On this day: March 16
1968 – My Lai Massacre
On March 16, 1968, American soldiers from the Charlie Company carried out a massacre in the Vietnamese village of My Lai. Over 500 unarmed civilians, including women, children, and elderly people, were killed in the brutal attack. The massacre shocked the world and led to widespread condemnation of the US military’s actions in Vietnam.
1926 – Robert Goddard Launches First Liquid-Fueled Rocket
On March 16, 1926, American physicist Robert Goddard successfully launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. The rocket reached an altitude of 41 feet and traveled a distance of 184 feet in just over two and a half seconds. Goddard’s successful experiment laid the foundation for modern rocketry and space exploration.
1963 – The Beatles Release Their First Album
On March 16, 1963, the British rock band The Beatles released their debut album “Please Please Me” in the UK. The album featured hit songs such as “Love Me Do” and “I Saw Her Standing There” and quickly rose to the top of the charts. The release of “Please Please Me” marked the beginning of The Beatles’ rise to fame and their lasting impact on popular music.
1802 – The United States Military Academy is Established
On March 16, 1802, President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation establishing the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The academy was founded to train officers for the US Army and has since become one of the most prestigious military institutions in the world. Over the years, West Point has produced many distinguished military leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
1916 – Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity is Published
On March 16, 1916, physicist Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity in the journal Annalen der Physik. The groundbreaking theory revolutionized our understanding of gravity and the universe, proposing that massive objects like planets and stars cause a distortion in the fabric of space-time. Einstein’s theory has since been confirmed through numerous experiments and observations and remains a cornerstone of modern physics.
1988 – Iran-Contra Affair Hearings Begin
On March 16, 1988, the US Senate began hearings on the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal involving the Reagan administration’s covert arms sales to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages in Lebanon. The hearings revealed the extent of the government’s involvement in the affair and led to the indictment of several high-ranking officials. The Iran-Contra affair remains one of the most controversial episodes in modern American political history.
1945 – The Battle of Iwo Jima Ends
On March 16, 1945, the Battle of Iwo Jima came to an end after five weeks of intense fighting between US and Japanese forces. The battle, which took place on a small island in the Pacific, was one of the bloodiest in US Marine Corps history, resulting in over 6,800 American casualties. The iconic photograph of US Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi became a symbol of victory and sacrifice in World War II.
2003 – Rachel Corrie Killed in Gaza
On March 16, 2003, American peace activist Rachel Corrie was killed in the Gaza Strip while trying to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli forces. Corrie was run over by an Israeli military bulldozer as she stood in front of a house, attempting to protect it from destruction. Her death sparked international outrage and renewed calls for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
