Video: 'FDR Fireside Chat on The Battle of the Bulge (1945)'
(Saturday, January 6, 1945, 10:00 p.m. EWT) — In his annual State of the Union address, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt called for early enactment of a national service act and for compulsory military training of youth after the war. Continue reading Roosevelt seeks national service act in State of the Union address 80 years ago this hour (Jan 6 1945)
Video: 'Presidential Love Letters'
(Saturday, January 6, 1945) — Future U.S. President George H.W. Bush, 20, married Barbara Pierce, 19, today at the First Presbyterian Church in Rye, New York, only weeks after his return from the Pacific.
(Saturday, December 23, 1944) — “Don’t Fence Me In” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen And His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Selling Retail Records chart for eight consecutive weeks (Dec. 23/30, 1944, Jan. 6/13/20/27, Feb. 3, 1945). Continue reading ‘Don’t Fence Me In’ by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1944)
Video: 'Telling the German Command to go to Hell! WWII: Hero’s'
(Friday, December 22, 1944, 11:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe today rejected a German demand for surrender, writing “Nuts!” in his official reply. Continue reading ‘NUTS!’ U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe defies German surrender demand with iconic reply in World War II Battle of the Bulge 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1944)
Video: 'Japanese Internment during WW II' (Dec. 18, 1944 at 8:18)
(Monday, December 18, 1944; during the Internment of Japanese Americans of World War II) — The constitutionality of the wartime regulations under which American citizens of Japanese ancestry were evacuated from Pacific Coast areas in 1942 was upheld by a vote of 6 to 3 in the Supreme Court today, but in another decision the court ruled unanimously that Japanese-Americans of unquestioned loyalty to the United States could not be detained in war relocation centers. Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court upholds World War II Japanese American detention but rules loyal citizens must be released 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1944)
Video: 'December 17th, 1944: Internment of Japanese Americans Ends'
(Sunday, December 17, 1944; during the Internment of Japanese Americans of World War II) — Mass exclusion of persons of Japanese ancestry from West Coast States was ended today by Maj. Gen. H. Conger Pratt, Western commander, in a proclamation effective on Jan. 2, 1945. Continue reading West Coast ban on Japanese Americans lifted by U.S. War Department 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1944)
Video: 'World War II in HD: Battle of the Bulge | History'
(Saturday, December 16, 1944, 5:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The Battle of the Bulge began this morning as three German armies launched a surprise counterattack against Allied forces through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, catching Allied forces completely off guard. Continue reading Battle of the Bulge begins as German forces launch surprise World War II assault through Ardennes 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1944)
Video: 'Mysterious disappearance of Glenn Miller's airplane might be solved'
(Friday, December 15, 1944; during World War II) — A single-engine plane carrying Maj. Glenn Miller, director of the U.S. Air Force Band and legendary big band musician, disappeared today in bad weather over the English Channel. Continue reading Bandleader Glenn Miller’s plane vanishes over English Channel on flight to Paris during World War II 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1944)
(Saturday, December 9, 1944) — “I’m Making Believe” by The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Selling Retail Records chart for two consecutive weeks (Dec. 9/16, 1944). Continue reading ‘I’m Making Believe’ by The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 9 1944)
Video: 'The USS Mount Hood explosion'
(Friday, November 10, 1944, 8:55 a.m. Papua New Guinea Time; during World War II) — The ammunition ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11) exploded today while moored in Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific. Continue reading 372 American sailors killed when USS Mount Hood explodes at Manus Naval Base 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 10 1944)
