March 13

Born in 1560 into the House of Nassau, William Louis became Count of Nassau-Dillenburg. He served as stadtholder of Friesland and other northern provinces in the Dutch Republic. A skilled commander, he introduced the oblique order formation, influencing modern military tactics. William Louis fought against Spanish forces during the Eighty Years' War alongside his cousin William the Silent. He was also a scholar of ancient military texts and corresponded with contemporary humanists. His reforms and leadership contributed to the emergence of the Dutch Republic as a European power. He died in 1620 after a distinguished military career.

Born in 1719 as John Griffin, he inherited the title 4th Baron Howard de Walden in 1763. Griffin enjoyed a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of field marshal in the British Army. He saw service in key conflicts such as the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War. In politics, he held the ceremonial post of Lord Lieutenant of Essex, representing the Crown locally. A patron of the arts and sciences, he supported agricultural improvements on his estates. Griffin's leadership and civic roles made him a notable figure in 18th-century British society. He died in 1797, remembered for both his military service and regional influence.

Born in 1763 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, Brune rose through the ranks during the French Revolution, distinguishing himself in campaigns across Italy and Egypt. He became a trusted commander under Napoleon Bonaparte and later served as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Brune was appointed Marshal of France in 1815 but was tragically murdered during the Bourbon Restoration unrest in Avignon. He was known for his diplomatic skills as well as his military leadership, blending battlefield tactics with statesmanship. His career exemplified the tumultuous era of late 18th and early 19th-century France.

Born in Publier, France, Henrys entered Saint-Cyr military academy and pursued a career in the French Army. He served in colonial campaigns in North Africa before rising to command the Moroccan Expeditionary Corps. During World War I, he led troops on the Western Front, earning recognition for defensive operations. After the war, he was appointed Resident-General in Morocco, overseeing military and civil administration. A proponent of modernizing tactics, he influenced the French Army's approach to mechanization. Henrys retired in 1923 and passed away in Paris in 1943.

Albert William Stevens was a United States Army officer who revolutionized aerial photography in the early 20th century. Born in 1886, he developed innovative techniques for capturing images from high-altitude balloons and aircraft. His work provided invaluable reconnaissance data for both civilian mapping and military intelligence. In 1936, Stevens set a world altitude record with a photographic flight over 72,000 feet. He documented Earth's curvature and atmospheric layers, contributing to scientific understanding of the upper atmosphere. Stevens’ photographs remain historical treasures, illustrating early advances in aviation and photography. He passed away in 1949, leaving a legacy as a pioneer in aerial exploration.

Edward "Butch" O'Hare was a pioneering American naval aviator and hero of World War II. In a solo engagement on February 20, 1942, he single-handedly defended his aircraft carrier from a flight of Japanese bombers, shooting down five enemy planes and earning the Medal of Honor. He became the U.S. Navy's first flying ace of the war, boosting morale on the home front. Tragically, O'Hare disappeared over the Pacific in 1943 during a nighttime mission. His legacy lives on through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, renamed in his honor as a testament to his bravery.

Dimitrios Ioannidis was a Greek military officer who played a key role in the country's 1967–1974 dictatorship. Known as the 'Invisible Dictator,' he wielded significant power behind the scenes and influenced government policy. Ioannidis orchestrated the ousting of moderate leaders and supervised the harsh suppression of dissent and student uprisings, including the 1973 Athens Polytechnic revolt. His actions led to political turmoil that eventually restored democracy in 1974. Ioannidis's controversial legacy is a reminder of the fragile nature of civil liberties under military rule.

Yonatan Netanyahu was born in 1946 to a family with deep Zionist roots and served in the IDF's elite Sayeret Matkal unit. He took part in numerous operations before being appointed commander of his unit in 1976. During the daring Operation Entebbe hostage rescue in Uganda, he led the assault on Entebbe Airport. Netanyahu was fatally wounded while securing the terminal, becoming the sole Israeli soldier killed in the mission. He is remembered as a hero in Israel, with memorials, research centers, and scholarships bearing his name. His charisma and leadership inspired his brothers, including future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yonatan's legacy endures through biographies, documentaries, and annual commemorations.