Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964)

After struggling against great odds to save the Philippines
from Japanese conquest, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur
abandons the island fortress of Corregidor under orders
from President Franklin Roosevelt. Left behind at Corregidor
and on the Bataan Peninsula were 90,000 American and
Filipino troops, who, lacking food, supplies and support,
would soon succumb to the Japanese offensive.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his family left the Philippine
island of Corregidor on this day in history, March 11, 1942. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to
leave the island after it became clear it was no longer safe
for MacArthur to remain with his troops, notes the History
Channel website.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
(January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945)

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra topped the American pop charts
with the ebullient "In the Mood" as war raged overseas on this
day in history, Feb. 10, 1940.

His most famous song, along with other iconic hits, made Miller
the biggest bandleader of his era and provided the swinging
soundtrack of the Greatest Generation during World War II. 

Glenn Miller (1904-1944)

World War II restrictions cut deep into every American pantry
as federal officials announced that sliced bread would be
rationed on this day in history, Jan. 18, 1943.

"I should like to let you know how important sliced bread is to
the morale and saneness of a household," distraught mother
Sue Forrester of Fairfield, Connecticut, claiming to speak on
behalf of America’s housewives, lamented in a New York Times
letter to the editor.

Wartime rationing had already caused severe restrictions on
the nation’s household food supply.

Basic resources were devoted in ever-growing volume to the
war effort in 1943, as the tide of battle turned and the U.S. and
its Allies went on the offensive across the vast expanse of two
oceans.

Bread rationing marked the depths of sacrifices on the home
front. 

Young boy with a war ration book at a supermarket, as
children were taught the facts of point rationing during
the war.

On December 29, 1890, in one of the final chapters of America’s
long Indian wars, the U.S. Cavalry killed 146 Sioux at Wounded
Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

A depiction of the Ghost Dance.

Civilian burial party, loading victims on a cart for burial.

Mass grave at the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre.

Comedian Bob Hope gave his last Christmas show to U.S.
servicemen in Saigon on this day in history, Dec. 24, 1972.

The iconic entertainer, who starred in more than 50 films,
kept up a tradition of visiting troops deployed overseas
since WWII.

Hope’s 1972 show marked his ninth consecutive Christmas
appearance in Vietnam, according to History.com.

On December 24, 1972, Bob Hope delivered a live Christmas show to American soldiers stationed in Vietnam. The show,
held at the Bien Hoa Air Base, was a festive event attended
by thousands of servicemen.

Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope
(May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003)