October 29

Nathan Bedford Forrest was born in Tennessee in 1821 and rose to prominence as a self-taught Confederate cavalry commander during the American Civil War. He earned the nickname "Wizard of the Saddle" for his daring flanking maneuvers and rapid raids. Forrest fought in major battles such as Shiloh and Chickamauga and became one of the war’s most feared cavalry leaders. After the Confederacy’s defeat, he was involved in the founding of the Ku Klux Klan and served as its first Grand Wizard. Forrest’s postwar activities and views have made him a deeply controversial figure in American history. Historians continue to debate his military skill alongside the moral implications of his association with racial violence. He died in Memphis in 1877 leaving a complex legacy of tactical brilliance and extremist ideology.

Shlomo Goren (1918–1994) was an influential Israeli rabbi, scholar, and brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces. Born in Poland, he emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1937 and studied at the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Goren was appointed the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF, where he instituted battlefield conversion practices and kosher supervision. In 1973, he was elected Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, advocating for religious reforms and community unity. A prolific author, he published works on Jewish law and philosophy that remain widely studied. Goren also engaged in scholarly debates on Halakha and Zionism, emphasizing the integration of ancient teachings with modern statehood. His dual legacy as a military and religious leader continues to shape Israeli society.

Born in 1918, John Spence enlisted in the U.S. Army and rose through the ranks as a respected soldier. Alongside his military career, he pursued engineering, applying technical expertise to solve complex challenges. He contributed to numerous projects that enhanced operational efficiency and infrastructure. Spence was known for his leadership, integrity, and inventive approach to problem-solving. After retiring, he continued to foster collaboration between military and civilian engineering communities. He passed away in 2013, leaving a legacy of service and innovation.