On May 17, 1987 the USS Stark was hit by two missiles from an Iraqi jet. 37 crewmen were killed. The incident occurred in the Persian Gulf during the waning days of the Iran-Iraq War. The frigate was on routine patrol outside the designated war zone. When what appeared to Read more
On May 16, 1868, Pres. Andrew Johnson came within one vote of being removed from office. That one vote was that of Sen. Edmund Ross. On March 3, Johnson had been impeached by the House 126-47. Although Johnson was a Republican, every Democrat voted no (and two Republicans) because Read more
Eleven days after the Kent State incident, two African-Americans were killed by police on the campus of Jackson State in Jackson, Mississippi. It was reported as a sequel to Kent State, but in reality it was not about the Vietnam War. It was about racism. Lynch Street abutted the Read more
The Dust Bowl occurred in the 1930’s. The decade was called the “Dirty Thirties”. The worst years were 1930-31, 1934, 1936, and 1939-40. The states that were most effected were Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. It was caused by a combination of bad farming methods, high winds, Read more
After the Romans kidnapped the Sabine women, the Sabine men laid siege to Rome. The siege lasted for weeks and the Sabine men were concerned for the welfare of their women. They allowed the Romans to send a woman each day to the Tiber to bring back water. This Read more
Amelia Earhart became the face of women aviation pioneers, but she was not the greatest aviatrix. That was Jacqueline Cochran. Here are some interesting facts about this remarkable woman. She was born on May 11, 1906 to a father who ran sawmills. Although it was not a bleak existence, Read more
On May 10, 1872 Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for President. Victoria Woodhull had a tough childhood. Her father was a small-time criminal and the family lived in poverty. At age 13, she and her sister would conduct seances and turn the money they earned over to Read more
The Greeks and Romans had festivals to honor their mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. The early Christians developed the concept of “Mothering Sunday”. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, mothers and their families were encouraged to return to their “mother church” for a special service. It became more secular Read more
The members of AIM walked out with their heads held high and with the knowledge that their cause had been advanced through publicity. This happened on May 8, 1973 when the Wounded Knee Occupation came to an end after 71 days. It all started with a dispute over leadership Read more
If you believe the sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915 caused the U.S. to enter WWI, you’d be wrong. But the sinking certainly contributed to the eventual declaration of war. The R.M.S. Lusitania had its maiden voyage in 1906. It was the Titanic of its time – Read more