Today In History
In 1782: George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart, a decoration to recognize merit in enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.
In 1942: U.S. forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II.
In 1964: Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, giving President Johnson broad powers in dealing with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces.