July 8, 1959 – Today was the day the first two Americans died in the Vietnam War. The men were working with South Vietnamese troops as military advisors in a village called Bien Hoa, 20 miles northeast of Saigon.
Master Sergeant Chester Ovnand had just written a letter to his wife. He dropped the missive in a mailbox inside the [...]
June 19, 1867 – On this day the last emperor of Mexico was executed by a firing squad. His name was Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph and his last words were:
Mexicanos! I die in a just cause… the independence and liberty of Mexico. May my blood be the last to flow for the good of this land. [...]
June 17, 1871 – Clement Vallandigham died on this day in a bizarre freak accident. More on that later.
During the Civil War Vallandigham represented Ohio’s 3rd district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was an outspoken anti-war, pro-Confederate democrat. As the leader of the so-called Copperheads he came up with their snappy slogan, “To [...]
