Henry Jaynes Fonda was born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska. Known for his roles in The Grapes of Wrath, 12 Angry Men, and On Golden Pond, among many others, Fonda was one of the most successful actors of his era. He was named the sixth greatest male screen legend of the Classic Hollywood era.
Katherine Anne Porter was born Callie Russell Porter on May 15, 1890, in Indian Creek, Texas. Porter was best known for her long short stories written in flawless prose, which have a texture and complexity usually found only in novels.
Richard Steven Valenzuela, known as Richie Valens, was born on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California. Valens was a pioneer of Chicano rock and Latin rock, often considered the first Latino performer to successfully crossover to mainstream rock ‘n’ roll.
Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra was born on May 12, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is widely considered to be one of baseball’s greatest catchers and best clutch hitters of all time.
Jacqueline Cochran was born Bessie Lee Pittman on May 11, 1906, in Pensacola, Florida. The first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, she held more speed, altitude, and distance records than any other pilot, male or female, in the world.
On May 8, 1911, the US Navy purchased its first airplane. This date is celebrated as the birth of US naval aviation.
On May 7, 1833, future President Abraham Lincoln took a job as postmaster for New Salem, Illinois. Holding that position for three years, he was well-liked and respected for his commitment to his postal customers.
Banker Amadeo Pietro Giannini was born on May 6, 1870, in San Jose, California. Giannini found his success in offering loans to immigrants who were denied elsewhere. He also helped fund projects such as the Golden Gate Bridge and World War II ships.
On May 5, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee clashed for the first time at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia. It was the opening battle of Grant’s Overland Campaign, which was designed to destroy Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.