On this day in 1942, the U.S. 1st Marine Division begins Operation Watchtower, the first U.S. offensive of the war, by landing on Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands.

DIANE KEPLY

On this day in 1991, Islamic militants in Lebanon release kidnapped
AP Middle East correspondent Terry Anderson after 2,454 days in
captivity. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully for the Ohio State Senate.

Terry A. Anderson turned 71 in October.

On this day in 1992, President George H. Bush orders 28,000 U.S.
troops to Somalia, a war-torn East African nation where rival
warlords were preventing the distribution of humanitarian aid to thousands of starving Somalis. In a military mission he described
as “God’s work,” Bush said that America must act to save more
than a million Somali lives, but reassured Americans that “this
operation is not open-ended” and that “we will not stay one day
longer than is absolutely necessary.” Unfortunately, America’s humanitarian troops became embroiled in Somalia’s political
conflict, and the controversial mission stretched on for 15
months before being abruptly called off by President Bill
Clinton in 1993.      
     
      
      
      
   

In this Jan. 1, 1993, file photo, U.S. President George H.W. Bush
holds a camera, which he borrowed from the Marine to snap the
picture, for a self-portrait with Marines at the airport in Baidoa,
Somalia.

In October of 1993, President Bill Clinton addressed the nation from
the Oval Office concerning the events in Somalia. He outlined a plan
for completing the operation.

SANDY KOZEL

Ulysses Simpson Grant (Hiram Ulysses Grant)

Grant was born on this day in 1822. He was the 18th U.S. President,
Lt. General in command of all Union armies during the U.S. Civil
War, nickname: Hero of Appomattox.

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives in the Philippines on this day in 1521.

On this day in 1805, a force led by U.S. Marines captured the city of Derna, on the shores of Tripoli. The Marines’ Hymn is a tribute to the Warriors who stormed the fortress, raised the American flag,
and gave us "the shores of Tripoli."

On this day in 1947, "Babe Ruth Day" was celebrated at Yankee
Stadium. The Babe, above, whispered his gratitude to the crowd
of over 58,000 cheering fans.  

BRIAN THOMAS

During World War II on this day in 1945, about 30,000 U.S. Marines
landed on Iwo Jima.

On this day in 1942, President Roosevelt signed an executive order
giving the military the authority to relocate and intern Japanese-Americans.

On February 19, 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus is born in Torun, a city
in north-central Poland on the Vistula River. The father of modern astronomy, he was the first modern European scientist to propose
that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.

The monument to Nicolaus Copernicus in Warsaw.

Deng Xiaoping of China died on t his day in 1997 at the age of
92. He was the last of China’s major revolutionaries.

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. is 78 years old today.

Singer Smokey Robinson was with The Miracles who helped define
the Motown sound. He also played with The Five Chimes until 1972
and pursued a solo career. He released such popular songs as "A
Quiet Storm," "Tears of a Clown," "You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,"
and "I Second That Emotion."