5-8-12: Today in History

[Rockntractor]

Lead Story
V-E Day is celebrated in America and Britain, 1945

American Revolution
Militia Act establishes conscription under federal law, 1792

Automotive
Henry Ford II leaves post at Ford Foundation, 1956

Civil War
Lee beats Grant to Spotsylvania, 1864

Cold War
Soviets announce boycott of 1984 Olympics, 1984

Crime
Woman convicted for tampering with Excedrin, 1988

Disaster
Flash floods in Nebraska kill 23, 1950

General Interest
De Soto reaches the Mississippi, 1541

AIM occupation of Wounded Knee ends, 1973

Soviets to boycott L.A. Olympics, 1984

Hollywood
Sean Connery stars in his first Bond movie, Dr. No, 1963

Betty White becomes oldest Saturday Night Live host, 2010

Literary
Yeats' The Countess Cathleen opens at the Irish Literary Theatre, 1899

Music
The theme song from Welcome Back, Kotter is the #1 song in America, 1976

Old West
Zachary Taylor fights the Battle of Palo Alto, 1846

Presidential
Harry S. Truman is born, 1884

Sports
Knicks beat Lakers for NBA title, 1970

Vietnam War
Nixon defends invasion of Cambodia, 1970

Mining of North Vietnamese harbors is announced, 1972

World War I
New celebration of Armistice Day proposed, 1919

World War II
Victory in Europe, 1945
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history
Dang I almost forgot!

[Retread]

1846 - Near Brownsville, the first major battle of the Mexican War was fought. The area was later named Palo Alto, TX.

1914 - Mildred "Babe" Didrickson Zaharias was born in Port Arthur. She was called "the Greatest Woman Athlete of the 20th century."

1917 - Near San Antonio, the First Officers Training Camp was established at Camp Funston on the Leon Springs Military Reservation.

2011 - In Dallas, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. The win allowed the Mavericks to advance to the next round after four straight wins against the Lakers.