This Day in History on January 28 - History and Headlines

January 28, 1980: And Yet Another Naval Oops Moment, Coast Guard Style

By Major Dan on January 28, 2019 January 28, Military

A Brief History On January 28, 1980, the United States Coast Guard proved that their big brother, the United States Navy, does not have a monopoly on maritime blunders or misfortune. Sadly, this particular “Naval Oops Moment” came at the cost of almost half the crew of the USCGC Blackthorn, a sea going buoy tender designated WLB-391 when the Coast Guard ship collided with the SS Capricorn, a tanker ship causing the Blackthorn to roll over and sink. Digging Deeper The Blackthorn, an Iris class buoy tender, was born during World War II, commissioned in 1944 as a Great Lakes ice…

January 28, 1956: 10 Greatest US One Hit Wonders From Foreign Countries

By Major Dan on January 28, 2018 January 28, Lists, Music

A Brief History On January 28, 1956, Elvis Aron Presley, all-American boy from Tupelo, Mississippi, made his first television appearance on CBS’s Stage Show, the day after “Heartbreak Hotel” was released as a single. Elvis would quickly become “The King” of rock and roll, and the best selling single artist of all time. On the other hand, many great records were made by people that had only one major success, known as “one hit wonders.” Today we list our “greatest” (our favorites) list of those one hit wonders that came to our shores from artists in other countries. Digging Deeper…

January 28, 1915: US Coast Guard is Formed By an Act of Congress

By Major Dan on January 28, 2017 January 28, Military

A Brief History On January 28, 1915, an Act of Congress created the United States Coast Guard out of the combination of The Revenue Cutter Service and the US Life-Saving Service. This new branch of the military was placed under the Treasury Department, to be used by the Department of Defense in time of war. Today, this law enforcing and life saving maritime force is under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy as seen necessary by the President. Digging Deeper Roots of the Coast Guard go all the…

January 28, 1887: World’s Largest Snowflake Falls!

By Major Dan on January 28, 2015 January 28, Lil' History Chips, Nature

A Brief History On January 28, 1887, Fort Keogh, Montana was the scene of what was probably the most bizarre snow storm in recorded history. Established as an Army outpost in the wake of the Little Big Horn massacre of Lt. Col. Custer’s 7th Cavalry, the fort was named after Capt. Keogh who had died in that action. Digging Deeper On this remarkable snowy day in 1887, astonished soldiers witnessed the falling of perhaps the largest snowflake ever, measuring a massive 15 inches wide by 8 inches thick! If you think that is impossible, then you can go argue with The Guiness Book of…

January 28, 1986: The Unforgettable Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

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By Kevin Vizcarra on January 28, 2014 January 28, Science & Technology, Travel

A Brief History On January 28, 1986, the U.S. space shuttle Challenger took off right on schedule, only to explode 74 seconds later, killing all seven crew members on board in front of a horrified live television audience. Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find Challenger, having made 9 previous successful flights and having traveled over 25 million miles in its career prior to the tragedy. The crew, who had planned to study Halley’s Comet as part of their mission, also included a civilian, Mrs. Sharon Christa McAuliffe. Mrs. McAuliffe, who was from New Hampshire, had won a contest to become…