FIRST US HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN IN VIETNAM
The 1st American helicopter to be lost in the war in South Vietnam was shot down today. The "chopper" was in the process of transporting South Vietnamese troops into battle near Hong My is the Mekong Delta.
The 1st US helicopters arrived in South Vietnam on December 11, 1961.
February 4, 1945
YALTA CONFERENCE BEGINS
President Roosevelt began a series of meetings today with Winston Churchill of Great Britain & Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union.
The meetings will take place through February 11 in Yalta located in the Russian Crimean.
The Yalta Conference will propose a world organization (the United Nations) be "summoned" for a meeting in the United States on April 25, 1945.
*The issue of the postwar status of Poland is a major point of discussion during the meetings. The US wants free elections to be held there. Critics of FDR will later say that the President "sold out" to Stalin at Yalta.
February 4, 1974
PATTY HEARST KIDNAPPED
Patty Hearst, the 19 year old daughter of newspaper publisher Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped today in her apartment at Berkeley, California.*
*3 days later the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping & demanded $70 million in food for every person from Santa Rosa to Los Angeles.
In April 1974, Patty Hearst was photographed by a bank security camera taking part in a robbery in San Francisco. Later on a tape recording, Miss Hearst claimed she had joined the SLA voluntarily.
February 4, 1792
WASHINGTON RE-ELECTED TO 2ND TERM
George Washington was elected today to a 2nd term as President of the United States by the Electoral College. John Adams, with the 2nd highest number of votes, will again serve as Vice President.
February 4, 1801
MARSHALL SWORN IN AS CHIEF JUSTICE
John Marshall was sworn in today as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.*
*Marshall would serve as Chief Justice until 1835. His leadership on the court would lay the basis for American constitutional law & make the Supreme Court a power in the Federal government.
