August 7, 1782 – George Washington authorizes the creation of a heart-shaped, purple cloth Badge of Military Merit, awarded to deserving privates and NCOs, stating “the road to glory in a patriot army and free country is open to all.” It was succeeded by the 1932 Purple Heart Medal of those wounded or killed in action.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US

US forces went on the offensive in the Pacific on August 7, 1942 as Marines landed on Guadalcanal and several smaller islands. The hard-fought campaign raged for six months and involved Marine and Army units, air forces, Navy and Coast Guard. Here members of the 5th Marines carry a wounded comrade.

Image via Wikipedia Commons, public domain in the US

On August 7, 1984, Team USA Women’s Basketball won gold against South Korea at the Summer Olympics, held at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
It was the first Olympic gold medal ever awarded to the U.S. women’s basketball team—a breakthrough moment after earning silver in 1976 and missing the 1980 Games due to the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

Among the medalists was Kim Mulkey, then a 22-year-old point guard from Louisiana Tech. She would go on to make NCAA history as the first person to win a basketball national championship as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Her coaching career includes national titles with Baylor in 2005, 2012, and 2019, and with LSU in 2023.

Image: Kim Mulkey (USA) and teammates during the medal ceremony following the gold medal game at the 1984 Summer Olympics via Alamy

On August 7, 1922 Ken Williams of the St. Louis Browns became the first player in the American League to hit two home runs in the same inning.

Image from 1922 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On August 7, 1909, Alice Huyler Ramsey and three friends rolled into San Francisco, 59 days after leaving Manhattan to become the first women to cross the US by car. Alice, the only driver in the quartet is shown with her Maxwell runabout. She drove cross-country 30 more times throughout her life.

Image by G.G. Bain, LOC via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright.

Major General of the American Revolution, Nathanael Greene, who Lord Cornwallis said was “as dangerous as (George) Washington…” was born on August 7, 1742 in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Near view of bombproof tent in the advance line in front of Petersburg, Va., August 7, 1864

Image via NYPL, no known restrictions

Hopothle Mico, a chief of the Creek Nation who was most likely present during the signing of the Treaty of New York on August 7, 1790.

Leaders from the Creek
Nation traveled to New York City, (then Capital of The U.S.) to sign a treaty with U.S. Secretary of War, Henry Knox.

Warren Kealoha (at bottom) with swimmers at the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in background on August 7, 1924.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The first American woman to earn a PhD in mathematics from a European university was Mary Frances Winston Newson who was born on August 7, 1869 in Forreston, Illinois.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Carl Switzer who played the role of Alfalfa in Our Gang was born on August 7, 1927 in Paris, Illinois.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On August 7, 1969, nearly all of the people of Greenfield, Iowa made a pledge to quit smoking or never to start smoking before production of the 1971 film “Cold Turkey” began in their town.

Image: Scene from the 1971 film Cold Turkey via Alamy

An early photo of the beautiful Billie Burke, American actress who played the part of Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz.

American actress Billie Burke was born on August 7, 1884 in Washington, D.C.

Image: Harris & Ewing, photographer via Wikimedia Commons, public domain