MIKE GRACIA

On this day, Pvt. Eddie Slovik became the first American
soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion
and the only one who suffered such a fate during World
War II.

On this day in 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S.
Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as part of its plan to conquer Southeast Asian territories; the raid, which claims 2,400 American
lives, would prompt the United States to declare war against Japan
the next day.

The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

A view of the New York City skyline, as seen from the Empire State Building on September 10, 2001.

A storm passes over New York City on the evening of September 10, 2001.

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist
group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks
against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into
the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane
hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane
crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people
were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

On June 3, 1965, 120 miles above the Earth, Major Edward H. White II opens
the hatch of the Gemini 4 and steps out of the capsule, becoming the first
American astronaut to walk in space.