TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT March 16, 1968

The My Lai massacre took place during the Vietnam War as U.S. Army soldiers hunting for Viet Cong fighters and sympathizers killed unarmed villagers in two hamlets of Son My village; estimates of the death toll vary from 347 to 504. Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

ALSO ON THIS DATE 1521

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew reached the Philippines, where Magellan was killed during a battle with natives the following month.

1751

James Madison, fourth president of the United States, was born in Port Conway, Virginia.

1802

President Thomas Jefferson signed a measure authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

1945

During World War II, American forces declared they had secured Iwo Jima, although pockets of Japanese resistance remained.

1966

NASA launched Gemini 8 on a mission to rendezvous and dock with Agena, a target vehicle in orbit; although the docking was successful, the joined vehicles began spinning, forcing Gemini to disconnect and abort the flight.