Today in History

Published 9:44 pm Sunday, June 21, 2009

Today is Monday, June 22, the 173rd day of 2009. There are 192 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

On June 22, 1945, the World War II battle for Okinawa ended with an Allied victory; about 13,000 Americans and 90,000 Japanese soldiers, plus 130,000 civilians, were killed in the nearly three-month campaign.

ON THIS DATE

In 1807, a British frigate, the HMS Leopard, attacked and boarded the American ship USS Chesapeake off the Virginia coast in search of Royal Navy deserters.

In 1937, Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jim Braddock in the eighth round of their fight in Chicago.

In 1938, Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.

In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.

In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the “GI Bill of Rights.”

In 1969, singer-actress Judy Garland died in London at age 47.

In 1977, John Mitchell became the first former U.S. attorney general to go to prison as he began serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up.

In 1993, former first lady Pat Nixon died in Park Ridge, N.J., at age 81.

In 2008, Acerbic standup comedian and satirist George Carlin died in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 71.

Associated Press