(Wednesday, May 27, 1942, during World War II) — Navy Cook 3rd Class Doris “Dorie” Miller became the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross today for his “extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety” during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier Enterprise for his extraordinary courage in battle.

Video: Nazis push toward Tobruk (at 4:49)

(Tuesday, May 26, 1942, part of the Western Desert Campaign during World War II) — The Battle of Gazala began today as German and Italian units pushed toward the port of Tobruk in Libya.

Video: 'The Joseph Warren Stilwell Story - The Big Picture'

(Monday, May 25, 1942, during World War II) — U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell, frustrated over being driven out of Burma by Japanese troops, bluntly told reporters in Delhi, India today, “I claim we got a hell of a beating.”

Video: May 8, 1942 (at 3:06)

(Friday, May 8, 1942, part of the Pacific War of World War II) — The Battle of Coral Sea, a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia, ended today with the loss of the carrier USS Lexington and the Japanese carrier Shoho. Continue reading Japanese repulsed as Battle of the Coral Sea ends 70 years ago today (1942) →

Video: Leningrad trams resume operations (at 6:53)

(Wednesday, April 15, 1942, on the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Leningrad tram system resumed operation today, the 248th day of the Siege of Leningrad, after several months of being down for lack of power.

Image: Japanese tanks and infantry advance through Bataan jungle

(Friday, April 3, 1942, during the Pacific theater of World War II) — Japanese forces today began their final assault on Bataan against American and Filipino troops who surrendered six days later; the capitulation was followed by the notorious Bataan Death March.

Video: MacArthur 'I shall return' speech re-enacted (at 4:00)

(Friday, March 20, 1942, during World War II) — General Douglas MacArthur, at Terowie, South Australia, made his famous speech regarding the fall of the Philippines, in which he says: “I came out of Bataan and I shall return.”

Video: MacArthur in Australia (at 10:39)

(Tuesday, March 17, 1942, during World War II) — General Douglas MacArthur today became Supreme Commander of the United Nations forces in the Southwestern Pacific.

This dramatic shift of command and promotion for the dashing officer who has held the Japanese at bay on the Island of Luzon for three months and ten days was announced by the War Department simultaneously with his arrival in Australia.

(Saturday, February 28, 1942, during World War II) — The heavy cruiser USS Houston and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth came under attack today by Japanese forces during Battle of Sunda Strait in the Netherlands East Indies. Both were sunk shortly after midnight. The Houston lost 693 men while the Perth lost 353.