First Vietnam Soldier to Receive the U.S. Medal of Honor

December 5, 1964

Army Capt. Roger Donlon receives the Medal of Honor for heroism in South Vietnam.
On July 6th, 1964, Capt. Donlon was serving as the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, Capt. Donlon directed the defense operations in the midst of an enemy barrage of mortar shells, falling grenades, and extremely heavy gunfire. Upon the initial onslaught, he swiftly marshaled his forces and ordered the removal of the needed ammunition from a blazing building. He then dashed through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a breach of the main gate. En route to this position he detected an enemy demolition team of 3 in the proximity of the main gate and quickly annihilated them. Although exposed to the intense grenade attack, he then succeeded in reaching a 60mm mortar position despite sustaining a severe stomach wound as he was within 5 yards of the gun pit. When he discovered that most of the men in this gunpit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own injury, directed their withdrawal to a location 30 meters away, and again risked his life by remaining behind and covering the movement with the utmost effectiveness. Noticing that his team sergeant was unable to evacuate the gun pit he crawled toward him and, while dragging the fallen soldier out of the gunpit, an enemy mortar exploded and inflicted a wound in Capt. Donlon's left shoulder. Although suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the abandoned 60mm mortar weapon to a new location 30 meters away where he found 3 wounded defenders. After administering first aid and encouragement to these men, he left the weapon with them, headed toward another position, and retrieved a 57mm recoilless rifle. Then with great courage and coolness under fire, he returned to the abandoned gun pit, evacuated ammunition for the 2 weapons, and while crawling and dragging the urgently needed ammunition, received a third wound on his leg by an enemy hand grenade. Despite his critical physical condition, he again crawled 175 meters to an 81mm mortar position and directed firing operations which protected the seriously threatened east sector of the camp. He then moved to an eastern 60mm mortar position and upon determining that the vicious enemy assault had weakened, crawled back to the gun pit with the 60mm mortar, set it up for defensive operations, and turned it over to 2 defenders with minor wounds. Without hesitation, he left this sheltered position, and moved from position to position around the beleaguered perimeter while hurling hand grenades at the enemy and inspiring his men to superhuman effort. As he bravely continued to move around the perimeter, a mortar shell exploded, wounding him in the face and body. As the long awaited daylight brought defeat to the enemy forces and their retreat back to the jungle leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades, Capt. Donlon immediately reorganized his defenses and administered first aid to the wounded.

Great Killer Smog of London

December 5, 1952

A temperature inversion combined with windless conditions trapped a layer of airborne pollutants to form a thick layer of smog over the city that lasted until December 9.
It is estimated that about 12,000 people died and 100,000 more were made ill by the smog's effects on the lungs.
Most of the smog particles were from coal-burning fireplaces due to the cold weather. It is the worst air pollution event in the history of the United Kingdom and led to the 1956 Clean Air Act.
The smog reduced visibility to just a few meters and due to the sulfur content smelled like rotten eggs.

Five Navy Bombers Disappear in the Bermuda Triangle

December 5, 1945

Five U.S. Navy torpedo bombers disappear over the Bermuda Triangle. Another plane sent to look for them also disappeared. All 14 crewmembers of the bombers were lost, as well the 13 crew members of the plane sent to look for them. The cause of their disappearances has never been determined.
The five bombers, designated as Flight 19, were on a routine training mission off the coast of Florida when the flight leader Lieutenant Charles Carroll Taylor reported, "Both of my compasses are out and I am trying to find Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I am over land but it's broken. I am sure I'm in the Keys but I don't know how far down and I don't know how to get to Fort Lauderdale." Taylor later radioed, "Change course to 090 degrees (due east) for 10 minutes" then one of the student pilots radioed "Dammit, if we could just fly west we would get home; head west, dammit." It is believed the group flew east until they were about 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) east of the Florida peninsula when Taylor decided to turn back and radioed, "We'll fly 270 degrees west until landfall or running out of gas." About 30 minutes later, Taylor radioed "Holding 270, we didn't fly far enough east, we may as well just turn around and fly east again." About 15 minutes later, he sent his last message "All planes close up tight … we'll have to ditch unless landfall … when the first plane drops below 10 gallons, we all go down together."
Several search planes were sent to search for them, one of which also disappeared. A tanker reported seeing an explosion about 100 ft (30m) in the air that is believed to be the search plane. He was able to locate a pool of oil and gasoline on the ocean, but was unable to locate any survivors.
Investigations suggested that when Taylor initially thought he was over the Keys, he was actually over the Bahamas, well northeast of the Keys and his actions guided the group out to sea. By the time he turned back west, their fuel was depleted and they were out of range.

End of Prohibition

December 5, 1933

Prohibition is repealed when Utah becomes the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment giving it the necessary 75% of states needed to enact it.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation declaring the end of Prohibition with the following statement, "I trust in the good sense of the American people, that they will not bring upon themselves the curse of excessive use of intoxicating liquors, to the detriment of health, morals and social integrity."
This was also the first time a U.S. Constitutional Amendment was repealed.

California Gold Rush

December 5, 1848

The rush begins after U.S. President James K. Polk announces the discovery of gold in California. Gold was discovered by James Marshall on Sutter's Mill the previous January. Over 300,000 people, known as "forty-niners" (from year 1849), would go to California to seek their fortune.

Christopher Columbus

December 5, 1492

The explorer Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to set foot on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

Frankie Muniz (Francisco Muniz IV)

Born December 5, 1985

American actor. Known for his title role in the TV show Malcolm in the Middle (2000-06).
In 2012, at age 26, he suffered a mini stroke and then another in 2013, resulting in significant memory loss that includes forgetting certain shows he starred in, including Malcolm in the Middle. He has suffered nine concussions in his life, the first when he was seven years old.
He drove the pace car for the 2001 Daytona 500 car race and also competed as a race driver in other races.
Film: Big Fat Liar (2002), Agent Cody Banks (2003, title role), Racing Stripes (2005, voice of Stripes the zebra).

Little Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman)

Born December 5, 1932 d. 2020

American Hall of Fame singer. Music: Tutti Frutti (1955) and Good Golly Miss Molly (1958).
In 1986, Little Richard was part of the first group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Walt Disney (Walter Elias Disney)

Born December 5, 1901 d. 1966

American Oscar-Emmy winning cartoonist. Disney and Ub Iwerks created Mickey Mouse in 1928, with Disney providing the voice. Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations.
Film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), Bambi (1942), Cinderella (1950), and Mary Poppins (1964, which earned five Oscars).
TV: The Mickey Mouse Club (1955-1996) and Walt Disney's Disneyland (1954-, with several name changes).

George Armstrong Custer

Born December 5, 1839 d. 1876

American Civil War Union general. He was killed in the "Battle of Little Bighorn" (AKA Custer's Last Stand) along with his entire regiment, including two of his brothers. He graduated last in his West Point class (1861).

Martin Van Buren

Born December 5, 1782 d. 1862

American politician. 8th U.S. President (1837-41), 8th U.S. Vice-President (1833-37), Secretary of State (1829-31), Governor of New York (1829), U.S. Senator (1821-28, New York). He was blamed for the depression of 1837, being called "Martin Van Ruin." Also in 1837, he rejected Texas' request for admission to the Union as a slave state, not wanting to upset the balance of free and slave states in the Missouri Compromise.