Today in history: May 15
In 1975, U.S. forces invaded the Cambodian island of Koh Tang and captured the American merchant ship Mayaguez, which had been seized by the Khmer Rouge, and more events that happened on this day in history.
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1918: U.S. Airmail
In 1918, U.S. airmail began service between Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York.
1948: Israel
In 1948, hours after declaring its independence, the new state of Israel was attacked by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
1954: The Fender Stratocaster
In 1954, the Fender Stratocaster guitar, created by Leo Fender, was officially released.
1968: Tornadoes
In 1968, two days of tornado outbreaks began in 10 Midwestern and Southern states; twisters were blamed for 72 deaths, including 45 in Arkansas and 18 in Iowa.
1970: Phillip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green
In 1970, just after midnight, Phillip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green, two Black students at Jackson State College in Mississippi, were killed as police opened fire during student protests.
1972: George C. Wallace
In 1972, Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot and left paralyzed while campaigning for president in Laurel, Maryland, by Arthur H. Bremer, who served 35 years for attempted murder.
1975: Koh Tang
In 1975, U.S. forces invaded the Cambodian island of Koh Tang and captured the American merchant ship Mayaguez, which had been seized by the Khmer Rouge. (All 39 crew members had already been released safely by Cambodia; some 40 U.S. servicemen were killed in connection with the operation.)
1988: The Soviet Union
In 1988, the Soviet Union began the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, more than eight years after Soviet forces entered the country.
2011: Protests
Ten years ago: Mobilized by calls on Facebook, thousands of Arab protesters marched on Israel’s borders with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza in an unprecedented wave of demonstrations, sparking clashes that left at least 15 dead.
2015: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
In 2015, a jury sentenced Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) to death for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three and left more than 250 wounded.
2016: Barack Obama
Five years ago: President Barack Obama urged graduates at Rutgers University to shun those who wanted to confront a rapidly changing world by building walls around the United States or by embracing ignorance, as he delivered a sharp and barely concealed critique of Donald Trump.
2016: Morley Safer
Five years ago: “60 Minutes” said goodbye to Morley Safer, honoring the newsman who had been a fixture at the CBS newsmagazine for all but two of its 48 years (Safer died four days later at age 84).
2020: Donald Trump
One year ago: President Donald Trump formally unveiled a coronavirus vaccine program he called “Operation Warp Speed,” to speed development of COVID-19 vaccines and quickly distribute them around the country.
2020: Fred Willard
One year ago: Comedic actor Fred Willard, whose films included “Best In Show” and “Anchorman,” died at 86.
2020: J.C. Penney
One year ago: J.C. Penney became the fourth major retailer to file for bankruptcy reorganization since the pandemic began.
2020: Mike Pompeo
One year ago: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fired the State Department’s inspector general, whose office had been critical of alleged political bias in the agency’s management.