December 21

Jean de la Cassière served as the 51st Grandmaster of the Knights Hospitaller from 1572 until his death in 1581. Under his leadership, the order defended Mediterranean territories against Ottoman expansion. He managed the military and diplomatic affairs of the order during a volatile period. Facing financial and logistical challenges, he strengthened Malta's fortifications and naval capabilities. His tenure set the stage for the Great Siege of Malta that would follow a few years later.

Francis Garnier was a French naval officer and engineer born in 1839. He joined the French Navy and quickly distinguished himself with his technical skills. Garnier led daring expeditions into the interior of Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. His explorations contributed to France's colonial expansion in Indochina. He was also recognized for his cartographic and scientific observations. Garnier died in 1873 during an encounter in Vietnam, becoming a colonial hero. His legacy endures in geographic names and historical accounts of French exploration.

George S. Patton was born in 1885 into a military family in California and graduated from West Point in 1909. He gained early fame as a tank commander in World War I and became a leading proponent of armored warfare. During World War II, Patton led the Seventh United States Army in the invasion of Sicily and later commanded the Third Army through France and Germany. Known for his fiery personality, strict discipline, and flamboyant leadership style, he became one of America’s most iconic military figures. Patton’s aggressive tactics and rapid advances earned him both acclaim and controversy among Allied leaders. He died in 1945 from injuries sustained in a car accident shortly after the end of the war.

Ernst-Günther Schenck was born in 1904 and trained as a medical doctor, earning his doctorate in Berlin. He joined the German army as a colonel and served as a senior physician and nutrition expert for the armed forces during World War II. Schenck conducted pioneering research on vitamins and dietary needs under combat conditions. After the war, he continued his medical career, publishing reflections on wartime medicine and nutrition. His writings offer unique insights into military medical practices and the challenges of providing care in battlefield environments.

John Eisenhower was born in 1922, the son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He graduated from West Point and served as an armored division officer during World War II and the Korean War, rising to the rank of brigadier general. After military retirement, he authored several well-regarded books on military history. From 1969 to 1971, he served as the 45th U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, strengthening transatlantic relations during the Cold War. Eisenhower received numerous honors for his service and contributions to historical scholarship before passing away in 2013.