March 01

Born in 1769 near Chartres, François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers joined the French Revolutionary army at a young age and quickly distinguished himself in combat. He rose to the rank of général de division by the age of 23, leading forces in the Vendée uprising and later in the Army of the Rhine. Marceau was known for his humane treatment of prisoners and his inspirational leadership on the battlefield. His victories against monarchist insurgents and Prussian forces bolstered the revolutionary cause. He was fatally wounded at the Battle of Altenkirchen in 1796 and died shortly after, becoming a celebrated hero of the Republic.

Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski was born in 1899 and served in World War I before joining the Nazi Party and the SS. He quickly rose through the ranks to command brutal anti-partisan operations on the Eastern Front. Bach-Zelewski also led forces that suppressed the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, overseeing large-scale reprisals. After the war, he was tried and convicted for war crimes, serving a prison sentence in West Germany. He died in 1972, remembered as one of the most infamous figures of the Third Reich due to his role in mass atrocities.

Born in 1909, Eugene Esmonde joined the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and quickly distinguished himself as a skilled pilot. In 1942, he led a torpedo-bomber attack against German warships in the Norwegian fjords under intense anti-aircraft fire. Despite overwhelming odds, Esmonde pressed home the assault to protect Allied convoys, sacrificing his life when his aircraft was shot down. His extraordinary bravery earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military honor. Esmonde is remembered as a hero of naval aviation.

Born in Jerusalem, Rabin served in the Palmach during Israel’s War of Independence and later became Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. He transitioned to politics and led Israel as Prime Minister from 1974 to 1977 and again from 1992 until his assassination in 1995. Rabin was instrumental in negotiating the Oslo Accords with the Palestine Liberation Organization, earning him and Shimon Peres the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. He also served as Israel’s Ambassador to the United States in the 1960s. Rabin’s legacy is defined by his efforts to pursue peace and security in the Middle East.

Born in Sparta, Wisconsin, Slayton served as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot during World War II and was selected as one of NASA’s original Mercury Seven astronauts in 1959. Although grounded early in his career due to a medical condition, he played a critical role as NASA’s Chief of the Astronaut Office, shaping astronaut training and mission planning. In 1975, Slayton flew on the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, becoming the oldest person to make his first spaceflight at the time. He retired in 1982 after 23 years with NASA and left a legacy as a pioneer of human space exploration.

Richard Myers is a retired four-star general of the United States Air Force and the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He played a crucial role in directing military strategy following the September 11, 2001 attacks. General Myers oversaw operations in Afghanistan and the initial phase of the Iraq conflict. His leadership guided the transformation of U.S. armed forces during a pivotal era in modern defense history. Since retirement, he has continued to contribute to defense policy as a consultant and board member.