April 15

Jean Danjou was born in 1828 and joined the French Army, later becoming a captain in the French Foreign Legion. He is best known for commanding a small detachment of Legionnaires at the Battle of Camarón in Mexico on April 30, 1863. Despite overwhelming odds, Danjou and his men fought bravely, turning the engagement into a symbol of Legion solidarity and sacrifice. He sustained severe injuries and died during the battle, cementing his status as a Legion hero. Danjou's wooden prosthetic hand, lost in combat, is still preserved and honored by the Legion each year on Camarón Day. His legacy lives on as a central figure in Legion history and military folklore.

Born in 1885, Tadeusz Kutrzeba rose through the ranks of the Polish military after service in World War I. As commander of the Poznań Army in 1939, he orchestrated the critical but ultimately overwhelming defence during Germany's blitzkrieg. After capture, he was interned but survived the war, later contributing to postwar military scholarship. Kutrzeba's strategic insights into armoured warfare remain studied in military academies. He died in 1947, leaving a legacy as one of Poland's most respected generals.

Born in 1892 in Freiburg, Osterkamp joined the Imperial German Army as an infantryman before transferring to the Luftstreitkräfte. He claimed 32 aerial victories during World War I, earning the Pour le Mérite. Between the wars, he remained active in aviation and held various training commands. During World War II he served as a Generalmajor in the Luftwaffe, overseeing pilot training units. After the war he retired from military life and wrote memoirs of his combat experiences. He died in 1975 at age 82.

Born in 1894 to a peasant family in present-day Ukraine, Khrushchev rose through party ranks after the Russian Revolution. He served in the Red Army during the Russian Civil War and later became a prominent party official in Ukraine. After Stalin's death, he emerged as First Secretary of the Communist Party and initiated de-Stalinization reforms. He oversaw the construction of the Berlin Wall and engaged in the Cuban Missile Crisis, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. Known for his fiery speeches and controversial policies, he was removed from power in 1964 and lived under house arrest. Khrushchev died in 1971, leaving a complex legacy as a reformer and Cold War strategist.

Born Kim Song-ju in Mangyongdae near Pyongyang, Kim Il Sung led guerrilla campaigns against Japanese rule before World War II. After the war, he became the first Premier of North Korea in 1948 and its President in 1972, establishing a one-party state under his leadership. He developed the Juche ideology of self-reliance, guiding North Korea's political and economic policies. Under his rule, the Korean War broke out in 1950, shaping the peninsula's modern history. Kim's personality cult permeated every aspect of North Korean life, laying the foundation for a dynastic succession. His government prioritized heavy industry and military strength, leaving a controversial legacy that endures under his successors.

Elmer Gedeon excelled at the University of Michigan, setting records in the high hurdles and captaining the baseball team. Signed by the Washington Senators in 1939, he played parts of two major league seasons as an outfielder. After the U.S. entered World War II, Gedeon joined the Army Air Forces and trained as a B-26 Marauder pilot. On April 20, 1944, his aircraft was shot down over France, and he was declared missing in action. He is one of only two Major League Baseball players known to have died in the conflict. Gedeon's dual legacy as an elite athlete and a war hero is honored by the University of Michigan and baseball historians alike. His story exemplifies the sacrifices of American sportsmen turned servicemen.

Hugh Thompson Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1943 and became an Army aviator in 1964. During the My Lai Massacre on March 16, 1968, he landed his helicopter between American troops and Vietnamese civilians, ordering his crew to fire on U.S. soldiers if they continued the killings. He evacuated survivors and reported the atrocity, actions that helped bring the massacre to light. Initially criticized and ostracized, he was later honored with the Soldier's Medal for his courage. His moral stand has become a powerful example of integrity and compassion in wartime.