GMT 12/31/2017 New Years Eve

Today in History December 31

1775--George Washington orders recruiting officers to accept free blacks into the army.

1852--The richest year of the gold rush ends with $81.3 million in gold produced.

1862--Union General William Rosecrans' army repels two Confederate attacks at the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stone's River).

1910--John B. Moisant and Arch Hoxsey, two of America's foremost aviators, die in separate plane crashes.

1911--Helene Dutrieu wins the Femina aviation cup in Etampes. She sets a distance record for women at 158 miles.

1915--The Germans torpedo the British liner Persia without any warning killing 335 passengers.

1923--The Sahara is crossed by an automobile for the first time.

1930--Brewery heir Adolphus Busch is kidnapped.

1941--General MacArthur reports that U.S. lines in Manila have been pushed back by the Japanese.

1942--After five months of battle, Emperor Hirohito allows the Japanese commanders at Guadalcanal to retreat.

1944--Hungary declares war on Germany.

1965--California becomes the largest state in population.

1977--Cambodia breaks relations with Vietnam.


Born on December 31

1908--Simon Wiesenthal, survivor of the Nazi Holocaust who dedicated his life to tracking down former Nazis.

JOKE OF THE DAY

What does the sign on an out-of-business brothel say?
Beat it. We’re closed.