Today is Monday, June 22, the 173rd day of 2009. There are 192 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On June 22, 1945, the World War II battle for Okinawa ended with an Allied victory; some 13,000 Americans and 90,000 Japanese soldiers, plus 130,000 civilians, were killed in the nearly three-month campaign.
On this date:
In 1807, a British frigate, the HMS Leopard, attacked and boarded the American ship USS Chesapeake off the Virginia coast in search of Royal Navy deserters.
In 1870, the U.S. Department of Justice was created.
In 1937, Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jim Braddock in the eighth round of their fight in Chicago.
In 1938, Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.
In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.
In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights."
In 1959, the Swedish film "Wild Strawberries," written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, opened in New York.
In 1969, singer-actress Judy Garland died in London at age 47.
In 1977, John N. Mitchell became the first former U.S. attorney general to go to prison as he began serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up. (He was released 19 months later.)
In 1993, former first lady Pat Nixon died in Park Ridge, N.J., at age 81.
Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton visited ethnic Albanian refugees at a refugee camp in Macedonia. The Supreme Court ruled the Americans with Disabilities Act does not extend to people with poor eyesight or other correctable conditions.
Five years ago: Islamic militants beheaded Kim Sun-il, a South Korean hostage who'd pleaded for his life in a heart-wrenching videotape; he was the third foreign hostage decapitated in the Middle East in little over a month. Mexican newspaper editor Francisco Ortiz Franco was shot to death in Tijuana. Former President Bill Clinton's memoir, "My Life," was officially released. Child poet Mattie Stepanek, a prominent voice for muscular dystrophy sufferers, died in Washington, D.C., at age 13.
One year ago: Anthony Bologna and his sons, Michael and Matthew, were shot to death in a San Francisco intersection. (Police say the suspected gunman, Edwin Ramos, mistook the Bolognas for rival gang members; Ramos has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.) Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew from a presidential runoff against Robert Mugabe. Acerbic standup comedian and satirist George Carlin died in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 71. Comedian Dody Goodman died in Englewood, N.J., at age 93.
Today's Birthdays: Actor Ralph Waite is 81. Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson is 73. Actor Michael Lerner is 68. Fox News correspondent Brit Hume is 66. Singer Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon) is 65. Actor Andrew Rubin is 63. Actor David L. Lander is 62. Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan is 62. Singer-musician Todd Rundgren is 61. Actress Meryl Streep is 60. Actress Lindsay Wagner is 60. Singer Alan Osmond is 60. Actor Murphy Cross is 59. Actor Graham Greene is 57. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper is 56. Actor Chris Lemmon is 55. Rock musician Derek Forbes is 53. Actor Tim Russ is 53. Rock musician Garry Beers (INXS) is 52. Actor-producer-writer Bruce Campbell is 51. Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) is 50. Actress Tracy Pollan is 49. Rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville is 48. Author Dan Brown is 45. Rock singer-musician Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) is 45. Actress Amy Brenneman is 45. Rock singer Steven Page is 39. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is 38. Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub is 38. TV personality Carson Daly is 36. Rock musician Chris Traynor is 36. Country musician Jimmy Wallace is 36. Actor Donald Faison is 35. Actress Alicia Goranson is 35. Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey is 31. TV personality/actor Jai Rodriguez is 30. Actress Lindsay Ridgeway is 24.
Thought for Today: "To understand is hard. Once one understands, action is easy." — Sun Yat-sen, Chinese statesman (1866-1925).
Famous birthdays:
1478 - Philips de Schone, Archduke of Austrian/King of Castilia (Philips I)
1611 - Pablo Bruna, composer
1613 - Lambert Pietkin, composer
1674 - Eugene J P, Earl of Merode, Belgian marquis of Westerloo
1680 - Ebenezer Erskine, Scottish religious dissenter (d. 1754)
1684 - Francesco Onofrio Manfredini, composer
1701 - Nikolaj Eigtved, Danish architect (Christiansborg Castle)
1704 - John Taylor, English classical scholar (d. 1766)
1713 - Lord John Philip Sackville, English cricketer (d. 1765)
1738 - Jacques Delille, French poet and translator (d. 1813)
1741 - Alois Luigi Tomasini, composer
1742 - Heinrich Gottfried Reichard, composer
1757 - George Vancouver, surveyed Pacific coast from SF to Vancouver I
1767 - Wilhelm von Humboldt, German philosopher and statesman (d. 1835)
1796 - Nikoli A Poveloi, Russian writer/publisher (Sotsjinenija) [OS]
1805 - Giuseppe Mazzini, Italian revolutionary (Il Apostolato Popolare)
1814 - James Henry Lane, MC (Union), died in 1866 [or Jul 28 1833]
1824 - Frederic Louis Ritter, composer
1830 - Theodor Leschetizky, composer
1837 - Paul Morphy, New Orleans, greatest chess player of all time (1857-61)
1840 - Ernest Debes, German cartographer (Baedeker)
1845 - Tom Dula, American folk character (Tom Dooley) (d. 1868)
1849 - Stephen C Massett opens at courthouse as 1st pro entertainer
1855 - Sam Morris, Hobart, cricketer (Barbados parents only black Aus player)
1856 - Henry Rider Haggard, author (King Solomon's Mine, She, Dawn)
1859 - Frank Heino Damrosch, author/musician/teacher (found Inst of Music)
1861 - Maximilian von Spee, German admiral (d. 1914)
1864 - Hermann Minkowski, German mathematician
1869 - Hendrikus Colijn, Dutch premier (AR 1933-39)
1871 - William McDougall, British psychologist and polymath (d. 1938)
1879 - Thibaudeau Rinfret, jurist and Chief Justice of Canada (d. 1962)
1883 - Jose Rolon, composer
1884 - James Rector, American athlete (d. 1949)
1885 - Milan Vidmar, Slovenian engineer and chess player (d. 1962)
1887 - Albert PAA Besnard, Dutch poet/journalist (Uprising & Remorse)
1887 - Julian S Huxley, London, biologist/philosopher, Darwin's Bulldog
1888 - Harold Burton, U.S. Supreme Court justice (d. 1964)
1891 - Franz de Backer, Flemish writer (White Enemy)
1891 - Harry Seymour, NY, actor (Boy Meets Girl, Tenderfoot)
1892 - Robert Ritter von Greim, German field marshal (d. 1945)
1893 - Osvald Chlubna, composer
1896 - Francis C Denebrink, US Naval officer (WW I, WW II, Korea)
1897 - Norbert Elias, English/Dutch philosopher (Process of Civilization)
1897 - Edmund A. Chester, American broadcaster and journalist (d. 1973)
1898 - Erich Maria Remarque, novelist (All Quiet on the Western Front)
1898 - R M Remarque, writer
1899 - Dorothy Devore, Ft Worth TX, actress (Narrow Street, Senior Daredevil)
1899 - Michal Kalecki, Polish economist
1900 - Jennie Tourel, St Petersburg Russia, mezzo-soprano (Met Opera 1943-47)
1901 - Jack Whiting, Phila Pa, actor/singer (Marge & Gower Champion Show)
1901 - Naunton Wayne, Wales, actor (Quartet, Hidden Room, Double Confession)
1902 - Arnold J d'Ailly, dir (Nederlandsche Bank)/mayor (Amsterdam, 1946-56)
1902 - David Burns, actor (Music Man, Hello Dolly!)
1902 - Marguerite De La Motte, American actress (d. 1950)
1903 - Carl Hubbell, pitcher (NY Giants)-253 wins, 2.97 lifetime ERA
1905 - Walter Leigh, composer
1906 - Anne Morrow Lindbergh, author/aviator, Charles' wife
1906 - Billy Wilder, Vienna, dir (Some Like It Hot, Apartment, Stalag 17)
1906 - Richard Fanshawe, England, equestion 3 day event (Olympic-bronze-1936)
1907 - Anne Morrow Lindbergh, aviator/author (Gift from the Sea)
1907 - Mike Todd, American film producer (d. 1958)
1908 - George Armin Goyder, businessman/social philosopher
1909 - Katherine Dunham, dancer/choreographer (Casbah, Stormy Weather)
1909 - Mike Todd, [Avrom Goldbogen], US director (80 days)
1910 - Peter Pears, Farnham England, tenor (Death in Venice)
1911 - Guus Jansen, jazz pianist (Net als Toen)
1911 - Marie Philipsen-Braun, swimmer (Olympic-gold-1928)
1912 - Vit Nejedly, composer
1912 - Princess Caroline Mathilde of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (d. 1983)
1913 - Wladyslaw Sila-Nowicki, Poland, lawyer (Solidarity)
1914 - Lilo Hardel, writer
1916 - Johnny Jacobs, American television announcer (d. 1982)
1918 - Richard Eastham, Opelousas LA, actor (Not With My Wife) [or Jan 22]
1920 - Chandrasekhar Sarwate, cricketer (batted in 9 Tests for India 1946-52)
1920 - Gladys Marea Hartman, athletics Administrator
1920 - Paul Frees, Chicago Ill, animation voice (Bullwinkle)
1921 - Barbara F Vucanovich, (Rep-R-NV, 1983- )
1921 - Gower Champion, choreographer (42nd Street, Showboat)
1921 - Joseph Papp, Bkln, stage producer/director (Pirates of Penzance)
1922 - Bill Blass, Ft Wayne Ind, fashion designer (Nancy Reagan)
1923 - Jimmy Cameron, cricketer (brother of John WI batsman 1948-49)
1926 - Ruth Zechlin, composer
1927 - Ann Petersen, Belgian actress (d. 2003)
1929 - Ralph Waite, White Plains NY, actor (Cool Hand Luke, 5 Easy Piece)
1931 - Henk Vonhoff, Dutch politician (VVD)
1932 - Michael Horvit, composer
1932 - Amrish Puri, Indian actor (d. 2005)
1932 - Prunella Scales, English actress
1933 - Dianne Feinstein, 1st female mayor of SF/(Sen-D-Ca)
1933 - Jacques Martin, French TV host (d. 2007)
1933 - Libor Pešek, Czech conductor
1934 - Arthur Miller, legal reporter
1935 - V V Kumar, cricketer (useful Madras leggie who only played 2 Tests)
1936 - Kris Kristofferson, Brownsville TX, singer/actor (Amerika, Millenium)
1936 - Verne Allison, singer (Dells-Open Up My Heart)
1936 - Hermeto Pascoal, Brazilian musician
1938 - Andrew Brown, film Producer
1939 - Don Matthews, American football coach in the CFL
1940 - Abbas Kiarostami, author/director (Under the Olive Trees, Close Up)
1940 - Esther Rantzen, British TV presenter
1941 - Ed Bradley, Phila, CBS news correspondent (60 Minutes)
1941 - Michael Lerner, Brooklyn NY, actor (8 Men Out, Harlem Nights)
1941 - Ed Bradley, American journalist (d. 2006)
1942 - Margreet M H Kamp, Dutch MP (VVD)
1942 - Toyohiro Akiyama, Japan, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-11)
1943 - Jimmy Castor, NYC, rocker/sax (Troglodyte, Jimmy Castor Bunch)
1943 - Eumir Deodato, Brazilian artist, producer and arranger
1944 - Klaus Maria Brandauer, Austria, actor (Mephisto, Out of Africa)
1944 - Michael Obst, German FR, coxsman (Olympic-gold-1960)
1944 - Peter Asher, London, singer (Peter & Gordon-World Without Love)
1944 - Steve Weber, guitarist, (Rounders-Holy "Boobs" Modal)
1945 - Howard Kaylan, rocker (Flo & Eddie/Turtles-Happy Together, Eleanor)
1946 - Andrew Rubin, New Bedford Mass, actor (Police Academy) [or Jan 22]
1946 - Eliades Ochoa, Cuban guitarist (Buena Vista Social Club)
1947 - David L Lander, Bkln NY, actor (Squiggy-Laverne & Shirley)
1947 - Don Henley, drummer/singer (Eagles, Boys of Summer)
1947 - Murray Webb, cricketer (NZ fast bowler in 3 Tests, 4 wkts at 117 75)
1947 - Octavia E[stelle] Butler, US, sci-fi author (Hugo, Wild Seed)
1947 - Jerry Rawlings, former President of Ghana
1947 - Howard Kaylan, founding member of The Turtles
1948 - "Pistol" Pete Maravich, NBA star (Atlanta Hawks)
1948 - Nolan Clarke, cricketer (Barbados bat 1970-77, later Holland stalwart)
1948 - Sue Roberts, LPGA golfer
1948 - Todd Rundgren, Upper Darby PA, singer/guitarist (Hello it's Me)
1949 - Alan Osmond, Ogden Utah, singer (Osmond Brothers, Donnie & Marie)
1949 - Gary Moffet, Montreal, rock guitarist (April Wine)
1949 - Larry Junstrom, rock bassist (.38 Special)
1949 - Lindsay Wagner, LA Ca, actress (Bionic Woman, Paper Chase, Nighthawks)
1949 - Meryl Streep, NJ, actress (French Lieutenant's Woman, Sophie's Choice)
1950 - Murphy Cross, Harve de Grace Md, actor (Phyl & Mikhy, Perfect)
1952 - Graham Greene, Canadian actor
1953 - Cyndi Lauper, American singer (Girls Just want to have Fun, Time after Time)
1953 - Bruce McAvaney, Australian sports broadcaster
1954 - Amparo Munoz, Malgra Spain, Miss Universe (1974)
1954 - Bobby Valentino, rocker (Fabulous Poodles)
1954 - Charles T Canady, (Rep-R-Florida)
1954 - Chris Lemmon, actor (Brothers & Sisters, Richard-Duet) [or Jan 22]
1954 - Freddie Prinze, NYC, comedian/actor (Chico & the Man)
1955 - LeAnn Cassaday, LPGA golfer
1956 - Derek Forbes, rocker (Simple Minds-Water Front)
1956 - Green [Gartside], rock vocalist (Scritti Politti-Flesh & Blood)
1956 - Tim Russ, Wash DC, actor (Tuvoc-Star Trek Voyager)
1956 - Alfons De Wolf, Belgian cyclist
1956 - Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistani Politician and Foreign Minister
1957 - Garry Beers, Sydney Australia, rocker (Inxs-Kiss the Dirt)
1957 - John Ryder, rock bassist (Face To Face)
1957 - Nick Santagata, jockey
1958 - Bruse Campbell, actor (Army of Darkness)
1958 - Bruce Campbell, American actor
1959 - Wayne Federman, American comedian
1959 - Nicola Sirkis, French singer and lyricist (Indochine)
1960 - Colleen Devine, San Gabriel Cal, actress (Irreconcilable Differences)
1960 - Tracy Pollan, NYC, actress (Family Ties)/aka Mrs Michael J Fox
1960 - Erin Brockovich-Ellis
1961 - Bobby Gillespie, rocker (Primal Scream)
1961 - Jimmy Somerville, Glasgow Soctland, rocker (Bronski Beat, Communards)
1961 - Stephen Batchelor
1962 - Clyde "Glide" Drexler, NBA Guard (Houston Rockets, Port Trailblazers)
1962 - Ruby Turner, rocker (No Where to Run)
1963 - Anne-Marie Ruddock, rocker (Amazulu-Excitable)
1963 - Randy Couture, Everett Wash, 198 lbs greco-roman wrestler (Olymp-96)
1963 - John Tenta, Canadian professional wrestler (d. 2006)
1964 - Amy Brenneman, New London Ct, actress (Janice-NYPD Blue)
1964 - Greg Anderson, NBA forward/center (San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks)
1964 - Kevin Sargeant, rocker (Thrashing Doves-Reprobate's Hymm)
1964 - Mark Royals, NFL punter (New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions)
1964 - Mike Edwards, British rock vocalist (Jesus Jones-Devil you Know)
1964 - Nico Jalink, Dutch soccer player (Sparta, NAC)
1964 - Dan Brown, American author
1965 - Tommy Cunningham, rocker (Wet Wet Wet-Wishing I Was)
1965 - Ľubomír Moravčík, Slovakian footballer
1965 - Uwe Boll, German film director
1966 - Camille Benjamin, Cleveland Ohio, tennis star
1966 - Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, English baron/multi-millionaire
1966 - Meyrick Pringle, cricket pace bowler (South African)
1966 - Paul Randolph, CFL linebacker (Montreal Alouettes)
1967 - Al Carlay, Manila Philippines, US fencer-foil (Olympics-96)
1967 - Eric Green, NFL tight end (Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens)
1967 - Mark van Hintum, soccer player (Willem II)
1968 - Darrell Armstrong, NBA guard (Orlando Magic)
1968 - Paula Irvine, Hollywood Calif, actress (Lily Blake-Santa Barbara)
1969 - Derek Russell, NFL wide receiver (Houston/Tennessee Oilers)
1970 - Anne "Annie" Summertime Kakela, US rower (Olympics-4th-96)
1970 - David Frisch, NFL tight end (NE Patriots)
1970 - Rastko Cvetkovic, NBA center (Denver Nuggets)
1970 - Steven Page, Canadian singer (Barenaked Ladies)
1970 - Michel Elefteriades, Greek-Lebanese politician, artist, producer and businessman
1971 - Brant Brown, Porterville CA, infielder (Chic Cubs)
1971 - Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkertown Ontario, rower (Olympics-96)
1971 - Mary Lynn Rajskub, American actress
1971 - Kurt Warner, American football player
1973 - Benjamin Fairbrother, CFL offensive tackle (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
1973 - Cory Alexander, NBA guard (San Antonio Spurs)
1973 - Lacy Goranson, Evanston Ind, actress (Becky-Roseanne)
1973 - Carson Daly, American television personality
1974 - Mark Wetges, Walnut Creek Calif, field hockey midfielder (Olympics-96)
1974 - Nicole Juvan, Essex Junction Vermont, Miss America-Vermont (1997)
1974 - Donald Faison, American actor
1974 - Joseph Vijay, Indian actor
1975 - Andreas Klöden, German professional road bicycle racer
1975 - Laila Rouass, Moroccan-Indian actress
1976 - Gordon Moakes, English musician (Bloc Party)
1978 - Jai Rodriguez, American TV personality
1978 - Champ Bailey, American football player
1978 - Dan Wheldon, British race car driver
1979 - Joey Cheek, American speed skater
1979 - Thomas Voeckler, French road bicycle racer
1979 - Brad Hawpe, American baseball player
1981 - Lisa Moro, Victoria Australia, gymnast (Olympics-96)
1981 - Chris Urbanowicz, guitarist of British rock band Editors
1982 - Soraia Chaves, Portuguese actress and model
1982 - Ian Kinsler, American baseball player
1984 - Jerome Taylor, West Indies international cricketer
1984 - Janko Tipsarević, Serbian tennis player
1985 - Rosa Kato, Italian-Japanese model and actress
1985 - Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Greek-Cameroonian basketball player
1986 - Ramin Ott, American Samoan football player
1988 - Kieran Lee, English football player
