On this day in 1945, a hero is born. Donald “Doc” Ballard would enlist in the Navy just after his 20th birthday. By then, he was already a married man, and he had his sights set on being a dentist.
Perhaps the 35 years he ultimately spent in the military surprised him as much as anyone else?
“I started college to become a dentist,” he later explained, “then ran out of money so I looked to the military as a source of financial assistance. . . . the Navy told me that I could be a dentist after I completed some enlisted time and finished my education.”
He’d already bypassed the Army because he didn’t see himself in combat. “I thought that Navy life would be cleaner, and I would be working in a hospital somewhere,” he concluded. It didn’t turn out that way, of course.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-donald-ballard-moh
On this day in 1907, an American heroine is born. Why, exactly, did Mary Babnik Brown become a hero? The details are uncertain, but one basic fact is undisputed: Mary got a haircut—and it helped our country during World War II.
Was Mary’s hair used to create crosshairs for Norden bombsights? Or was it simply used for meteorological instruments?
Mary was living in Pueblo, Colorado, during the opening months of World War II. One day, she saw an advertisement in a local newspaper: The government needed hair—but not just any hair. It needed hair that was at least “22” long, blonde, and has never been treated with chemicals or hot irons.”
The story continues here: http://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-mary-babnik-brown
On this day in 1787, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania begins ratification debates on the United States Constitution. You might imagine a bunch of dull Founders tamely approving a document, but the events that followed in Pennsylvania were anything but tame.
To the contrary, Pennsylvania’s story includes an irate minority, legislators hauled through the streets, and rousing speeches to huge crowds. Can you imagine what modern news stations would do with such raucous events today!?!
Trouble began soon after the Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-pa-ratify-constitution
On this day in 1780, a motley band of American militia defeat the much-loathed Banastre “Bloody Ban” Tarleton at the Battle of Blackstock’s.
Perhaps you remember the fictitious villain, Colonel William Tavington, from Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot”? Bloody Ban Tarleton was the real-life inspiration for Tavington.
The conflict at Blackstock’s began, at least in part, because British General Charles Cornwallis was becoming increasingly frustrated with American Brigadier General Thomas Sumter. The so-called “Carolina Gamecock” was a constant thorn in the British General’s side. Cornwallis wanted Sumter caught, and he decided to send the much-feared Tarleton to accomplish this task.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-battle-blackstocks
