Today in History (March 19th)

2003 War in Iraq begins

American Revolution

1734 Thomas McKean is born

Automotive

2005 Maverick auto exec John DeLorean dies

Civil War

1865 Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina

Cold War

1949 East Germany approves new constitution

Crime

1999 Bodies found in Yosemite serial killer case

Disaster

1971 Peruvian town wiped out

General Interest

1916 First U.S. air combat mission begins

1931 Nevada legalizes gambling

1953 DeMille wins Oscar

Hollywood

1953 First Academy Awards telecast on NBC

Literary

1842 Balzac botches a publicity stunt

Music

1957 Elvis Presley puts a down payment on Graceland

Old West

1864 Artist Charlie Russell born

Presidential

2003 Bush announces the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom

Sports

1966 Texas Western defeats Kentucky in NCAA finals

Vietnam War

1966 Seoul agrees to send additional troops

1970 National emergency declared in Cambodia

World War I

1916 First U.S. air-combat mission begins

World War II

1945 General Fromm executed for plot against Hitler