President Ronald Reagan authorizes Operation Urgent Fury, the American-led invasion of Grenada. The invasion was an American response to the overthrow and murder of Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop by pro-Soviet and pro-Cuban forces.
In a naval battle off Madeira in the eastern Atlantic, the USS United States, captained by Stephen Decatur, defeats the HMS Macedonia, captures the British frigate, and sails the Macedonia back to New York.
Adlai Stevenson presents photographs of Cuban missile sites
The American Ambassador to the United Nations, Adlai Stevenson, confronts the Soviet ambassador Valerian Zorin about the Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. After Zorin refuses to acknowledge the Soviet missiles, Stevenson presents the aerial photographs of Soviet missile sites in Cuba.
In the decisive engagement of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, a small detachment of the U.S. Seventh Fleet defeats a larger, more powerful Japanese naval force at the Battle off Samar, east of Samar Island in the Philippines.
Now in its 75th year, American Heritage relies on contributions from readers like you to survive. You can support this magazine of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today.