This Day In History, August 7th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on August 7th
George Washington establishes the Purple Heart medal in 1782 to acknowledge the merit of enlisted troops and noncommissioned officers. It was first known as the Badge of Military Merit.
Theophilus Van Kannel was granted a patent for the rotating door in 1888. Van Kannel devised the concept of preventing drafts in buildings with numerous entrances and exits.
The Iraqi Army overthrows King Faisal II, leading in the formation of the Iraqi Republic.
The Pacific Theater of World War II begins with the First Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. In the Solomon Islands, the United States and its allies battled against Japan.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident happens in 1964, during which the United States Navy claims to have been assaulted by North Vietnamese naval boats. This triggered an increase in US engagement in the Vietnam War.
1782: George Washington creates the Purple Heart medal to recognize merit in enlisted men and noncommissioned officers. It was originally called the Badge of Military Merit.
George Washington designed the Purple Heart medal on August 7, 1782, during the Revolutionary War. It was known as the Badge of Military Merit at the time, and it was intended to commemorate enlisted troops and noncommissioned officers who had displayed remarkable courage and distinguished service in combat. The Badge of Military Merit went out of favor after the Revolutionary War, but on the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth in 1932, the United States Army resurrected it and renamed it the Purple Heart medal. The Purple Heart is now awarded to soldiers of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded or killed in battle.
1888: Theophilus Van Kannel received a patent for the revolving door. Van Kannel came up with the idea to prevent drafts in buildings with frequent entrances and exits.
On August 7, 1888, Theophilus Van Kannel, an American inventor, got a patent for the rotating door. He devised the concept to address the issue of drafts in buildings with numerous entries and departures, such as office buildings, hotels, and department shops. The rotating door allowed people to enter and depart without causing a significant draft, and it also contributed to energy conservation by minimizing the volume of heated or cooled air that escaped from the building. Revolving doors are still utilized in many public buildings today and are widespread in urban locations all over the world.
1933: The Iraqi Army stages a coup against King Faisal II, resulting in the establishment of the Iraqi Republic.
The Iraqi Republic was founded on October 3, 1932, following the end of the British mandate over Iraq. On August 7, 1958, however, a military coup in Iraq ousted the Hashemite monarchy and proclaimed a republic. The attempt was led by a group of Iraqi military officers who were critical of the monarchy's pro-Western policies and strong relations with the British. King Faisal II, who was just 23 years old at the time, and several members of his family were assassinated, and the coup leaders declared Iraq a republic. General Abd al-Karim Qasim, who served as prime minister before becoming president of Iraq, commanded the new administration.
1942: The First Battle of Guadalcanal begins in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The United States and its allies fought against Japan in the Solomon Islands.
The Iraqi Republic was founded on October 3, 1932, following the end of the British mandate over Iraq. On August 7, 1958, however, a military coup in Iraq ousted the Hashemite monarchy and proclaimed a republic. The attempt was led by a group of Iraqi military officers who were critical of the monarchy's pro-Western policies and strong relations with the British. King Faisal II, who was just 23 years old at the time, and several members of his family were assassinated, and the coup leaders declared Iraq a republic. General Abd al-Karim Qasim, who served as prime minister before becoming president of Iraq, commanded the new administration. The Japanese counterattacked, and the conflict lasted six months, with significant casualties on both sides. In the end, the United States and its allies prevailed, but the fight signaled the start of a lengthy and brutal struggle in the Pacific that would last many years.
1964: The Gulf of Tonkin incident occurs, in which the U.S. Navy claims to have been attacked by North Vietnamese naval vessels. This event led to a U.S. escalation of involvement in the Vietnam War.
During the Vietnam War, on August 7, 1964, the Gulf of Tonkin incident happened. The US Navy alleged that North Vietnamese naval boats assaulted two American destroyers, the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy, in the Gulf of Tonkin. The event prompted the United States Congress to enact the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted President Lyndon B. Johnson extensive authority to extend the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. The resolution served as the legal foundation for a substantial escalation in US military actions in Vietnam, including ground troops and bombardment of North Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin event has sparked substantial debate, with some historians and analysts wondering whether the attack occurred as described, and others claiming that the US response was harsh and unwarranted.