April 15

Also known as Major Kemp, he was born into the Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi iwi and rose to prominence through his leadership in the New Zealand Wars. He aligned with British forces to protect his people's interests against rival tribes. As a skilled negotiator, he served in the New Zealand House of Representatives and advocated for Māori rights. His dual role as warrior and politician helped shape the relationship between Māori and colonial authorities in the late 19th century. He died in 1898, leaving a legacy of loyalty and service that endures in New Zealand history.

Born in 1901, Nikolai Vatutin rose through the ranks of the Red Army, earning recognition for his leadership in the defense of Kiev and the Battle of Kursk. As commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, he played a pivotal role in major offensives, including the liberation of Kyiv and the advance into Nazi-occupied Ukraine. Vatutin's strategic acumen and ability to coordinate armored and infantry units contributed to Soviet successes in 1943-44. In early 1944, he was ambushed and mortally wounded by Ukrainian nationalist forces. His death was widely mourned, and he was posthumously promoted to General of the Army. Vatutin is remembered as one of the Red Army's most capable field commanders of World War II.

Hermann Florstedt (1895–1945) was a German SS officer who served in various security and cavalry units on the Eastern Front. He held leadership roles within the Schutzstaffel, participating in military operations and the enforcement of Nazi policies. His career spanned the interwar period and most of the Second World War. Florstedt died in 1945 as the conflict drew to a close. Details of his personal life and specific wartime actions remain sparsely documented.

Radola Gajda (1892–1948) was a Montenegrin-born soldier who became one of the leading figures in the Czechoslovak Legion during and after World War I. He rose to prominence as a general on the Eastern Front, earning a reputation for bold tactics and leadership. After the war, Gajda entered politics and founded the National Fascist Movement in Czechoslovakia. He served in various political roles, influencing right-wing circles in the interwar years. His career was marked by controversy and ideological clashes within the military and government. Gajda was expelled from the army in the 1930s and spent his later years under surveillance before his death in 1948.

Raymond Bailey was born in 1904 in San Francisco and served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. After his military service, he pursued a career in acting, appearing in over 30 films and numerous television programs. His breakthrough came when he was cast as the wealthy banker Milburn Drysdale on the hit sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962. Bailey's dry humor and polished delivery made Drysdale a memorable character. He continued acting on stage and screen throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Known for his professionalism and dedication, he became a respected character actor in Hollywood. Bailey retired from acting in the late 1970s and lived quietly until his death in 1980 at the age of 75. He is remembered for his iconic television role and service to his country.

Hu Yaobang was born in 1915 in Liuyang, Hunan province, and joined the Communist Youth League as a teenager. He fought with the Red Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War and rose through the ranks of the Communist Party. As General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1982 to 1987, Hu promoted economic reforms, intellectual freedom, and rehabilitation of persecuted officials. His progressive policies and lenient approach to student demonstrations garnered support from reform-minded citizens but alarmed conservative Party elders. In 1987, he was forced to resign under pressure from hardliners. Hu's sudden death on April 15, 1989, prompted massive public mourning and became a catalyst for the pro-democracy gatherings in Tiananmen Square. He remains a symbol of political openness and reform in modern Chinese history. His legacy continues to influence discussions on governance and human rights in China.

Born Saloth Sar in 1925 near Prey Veng, Cambodia, Pol Pot studied radio electronics in Paris before returning to join communist movements. As a founding member and eventual leader of the Khmer Rouge, he led a brutal regime from 1975 to 1979. His radical agrarian policies forced mass evacuations to the countryside and abolished currency, religion, and private property. Under his rule, executions, starvation, and forced labor caused the deaths of approximately 1.7 to 2 million Cambodians. Pol Pot's government was ousted by a Vietnamese invasion in 1979, initiating decades of turmoil in Cambodia. He lived under house arrest in the 1990s and died in 1998, never standing trial for his crimes. His leadership remains one of the darkest periods of the 20th century. The devastation of his rule continues to shape Cambodian society and collective memory.

Born in 1865 in Augusta, Georgia, Butt began his career as a reporter for the Washington Post. He volunteered for service during the Spanish-American War, earning a commission in the U.S. Army. Appointed as a military aide to President Theodore Roosevelt and later to President William Howard Taft, he became a trusted advisor. Known for his integrity and loyalty, he managed White House affairs and accompanied the presidents on official events. Butt boarded the Titanic as a trusted guest of President Taft and declined a seat in a lifeboat to remain at his post. His body was never recovered, but his dedication continues to be honored in presidential history.