Doolittle Raid
On April 18, 1942, Jimmy Doolittle led a daring raid against the Japanese in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Military
Birth of Sybil Ludington
Revolutionary heroine Sybil Ludington was born on April 5, 1761 in Kent, New York. Her daring late-night ride mustered troops to help defend American territory.
$1 Airlift Stamp
On April 4, 1968, the USPS issued a $1 stamp that, when combined with a parcel post stamp, was used to send mail and packages to American service members overseas.
Death of President Eisenhower
After suffering a series of heart attacks, former president Dwight D. Eisenhower died of heart failure on March 28, 1969. He commanded the Allied Expeditionary Force in WWII and served as our 34th president.
Creation of Permanent U.S. Navy
On March 27, 1794, Congress passed the Naval Act, creating America’s permanent naval force. Since then, it has become one of the largest and most powerful navies in the world.
Happy Medal of Honor Day!
Medal of Honor Day has been celebrated on this day since 1991 to commemorate the awarding of the first six Medals of Honor for the Great Locomotive Chase. Those medals were awarded on March 25, 1863, for their daring actions of April 12, 1862.
Birth of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767, in the Waxhaws area near the border between North and South Carolina. America’s seventh president, he was a champion of the common man.
Roosevelt Signs Lend-Lease Act
On March 11, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act to provide aid to Allied forces in World War II. Over the course of the war, the US provided $50.1 billion worth of supplies to our Allies.
Birth of Philip Sheridan
Civil War General Philip Henry Sheridan was born on March 6, 1831 in Albany, New York. For his service during the war, he was promoted to General of the Army of the United States, which is equal to that of a five-star general.