One of the longest and most grueling campaigns in the Pacific during WWII, the Guadalcanal Campaign, ended on February 9, 1943. “Tokyo Express no longer has a terminus on Guadalcanal” was the message sent by U.S. Army Major General Alexander Patch to U.S. Navy Admiral William Halsey, Jr. The Guadalcanal campaign started 6 months earlier in August of 1942 and a number of factors contributed to its duration including harsh jungle conditions and the constant reinforcement of troops by both sides. While the U.S. lost over 1,600 men during the campaign the Japanese lost over 20,000. Image: U.S. Army soldiers push supplies up the Matanikau River to support the 25th Infantry Division’s offensive on Guadalcanal in early 1943 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US. –>
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.” – Founding Father Thomas Paine who was born on February 9, 1737 Image: Cookes House in York, Pennsylvania that is believed to be the home of Thomas Paine during the Second Continental Congress between 1777-1778. Photo from 1937 via LOC, no known restrictions –>
President Abraham Lincoln photographed by Anthony Berger at Mathew Brady’s studio on February 9, 1864 Image via LOC, no known restrictions –>
On February 9, 1870, the US Weather Bureau was established (National Weather Service since 1970). In this 1943 picture Bureau meteorologists at Washington, DC’s National airport check the anemometer to measure wind speed. The forecast likely included “wind gusts.” Image from LOC via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US. –>
On February 9, 1825, a contingent election occurred since no Presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes. John Quincy Adams was elected President. It was the second time a U.S. Presidential contingent election occurred. Image: John Quincy Adams portrait from 1815 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
Born February 9, 1914 Ernest Tubb was known as the Texas Troubadour. He recorded “Blue Christmas” nine years before Elvis, sang the dance-hall standard “Waltz Across Texas,” but is best known for “Walking the Floor Over You.” Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US. –>
“N.C. Munson,” first engine through Hoosac tunnel, February 9, 1875. The Hoosac Tunnel is in Western Massachusetts near the Vermont border. via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
Frank Frazetta, also known as the “Godfather of fantasy art”, was born on February 9, 1928 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. He started working on comic art at the age of 16 and throughout his career provided art for a number of popular comic series such as Buck Rogers, Tarzan, Conan The Barbarian, Ghost Rider and others. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
On February 9, 1971 pro baseball pitcher Satchel Paige was nominated to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played his last Major League game at 59 years old when he threw for three innings and did not allow the opposing team to score. Image of Satchel Paige in 1970 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
9th President of The United States William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia on February 9, 1773. He was President for a month. Image of a young William Henry Harrison c. 1800 via National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, no known restrictions –>
President John F. Kennedy and Billy Graham at a prayer breakfast at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. February 9, 1961 Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
On February 9, 1964 The Beatles made their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. An astounding 73 million American TV viewers tuned in to watch. Image: The Beatles on stage at The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
Photograph shows identified soldiers who escaped from Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia in February 1864. Abel Streight (seated) escaped Libby on February 9, 1864. Bedan B. McDonald (standing left) escaped Libby on February 9, 1864. William W. Scearce (standing right) escaped Libby on February 9, 1864. Henry B. Chamberlain (standing middle) was wounded on August 19, 1864 at Weldon Railroad, Virginia. He was taken prisoner of war on July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He escaped from Libby Prison on February 20, 1864. via LOC, no known restrictions –>
Howard Taylor Ricketts “Dr. Ricketts was born in Findlay, Ohio, February 9, 1871 passed his boyhood in Nebraska, and received the Bachelor’s degree from the university of that state in 1894. He took his medical course at the Northwestern University Medical School, graduating in 1897, and then served as intern in the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. In 1899 he became fellow in cutaneous pathology in Rush Medical College and continued as such for two years. During part of this time he worked also in the dermatological clinic. In 1900 he married Myra Tubbs who supported him in his work with rare devotion, keen interest, and steady encouragement. There are two children, son and daughter. In 1902, returning from a year’s visit to European laboratories, he came to the University of Chicago as instructor in the newly founded Department of Pathology and Bacteriology. Later he became assistant professor and in the early part of 1910 he accepted the chair of pathology in the University of Pennsylvania, the duties of which he fully expected to assume in the fall. He died from typhus fever in Mexico City, May 3, 1910. Dr. Ricketts was a modest and unassuming man, of great determination and of the highest character, loyal and generous, earnest and genuine in all his doings — a personality of unusual and winning charm. His associates of the hospital and fellowship days, who knew him well, knew his ability and energy, his distinct fondness for the day’s work, all looked to him for the more than ordinary achievement. He deliberately turned away from the allurements of active medical practice and decided to devote himself to teaching and investigation in pathology. He had early become possessed of noble ideals and had a pure love for the search after truth in his chosen field, which abided with him and gave him a high conception of all his duties and relations and placed a special stamp on his work. An address delivered at a memorial service in the University of Chicago, May 15, 1910, and now expanded to include a few more details. His instinct for research at no time was permitted to lie dormant and unused, but growing stronger it carried him on farther and farther, and in due time the University freely and in special ways promoted the work in which he was to accomplish such large results. The torch was placed within the grasp of hands fit to carry it forward, and during the few short years given him he advanced it farther than we may realize at this moment, because he broke open paths for future progress. His instinct for research at no time was permitted to lie dormant and unused, but growing stronger it carried him on farther and farther, and in due time the University freely and in special ways promoted the work in which he was to accomplish such large results. The torch was placed within the grasp of hands fit to carry it forward, and during the few short years given him he advanced it farther than we may realize at this moment, because he broke open paths for future progress. His earlier researches on blastomycosis and immunological problems are all marked by thoroughness and directness, by clear and forceful reasoning; it is in the brilliant work on Rocky Mountain fever, however, that Dr. Ricketts fully reveals himself as an investigator of the first rank. He took up the study of this fever in the spring of 1906 as a sort of pastime during an enforced holiday on account of overwork… Dr. Ricketts promptly found that the disease is communicable to lower animals and that a certain tick, which occurs naturally on a large number of animals in those regions, by its bite can transmit the disease from the sick to the healthy animal.” An introduction by Ludvig Hektoen from Contributions to medical science by Howard Taylor Ricketts, published in 1911 Source says not in copyright https://archive.org/details/contributionstom00rick/page/n17 Image: American physician Howard Taylor Ricketts via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>
