forward operating base. This is also nothing new; it is just as much tradition as the prayer.

The group loads into their humvees and drives out the gate of FOB Warhorse into the brightly gleaming sky, ready for whatever awaits them.

The Soldiers are close, and not as close as friends, rather as close as family. Mission after mission, these Soldiers have experienced everything from successful patrols to heartbreaking tragedies. But all this brought them closer together, solidifying them as a real band of brothers.

“Blue Platoon,” a fierce group of Soldiers from Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, are no strangers to action, violence and improvised explosive devices; but they say none of those things will break their spirits. They get up, dust themselves off and get ready for the next showdown.

“We’ve been through a lot and seen a lot,” said Spc. Mark Henry, a member of Blue Platoon and a native of Cleveland. “But anything you can think of, we’re willing and able to take that mission on.”

It’s this attitude which helped mold this unit into the brutal machine they are outside the wire. But back inside, these Soldiers have nothing but love and amity for each other and their leaders.

“I think we have become closer here [in Iraq] as a platoon… after loosing some of our best friends out here, that brought us closer,” said Sgt. Justin Mayes, a soft spoken but efficient leader for Blue Platoon.

“As each day and mission goes by, I think our love and respect as a family gets bigger,” said the Lumberton, NC native. “We each know the guy beside us will always back us when it’s needed.”

While in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, these Soldiers work hand-in-hand with the Iraqi army to help provide a sustained government and security force to serve the citizens of Iraq.

“We are trying to help the Iraqi army sustain their country right now, so we can go home and sustain our own country,” said Pfc. Charles Brooks, a member of the Blue Platoon and a native of Chicago. “This is their country so this is their job, but they need our help and guidance right now and we’re doing our best to help out.”

“We hope that us being here keeps [the people of Iraq] in a peaceful state of mind,” said Henry. “We provide security for the Iraqi people while their army is being trained. The overall goal is for [the Iraqi army] to completely take over responsibility to where they don’t need our help anymore and we can go home.

“Of course, I want to go home, but I fully understand why we’re here,” he continued. “The IA and the people of Iraq need our help. When we roll through cities and people come out [of their homes] and are clapping because our presence is there, that means something.”

This positive response is what these Soldiers are hoping for every time they leave the wire, though they know it’s not always likely. Either way, these Soldiers, each knowing the other’s job, are ready and prepared for whatever challenges face them while patrolling the streets in Baqubah.

“What we do everyday is go outside the wire,” said Mayes. “You can be a driver one day, run the gun the next. We switch it up and learn the other guy’s jobs. That’s what makes us a good team.

“We do it all. Everybody has to know everyone’s job … we’re all able to step-up and take charge,” he continued.

From conducting patrols to raiding houses or providing security, the team has been through it all and they do it together.

Not every mission has gone the way the Soldiers had planned, but things like IEDs have yet to stop these Soldiers from finishing their mission at hand.

“We’ve had some bad days out there, but we’re hanging in there and trying to stay strong and finish this deployment out,” Mayes said.

After going through combat experiences together, Brooks said they have formed a special bond.

“It definitely makes you closer as a team; you put your trust in the people around you to do their jobs,” he said.

While these Soldiers might have an “all business, no play” attitude outside the wire, the concept changes once children are involved.

With the team’s convoy moving down a busy street in Khalis, Iraq, the gunners of the humvees throw candy to the children and wave to everyone on the street.

“The children are friendly; most of them are really nice,” said Brooks. “They like us. We hand out everything from candy to soccer balls.”

And the families of the Soldiers back home are getting involved with reaching out to the children, too. They pack-up and mail off everything from toys to school supplies for the Soldiers to hand out.

“Family members do send us things to hand out to the children,” said Henry. “My girl back at home just sent me some school supplies to give out.”

“Most of the supplies we hand out on missions come from home,” said Mayes. “That really is a big help.”

After a long day of patrols or fighting, the Soldiers, who work long hours in support of their missions, return back to the FOB, prepare for the next mission and take time for some much needed rest and relaxation.

“When we get back from a mission, we are just so tired and beat,” said Mayes. “But we have to be ready for the next mission. We have to do maintenance [on our vehicles and weapons] whenever we can find the time. But if we get time, we’ll relax, watch movies and get on the internet.”

“I try to jump into the showers as quickly as possible,” Brooks said. “I also try to relax and watch movies. You have to clear your head and get ready for the next day and the next mission. That’s really important.”

As these Soldiers prepare for the next day, looks of relief, exhaustion and contentment fill their eyes. They have made it through another day and are ready for the next.

And there is not a complaint from the group about having to go out again the next day for another mission. They will be heading out together, with their platoon, with their brothers.

“I trust the guys that I work with,” said Brooks. “I can trust that they know what their doing, so we’re going to be ok.

“I love working with these guys,” he said. “After the stuff we’ve gone through out here, you become closer as a family. Being here has been a bonding experience.
“It’s great because we’re so close now; it’s more of a family than a platoon,” said Henry. “Everybody knows everyone’s wife’s names, their kid’s names – this really is a family.”

And tomorrow, as the sun rises, the band of brothers will gather again, take a knee and pray. They pray for the day ahead, remembering their fallen comrades. They do this not because they have to, but because they choose to.

“It’s been hard at times,” said a very solemn Henry. “Everybody in the platoon thinks about them every single day. We talk about them constantly.”

“We pray every day before we go out, every mission,” said Mayes. “It’s something that helps us and brings us even closer together. It’s a good thing.”

“We try to keep going, move on… these guys would want us to,” Brooks said in solace. “Those guys were vital members of our team and they are going to be terribly missed.”


An Iraqi child hands Sgt. Justin Mayes, “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Lumberton, NC, a small stack of playing cards March 30. Mayes quietly joked with the child for a few minutes and continued on with his mission during his platoon’s visit to Khalis, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Spc. Mark Henry, “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Cleveland, pulls guard in front of the site of a previously exploded vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Khalis, Iraq, March 30. Henry’s platoon patrolled the city, visiting the Iraqi Army and Police, to determine what supplies they might need to help the citizens of Khalis. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Sgt. Justin Mayes, “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Lumberton, NC, pulls guard around a street corner in Khalis, Iraq, watching out for any possible danger while his platoon patrols the surrounding area, March 30. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


“Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division’s attitude of “all business, no play” is in effect while they patrol a major street in a local market of Khalis, Iraq, March 30. The night prior, the market was hit by three vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, prompting Blue Platoon to visit the area the next day. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


A Soldier with “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, vigilantly stands guard March 30, protecting his platoon leader while he talks with the local Iraqi army and police about attacks in Khalis, Iraq, the previous night. The market was hit by three vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, March 29. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

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HOMECOMING — Lance Cpl. Michael Christiano, a Marine with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, hugs his father after returning to Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 2, 2007. The unit spent seven months in western Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lucian Friel

Full Story


Welcome Home, and Job Well Done to these brave Marine Heroes.

OORAH!!!

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In Today's News - Thursday, April 5, 2007

Quote of the Day
“No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.”
-- Colin Powell, US Army General / National Security Advisor /
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff / Secretary of State

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Bush Says Iraq Pullout Would Make U.S. Vulnerable to Attack
Bush acknowledges Americans weary of Iraq war
22 Shiite shepherds kidnapped in Iraq
Gates sees Iraq "ethnic cleansing" if U.S. pulls out - Video
Gunmen kill 11 electricity workers in Iraq ambush

Operation Enduring Freedom
Taliban says it kidnapped two French aid workers

Homeland Security / the conflict formerly known as GWOT / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Dems Try to Take It Back (so it'll be the conflict formerly known as the conflict formerly known as GWOT...)
RAW DATA: Full Text of Democratic Memo (pdf)
Syria tells Pelosi it's ready for peace talks - Video
Bodies collected as tenuous Mogadishu truce holds Video
American Taliban seeks reduced sentence

Fallen Heroes
Army Probes Possible Friendly-Fire Deaths

Other Military News
Top Marine Says Training Hurt by War

Religion of Peace??
Southern Thai mosque bombed, 14 wounded

Worldwide Wackos
British Expect Iran to Begin Release of 15 Captive Sailors, Marines 'Within Hours'
'They're in Good Shape'
Iran to free British troops; envoy says they're ok - VIDEO
Family Worries About FBI Man Missing in Iran
Report: Iran Gets Access to Terror Suspects in Iraq

Homegrown Moonbats
Students Pelt Karl Rove After Speech at American University (Aw...how peaceful and nonviolent)

Politics / Government
Bush Out-Foxes Appointment Foes
Texas Bill: Put Bible in Schools - SPEAKOUT!
Obama on Hillary's Heels - BRAINROOM
Pelosi Pushes Syria on Hezbollah Ties - VIDEO (Suuuuuure she did....)
Pelosi Syria trip part of foreign policy battle
Pelosi brings message of peace to Assad
Cheney: age, ex-wives, religion no problem in race
Obama's $25M haul rivals Clinton camp
EU, U.S., Russia to boost security cooperation

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Police: Washington Woman, 30, Posed as Teenage Boy and Lived With Girl
Court: Insurer Must Pay $5,000 for N.Y. Boy's Breast Reduction
Husband of Missouri Day Care Operator May Have Molested 40 Children, Police Say
St. Louis Cops Dispensed Scalped WS Tickets
DNA Links Torso, Leg That Washed Ashore
Designer Jon accused of assaulting 4 more women
Intern admits thefts from U.S. archives
Convicted pastor denied leadership post

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
YouTube blocked in Thailand in crackdown

Science / Medicine / Technology
Income and food cost concerns affect diet: study
AIDS drug Prezista performs well in new study
Space storm disrupted GPS, experts say
Red planet heating up; Martian dust to blame: study
Wisconsin governor backs state's stem cell patents
FBI checks gambling in Second Life virtual world
Microsoft patches Windows vulnerability
Greek archaeologists unearth rich tomb
CAD mammograms often find harmless spots

Mother Nature
Storms Surge Through South
Busy hurricane season seen, FEMA vows to be ready - Video
Aid still days away for Solomons homeless - Video
Tsunami survivors at risk of disease

News from My Neck of the Woods
Three Yale Students Arrested for Burning American Flag (What they neglect to tell you in this headline is that the flag in question was ATTACHED TO SOMEONE'S PORCH!!!)

Oddities
Man Crushed to Death by 7,000 Pounds of Marble (Geeeeez...)
Rescuers Remove 700-Pound Woman From New Jersey Home
Falling woman saved by pile of...
After search, Google finds snake in office
Richards denies snorting his dad's ashes

Other News of Note
'A Christmas Story' Director Killed in Car Crash

Fox News
Records: Anna Nicole Drugs All From 1 Doctor
PHOTO ESSAY: Revving Up N.Y. Auto Show
Asia's Richest Woman Dies at 69
Reality Check: The Sanjaya Sensation Sweeps 'American Idol'
Pop Tarts: All Prude and No Nude for Scarlett Johansson

Reuters: Top News
New York finds college officials held lender shares
Ukraine PM increases pressure on president - Video
Italians seek to seduce chocolate epicures
Silicon Valley's "best brains" work on energy
Movies aid search for "greater meaning" - Video
Wall Street inches up on lower oil
Oil falls after Iran says will free Britons
Dollar falls after services ISM disappoints
Stocks edge up as oil falls on Iran news
Restoration shares fall after results
The futures of real estate
OPEC idea to loom over gas producers
Vodafone says full Essar buy against India law: FT
Service sector data depicts slowing U.S. economy - Video
DaimlerChrysler says in Chrysler sale talks
IMF warns of spillover if U.S. slowdown spreads
Ford must do what it takes to cut costs: CEO
Banks prone to sell minorities pricy loans

AP World News
Gina Glocksen voted off 'American Idol'
Baseball keeps 'Extra Innings' on cable
Remains are not those of Joan of Arc
Best Buy 4Q profit up, Circuit City loss
Legendary Grambling coach Robinson dies
NBC renews '30 Rock' despite low ratings
Stocks rise on lackluster economic data
Lennon piano to be displayed in Memphis
Mortgage pros scramble to modify loans

Military.com
Military News Suitcased for You
Op-ed: The Blinking Red Light
Spy Corner: Underwater Express
Sgt. Shaft: How Much SPB is Enough?
SpouseBUZZ: That's Funny?
Jet Wars: Boeing vs. Lockheed
The New Warfighter's Forum

CENTCOM: News Releases
ROYAL NAVY COMPLETES TERM AS COMMANDER, TASK FORCE 150
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 3

USJFCOM
USJFCOM seeks to pass Joint Force Projection ACTD's final exam - podcast
More about the Joint Force Projection ACTD
More about ACTDs
USJFCOM gears up for Noble Resolve - podcast
Personnel recovery capability continues process of fielding to the warfighter - podcast

DefenseLink
Bush: Troops’ Hard Work Will Impact the World - Story
Gates: Still ‘So Far, So Good’ in Iraq Strategy - Story
England: Firm Political Will Necessary for Victory - Story
Baghdad ‘Surge’ Produces Early Successes - Story
Regiment Focuses on Wounded Marines, Sailors - Story

More Headline News
Iraqis Show Confidence in Security Forces
Disabled Veterans Aim for Paralympic Dreams
Rules Change for Overseas School Lunches
Delay in War Funds Will Hurt Readiness, Morale
Official Discusses Missile Defense in Europe

Military News
Officials Stress Zero Tolerance of Sexual Assault
USS Nimitz Deploys to Persian Gulf
Troops Embark on ‘Why We Serve’ Mission

War on Terror
Criminal Trials Open Window For Reconciliation in Iraq - Story
13 Terrorists Killed In Iraq
Soldier, Marine Die in Iraq

America Supports You
Elmo Helps Military Kids Deal With Parents' Deployments - Story
Group Puts Flags in Troops’ Pockets
AT&T Helps Support Group
Franchise Helps Injured Troops

Transformation
Program Connects Troops to Public
Walter Reed Using 3-D
Soldiers Test New Vehicles

Face of Defense
Captain Relates Experience - Story
Engineer's Idea Saves Money
Air Force Surgeon Honored
Wounded Soldier Re-enlists

DefendAmerica
Criminal Trials Open Window For Reconciliation in Iraq - Story

ON THE GROUND
General Petraeus Visits Revitalized Dora Market - Story
Two-Man Team Helps Troops Communicate - Story
Police Graduates Positioned to Protect Residents - Story
Navy Customs Battalion Departs to Middle East - Story

IN IRAQ
Artillery Soldiers Tackle New Mission in Qadisiyh
Officials Sign Agreement to Build New Hospital
Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Bring Smiles to Schools

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Government, Coalition Aid Flood Victims
U.S., Coalition Servicemembers Climb 'The Ghar'
Female Aviators Pilot into Strong Career

IN DJIBOUTI
Soldiers Keep Promise, Check on Injured Girl
Postal Specialists Deal With Limited Space
Security Company Stands Watch in Djibouti

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

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

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
2348 BC - Noah's ark grounded, Mount Ararat (calculated date)
0823 - Pope Peschalis I crowns Lotharius I, co-emperor of France
1058 - Bishop John "Minchio", [domkop] elected as Pope Benedictus X
1242 - Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod defeats Teutonic Knights; Battle on the More of Pskov, Estonia
1603 - New English king James I departs Edinburgh for London
1614 - 2nd parliament of King James I begins session (no enactments); Indian princess Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe
1621 - Mayflower sails from Plymouth on a return trip to England
1648 - Spanish troops/feudal barons strike down people's uprising in Naples
1722 - Jacob Roggeveen discovers Easter Island
1739 - French emperor Karel VI signs secret treaty
1751 - Adolf Frederik of Holstein-Gottorp crowns himself king of Sweden
1762 - British take Grenada, West Indies, from French
1768 - 1st US Chamber of Commerce forms (New York, NY)
1792 - George Washington casts 1st presidential veto
1806 - Isaac Quintard patents apple cider
1812 - British storm Badajoz fortress, held by French & Spanish
1815 - Eruption of Tambora volcano (Sumbawa Java)
1861 - Federals abandon Fort Quitman, TX
1862 - Siege of Yorktown, VA
1865 - Battle at Amelia Springs/Jetersville, VA (Appomattox Campaign)
1881 - Transvaal regains independence under British suzerainty
1887 - Anne Sullivan teaches "water" to Helen Keller
1895 - Oscar Wilde loses libel case against Marquess of Queensberry, who accused him of homosexual practices
1896 - 1st modern Olympic Games officially open in Athens
1900 - Attempted assassination of Prince of Wales in Brussels, fails
1902 - Soccer match riot between Scotland & England kills 25
1908 - British premier Henry Campbell-Bannerman resigns
1915 - French begin Woëvre-offensive
1916 - French troops occupy Bois de Caillette
1919 - Polish Army executes 35 young Jews
1923 - Firestone Company puts their inflatable tires into production
1929 - Lithuania signs Litvinov-pact
1935 - Croatian Farmers Party wins Yugoslavian election
1936 - Tupelo, MS virtually annihilated by a tornado, 216 die
1938 - Anti-Jewish riots break out in Dabrowa, Poland
1939 - Membership in Hitler Youth becomes obligatory
1941 - In San Francisco, Castro & Fillmore streetcars replaced by buses
1943 - Poon Lim found after being adrift 133 days; Allies bomb Mortsel
1944 - 140 Lancasters bomb airplane manufacturer in Toulouse
1945 - Kuniaki Koiso resigns as PM of Japan; replaced by Kantaro Suzuki
1949 - 60 year old St Anthony's Hospital burns, kills 77 (Effingham IL)
1950 - Prague espionage trial against bishops & priests begins
1951 - Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, spies, sentenced to death
1955 - Winston Churchill resigns as British PM, Anthony Eden succeeds him
1961 - Dutch Governor Platteel installs New Guinea Council
1962 - NASA civilian pilot Neil A Armstrong takes X-15 to an altitude of 54,600 meters
1963 - Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II becomes chief of Western Samoa
1964 - 1st driverless trains run on the London Underground
1965 - Lava Lamp Day celebrated
1967 - ATS II launched but fails to reach orbit
1971 - Mount Etna erupts in Sicily, Italy; Fran Phipps is 1st woman to reach North Pole; US Lieutenant Wiliam Calley (My Lai Massacre) sentenced to life1973 - Pioneer 11 launched to Jupiter
1974 - Then tallest building, World Trade Center opens in NYC (110 stories)
1975 - Soyuz 18A launch aborted short of orbit; cosmonauts return safely
1976 - Harold Wilson resigns as James Callaghan becomes PM of England
1979 - Pioneer 11 launched towards Jupiter; Ex-premier Pol Jar flees Cambodia
1982 - Lord Carrington, British foreign secretary resigns due to Falkland Islands war
1983 - France throws out 47 Soviet diplomats
1986 - 2 US soldiers & Turkish woman killed in West Berlin discotheque bombing
1989 - David Letterman becomes 1st network TV series to use dolby stereo; Solidarity granted legal status in Poland
1991 - Kitty Kelly publishes a book knocking Nancy Reagan; Space Shuttle STS 37 (Atlantis 8) launched; US begins air drops to Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq; Southeast Airlines Embracer 120 crashes in Georgia, killing 23
1992 - Peru's President Alberto Fujimori suspends constitution & dissolved Congress
1992 - Thailand General Suchinda Kraprayoon installed as Thailand's president
1993 - Construction begins on Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
1996 - Marlon Brando makes anti-semitic remarks about Hollywood on Larry King
1997 - Galileo, 3rd Ganymede Flyby (Orbit 7)

Birthdays
1643 - Charles V. Leopold, Duke of Lorraine/fieldmarshal in Austria
1649 - Elihu Yale England, philanthropist, founded Yale
1795 - Sir Henry Havelock, British soldier (War in Afghánistán 1838-39)
1822 - James Nagle, Union Brigadier General
1825 - David Rumph "Neighbor" Jones, Confederate Major General
1827 - Joseph Lister, British physician (founded aseptic surgery)
1832 - Jules-François Camille Ferry, French statesman
1839 - Robert Smalls, Black Congressman (Representative-SC, 1875-1887)
1845 - Jules M. Cambon French Governor-General of Algeria/ambassador
1856 - Booker Taliaferro Washington, pioneer educator (1st Black on US stamp)
1857 - Alexander-Jozef von Battenberg, ruler of Bulgaria (1879-86)
1908 - Bette Davis, actress with famous eyes (Of Human Bondage, Jezebel)
1914 - Frederick Angus Armstrong, journalist
1919 - Sir Douglas Henley, British auditor-general
1920 - Barend Biesheuvel, Dutch premier (1971-73)
1923 - Nguyen Van Thieu, president of South Vietnam (1965-75); Stanley Orme, chairman (British Labour Party)
1926 - Milton O. Thompson, astronaut (Dynasoar, X-15)
1927 - John Gilbert, MP
1936 - Michael Livesay, British Admiral/president (RN College Greenwich)
1937 - Colin Powell, General/advisor to President George Bush (Nat Security Affairs)/Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-93)/Secretary of State (2001-2005)
1944
- Peter T. King (Representative-NY)
1949 - Dr. Judith Arlene Resnik, astronaut (STS 41D, 51L-Chal disaster)
1950 - Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Ph.D. / astronaut (STS 61C, 34,46,60,75)
1951 - Roosevelt Ferguson, murderer (FBI Most Wanted List)
1955 - Renate Bruemmer, astronaut/cosmonaut

Passings
0828 - Nicephorus, patriarch of Constantinopel (806-15), dies at about 77
1258 - Julian of Cornillon/Liege, Flemish visionary/saint
1531 - Richard Roose, boiled to death for trying to poison an archbishop
1649 - John Winthrop, 1st Governor Massachusetts Bay Colony, dies at 61
1673 - François Caron, Admiral/Governor (Formosa), drowns at about 72
1693 - Anne M. L. of Orléans, duchess (Grande Mademoiselle), dies at 65
1695 - George Savile, 1st marquis of Halifax, dies at 61
1697 - Charles XI, King of Sweden (1660-97), dies at 41
1794 - Georges-Jacques Danton, French revolutionary leader, guillotined at 34; Marie Jean Hérault de Séchelles, French author/politician
1811 - Robert Raikes, founder of Sunday Schools, dies
1869 - Daniel Bakeman, last surviving veteran of the Revolutionary War, dies at 109
1900 - Comte de Villebois-Marevil, French/South African General, dies in battle
1922 - Charles F. A. Woeste Belgian count/minister of Justice, dies at 85
1923 - George Edward Stanhope Molyneúx Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon/egyptologist, dies at 56
1964 - Douglas MacArthur, US General (Pacific theater-WWII), dies at 84
1969 - Rómulo Gallegos Venezuelan author/President (1947-48), dies at 84
1975 - Chiang Kai-shek Nationalist Chinese leader, dies from a heart attack at 87; Victor Marijnen, Dutch premier (1963-65), dies at 58
1982 - Abe Fortas, Supreme Court Justice, dies at 71
1984 - Arthur Travors Harris, marshal of British RAF
1991 - John Tower (Senator-TX), dies in a plane crash at 65; Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter, Jr., USN/astronaut (STS 33), dies at 43
1992 - Sam Walton, Billionaire CEO (Wal-Mart), dies of cancer at 74
1995 - Christian Pineau French politician
1997 - Alparslan Turkes, Turkish politician (MHP)

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Brown, James William, USMC (TX); KIA/BNR

1967
Parker, Thomas A., USN (IN); UH1E hit by enemy fire while hovering over landing zone, exploded, BNR

1968
Matocha, Donald John, USMC (TX); KIA/BNR

1970
Cropper, Curtis H., USNR (CA); forced to eject when F4B caught fire; Killed, BNR

The following Civilian employees of Gamma Agency of Paris were reported Missing when they were captured in Cambodia:
Caron, Gilles (France)

Hannoteaux, Guy (France)

Visot, Michel (France)

1972
Spengler, Henry M. II, US Army (VA); AH1G shot down (w/Windeler) - remains returned August, 1989

Windeler, Charles C., Jr., US Army (GA); AH1G shot down (w/Spengler) - remains returned August, 1989

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