John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963)

In the early hours of August 2, 1943, a Japanese destroyer
rammed an American PT (patrol torpedo) boat, No. 109,
slicing it in two. The destruction is so massive other
American PT boats in the area assume the crew is dead.

Two crewmen were, in fact, killed, but 11 survived, including
Lt. John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy’s actions in saving his surviving crew after PT-109
was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer earned him
several commendations and made him a war hero.

A torpedo from John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rests some 1,200
feet (360 meters) underwater in the Solomon Islands. Key
details from the torpedo and its nearby launching tube
helped identify this wreck site as that of the World War II
boat.

According to History. com, on this day in history, July 30,
1956, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution declaring
"IN GOD WE TRUST" to be the national motto of the United
States.

The same source noted. passing in both the House and the
Senate unanimously and without debate, the resolution
replaced "E pluribus Unum," which had existed before as
a de facto official motto.        

 
ED DANAHUE

1982

Arnold Schwarzenegger was nicknamed the "Austrian Oak"
in his bodybuilding days, "Arnie" or "Schwarzy" during his
acting career, and "the Governator" (a portmanteau of
"Governor" and "Terminator") during his political career.
He’s 77 years old today.

1984

The U.S. Congress passed legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian
agency responsible for coordinating America’s activities in
space, on July 29, 1958.

NASA has since sponsored space expeditions, both human
and mechanical, that have yielded vital information about the
solar system and universe.        
         

It has also launched numerous earth-orbiting satellites that have
been instrumental in everything from weather forecasting to
navigation to global communications.

NASA was created in response to the Soviet Union’s October 4,
1957 launch of its first satellite, Sputnik I.

President Eisenhower with Hugh Dryden and T. Keith
Glennan, August 19, 1958. Eisenhower (center) swears
in Dr. T. Keith Glennan (right) as the first administrator
of NASA, and Dr. Hugh Dryden (left) as deputy
administrator.

SANDY KOZEL

The musician, actor, film producer and Rolling Stones front
man Mick Jagger was born in Dartford, Kent, England on
July 26, 1943.  He’s 81 years old today.   
       
His career has spanned over six decades, and he has been widely described as one of the most popular and influential
front men in the history of rock music.