Monthly Archives: February 2014

Battle of Eniwetok Atoll ends in U.S. victory 70 years ago today (Feb 23 1944)


Video: 'WW2: U.S. Marines Take Eniwetok (1944)'

(Wednesday, February 23, 1944; Part of World War IIPacific War) — U.S. forces secured Eniwetok Atoll today from the Japanese, with 262 Americans killed in 7 days of fighting. The victory provided a forward base for the United States Navy for its later operations, including Allied attacks on the Mariana Islands to the northwest.

‘Bubble boy’ David Vetter, 12, dies 30 years ago this hour (Feb 22 1984)


Video: 'Bodyshock - The Boy In The Bubble - David Vetter' (parts 1-6)

(Wednesday, February 22, 1984, 8:00 p.m. CST) — David Vetter, a 12-year-old Texas boy who’d spent most of his life in a plastic bubble because he had no immunity to disease, died today, 15 days after being removed from the bubble for a bone-marrow transplant.

American aircraft mistakenly bomb four Dutch towns 70 years ago today (Feb 22 1944)


Video: 'Nijmegen 1944, American bombs on the city'

(Tuesday, February 22, 1944; part of World War II) — American aircraft mistakenly bombed the Dutch towns of Nijmegen, Arnhem, Enschede and Deventer today, resulting in 800 dead in Nijmegen alone.

‘It Happened One Night’ premieres in New York 80 years ago today (Feb 22 1934)


Video: 'It Happened One Night'

(Thursday, February 22, 1934)It Happened One Night, a screwball comedy film about a pampered socialite who tries to get out from under her father’s thumb and falls in love with a roguish reporter, premiered today at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Directed by Frank Capra, the film starred Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert and Walter Connolly.

‘Big Week’ begins as American bombers raid German aircraft manufacturing centers 70 years ago today (Feb 20 1944)


Video: ''Big Week' Allied Air Campaign - WW2 1944 - US Army Air Corps - Part 18'

(Sunday, February 20, 1944; part of World War II) — U.S. bombers began raiding German aircraft manufacturing centers in a series of attacks that became known as “Big Week.”

Annual American Music Awards debuts 40 years ago this hour (Feb 19 1974)


Video: 'AMAs 1974' (17-video playlist; second and third videos are from 1976)

(Tuesday, February 19, 1974, 8:30 p.m. EST) — Dick Clark staged the first American Music Awards tonight as an alternative to the industry-dominated Grammy Awards. The winners of the American Music Awards are determined by the votes of music fans. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” by Tony Orlando and Dawn won for favorite pop single that year.

Former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeffrey Skilling charged 10 years ago today (Feb 19 2004)


Video: 'The Smartest Guys in the Room - Jeffrey Skilling'

(Thursday, February 19, 2004; part of the Enron scandal) — Former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeffrey Skilling was charged with fraud, insider trading and other crimes today in connection with the energy trader’s collapse.

‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ premieres in France 50 years ago today (Feb 19 1964)


Video: 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (trailer)

(Wednesday, February 19, 1964)The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, a French musical film about a young girl separated from her lover by war and facing a life altering decision, premiered today in France.

Directed by Jacques Demy, the film starred Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo.

H. L. Hunley becomes first submarine to engage, sink a warship 150 years ago this hour (Feb 17 1864)


Video: ‘National Geographic: Secret Weapon Of The Confederacy’

(Wednesday, February 17, 1864, 8:45 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — The H. L. Hunley, a submarine of the Confederate States of America, became the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic, at Charleston Harbor, Charleston, South Carolina. Five Union sailors were lost. Soon after, Hunley sank, killing all eight of her third crew.

Operation Hailstone begins 70 years ago today (Feb 17 1944)


Video: 'Operation Hailstone, by Steve Evans'

(Thursday, February 17, 1944; part of World War IIPacific War)Operation Hailstone, a massive naval air and surface attack by the United States Navy against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk Lagoon, Japan’s main base in the central Pacific, began today in support of the Eniwetok invasion.