480 B.C. ~ Persians under Xerxes defeated Spartans under King Leonidas in the Battle of Thermopylae. The Spartans fight to the last man. The Persian and Greek fleets also fight the indecisive Battle of Artemisium.

The Battle of Thermopylae has served as an example to officers and soldiers alike of what courage and self-sacrifice could achieve. It is still remembered, almost 2,500 years later, as a classic example of virtue.

1905 ~ Birthday of Erwin Chargaff, biochemist.

1933 ~ Birthday of Jerry Falwell, Christian preacher and politician.

1934 ~ Federal prison opened at Alcatraz Island.

1948 ~ Olympic games opened in London.

1900 ~ Death of Andrew Carnegie, Industrialist.

1966 ~ John Lennon held a press conference in Chicago excusing himself from the "Jesus affair".

2003 ~ NATO took over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.

__________________
Eudaimonia