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

July 6, 1964

Army Capt. Roger Donlon for heroism in South Vietnam during actions 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.

The Day the Clowns Cried

July 6, 1944

The worst tragedy in American circus history occurs when the big top tent at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus catches fire during a performance to a crowd of over 6,000. Many of the 168 deaths and over 700 injuries were caused by trampling as people stampeded out the exits. Arson was suspected as the cause, but the culprit has never been determined. A photo was taken of the famous clown Emmett Kelly in sad tramp makeup holding a bucket of water, causing the event to become known as "The Day the Clowns Cried."
Thirteen-year-old future actor Charles Nelson Reilly was one of the survivors.

Jackie Robinson Refuses to Sit at the Back of the Bus

July 6, 1944

Future Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson is ordered to move to the back of the Army bus he was riding in by the white bus driver, even though bus segregation had been banned on military buses. 2nd Lieutenant Robinson had sat next to a light-skinned black lady, whom the driver had mistaken for white. After he refused to move, he was taken into custody when the bus reached its destination. When Robinson confronted the investigating officer about racist questioning, the officer recommended Robinson be court-martialed. After Robinson's commander in the 761st Battalion refused to authorize the legal action, Robinson was transferred to the 758th Battalion, where the commander consented to charge Robinson with multiple offenses, including, public drunkenness, even though Robinson did not drink. The charges were eventually reduced to two counts of insubordination during questioning and in August he was acquitted of all charges at his court-martial. Because of his court-martial proceedings, he was barred from serving overseas and served as a coach for army athletics until receiving an honorable discharge in November. During this time, Robinson met a former player for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League, who encouraged Robinson to write the Monarchs and ask for a tryout. Robinson took his advice and eventually played for the team.

Anne Frank Goes Into Hiding

July 6, 1942

Anne Frank and her family go into hiding from the Nazis in a friend's attic. They were later joined by others and remained hidden for two years until discovered and sent to concentration camps. Anne's father Otto Frank was the only one of the hidden people to survive. One of the men who hid them was sent to prison, but managed to escape. The other was sent to a concentration camp till he was liberated at the end of the war.

First All-Talking Motion Picture

July 6, 1928

The first all-talking full-length feature film, The Lights of New York, premieres in New York City. At a cost of $23,000 to produce, it grossed over $1,000,000 and proved the theatrical value of "Talkies". By the end of 1929, Hollywood was producing sound films almost exclusively.

First U.S. Coin

July 6, 1787

The design of the 1¢ coin is approved by the Continental Congress. The creation of the coin had been authorized the previous April. The design was inspired by Benjamin Franklin's works, and thus became known as the Franklin cent.
The combination of the word "Fugio" (Latin for "I fly"), the sundial, and the message "Mind Your Business" formed a rebus meaning, "time flies, do your work."
The reverse side contained the motto "We Are One" surrounded by thirteen chain links, representing the original thirteen colonies.
It is also known as the Fugio cent because of the word "Fugio" on it.

George W. Bush (George Walker Bush)

Born July 6, 1946

American politician. 43rd U.S. President (2001-09). While attending Yale University, he was a cheerleader, rugby union player, and member of the Skull and Bones society. He went on to earn an MBA at Harvard Business School, making him the only U.S. president to have earned an MBA.

Burt Ward (Bert John Gervis, Jr.)

Born July 6, 1945

American actor. TV: Batman (1966-68, Robin the boy wonder). At age two, Ward was also listed as the world's youngest professional ice skater. He performed with his dad's traveling ice show.

Janet Leigh (Jeanette Morrison)

Born July 6, 1927 d. 2004

American actress. Film: Psycho (1960, shower scene victim), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and Night of the Lepus (1972). She was married to Tony Curtis from 1951 to 1962 and is the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Bill Haley

Born July 6, 1925 d. 1981

American rock 'n' roll pioneer. Music: Rock Around the Clock (1954, #1).

Million Dollar Mermaid

Annette Kellerman

Born July 6, 1887 d. 1975

Australian world record-holder swimmer, actress. She starred in the first sex-shocker movie, A Daughter of the Gods (1916). It was also the first U.S. film to cost more than $1,000,000 to produce. Earlier, in 1907, she had been arrested for wearing a one-piece bathing suit at a Boston beach. She was one of the first to wear the scandalous one-piece swim suit, as opposed the traditional pantaloons. Her life was portrayed in the movie Million Dollar Mermaid (1952).

I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight

John Paul Jones

Born July 6, 1747 d. 1792

Scottish-born American naval officer. He is known for his famous proclamation, "I have not yet begun to fight", which was in response to demands for him to surrender during a naval battle in 1779 during the American Revolution. He eventually won the battle.