4-25-12: Today in History

[Rockntractor]

Lead Story
Andropov writes to U.S. student, 1983

American Revolution
Cornwallis retreats from Guilford Courthouse, 1781

Automotive
Italian Formula One driver dies in crash, 2001

Civil War
Confederates overwhelm Union at Marks' Mills, 1864

Cold War
Andropov writes to an American fifth-grader, 1983

Crime
A father is exonerated after 21 years, 1989

Disaster
Air tragedy hits Canary Islands, 1980

General Interest
Ground broken for Suez Canal, 1859

Space telescope in orbit, 1990

Hollywood
Ginger Rogers dies, 1995

Literary
Robinson Crusoe is published, 1719

Music
Ella Fitzgerald is born, 1917

Old West
A play lionizing Davy Crockett opens, 1831

Presidential
Truman inaugurates White House bowling alley, 1947

Sports
Maple Leafs win third Stanley Cup in a row, 1964

Vietnam War
Johnson announces appointment of Westmoreland, 1964


North Vietnamese Army close to cutting South Vietnam in two, 1972

World War I
Allies begin invasion of Gallipoli, 1915


World War II
Americans and Russians link up, cut Germany in two, 1945
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

[Rockntractor]

Apr 25, 1964:
Johnson announces appointment of Westmoreland












President Lyndon B. Johnson announces that Gen. William Westmoreland will replace Gen. Paul Harkins as head of U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) as of June 20. The assignment would put Westmoreland in charge of all American military forces in Vietnam. One of the war's most controversial figures, General Westmoreland was given many honors when the fighting was going well, but when the war turned sour, many Americans saw him as a cause of U.S. problems in Vietnam. Negative feeling about Westmoreland grew particularly strong following the Tet Offensive of 1968, when he had requested a large number of additional troops for deployment to Vietnam. On March 22, 1968, President Johnson announced that Westmoreland would depart South Vietnam to take on the post of Army Chief of Staff; Gen. Creighton Abrams replaced him as the senior U.S. commander in South Vietnam.

Has he been scapegoated by history?

[Retread]

1831 - A play lionizing Davy Crockett opens

1838 - The United States and the Republic of Texas signed the Convention of Limits, which recognized Texas claims to disputed territory in Red River County (the present Bowie, Red River, Franklin, Titus, Morris, and Cass counties). The agreement also set the eastern boundary of Texas as the west bank of the Sabine River.

1861 - One-time port of Saluria was prominent in the Civil War

1846 - The Mexican-American War ignited as a result of disputes over claims to Texas boundaries. The outcome of the war fixed Texas' southern boundary at the Rio Grande River.

1875 - Sargent John Ward, a Black Seminole Scout, saved Lieutenant John Bullis from Comanche attackers, for which he was presented a Congressional Medal of Honor.

2002 - U.S. President George W. Bush and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah met in Crawford, TX.