The Battle of Khe Sanh begins in northwestern South Vietnam as the North Vietnamese Army attacks U.S. Marines stationed at the Khe Sanh base. American and South Vietnamese units held back repeated attacks by the North Vietnamese for three months, eventually evacuating the base in July 1968. While both sides claim victory, the combined American-Vietnamese soldiers defended the base and inflicted severe casualties before withdrawing.
The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, is launched into the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut. Her launch revolutionzed naval warfare, as nuclear-powered submarines neutralized previous innovations to combat submarine manuevers.
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is born in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). A Mexican-American War veteran, Jackson taught at the Virginia Military Institute before joining the Confederate Army. Revered as one of the greatest tacticians of the Civil War, Jackson drew his nickname during his stubborn defense of Henry Hill during the First Battle of Bull Run.
Please support this magazine of trusted historical writing, now in its 75th year, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.
