The way it was: Today in history - May 19
Throwback Thursday: A look back at events in history on May 19.
Spanish Head of State Francisco Franco presides over the first victory parade after the end of the Spanish Civil War in Madrid on May 19, 1939, while members of the Civil Guard and Moorish Guard stand under the tribune. During this ceremony Francisco Franco is accompanied by military officials, el Gran Visir del Jalifa de Tetuan, and the Generals Aranda and Saliquet. Franco went on to establish a military dictatorship, declaring himself Head of State and Government and took on the title of El Caudillo (the Chief). During his regime, he caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. His 36-year-rule ended with his death in 1975.
Maginot Line
This knob-like structure surrounded by churned up earth and stone, is Hill 505, the right corner post of the Maginot Line in France on May 19, 1940, had been captured after an attack in which the Germans threw their full force at the fort. In background are tank traps and barbed wire entanglements stretching across the plains. Germans claimed this was one of France's strongest forts.
Dutch refugees
Two young Dutch refugee girls arrive in London by train on May 19, 1940, after fleeing the German Army offensive during WWII.
The Doolittle Raid - Tokyo Raid
After pinning the Congressional Medal of Honor on him at the White House in Washington, D.C., President Franklin D. Roosevelt firmly shakes the hand of Brig. Gen. James H. Doolittle and congratulates him on leading the successful bombing raid on Tokyo, May 19, 1942. Behind them are, left to right: Lt. Gen. H.H. Arnold, commander of the air force, Mrs. Josephine Doolittle, and Gen. C. Marshall, Army chief of staff.
The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was the first air raid during World War II to strike the Japanese home islands. Doolittle lead a group of 80 volunteers, known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, flying 16 B-25 bombers on the April 18, 1942 mission. The raid was a huge morale boost for the American public following the dark days of the Pearl Harbor by Japan and America's entry into WWII.
Hamburger Hill
A wounded U.S. paratrooper grimaces in pain as he awaits medical evacuation at base camp in the A Shau Valley near the Laos border in South Vietnam on May 19, 1969 during the Vietnam War.
The 101st Airborne Division attacked the North Vietnamese Communist forces at the 3,000-foot Ap Bia Mountain, or Hill 937, in the 10-day battle known as Hamburger Hill by the GIs. Forty-six Americans were killed before the mountain was taken, and the death toll for North Vietnam was around 517.
Al Gore and Tipper married
Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore and his wife Pauline speaks with their son, Albert Jr., and his bride, the former Elizabeth Aitcheson of Arlington, Va., after their wedding at Washington Cathedral, May 19, 1970.
Last "Orient Express" train
An employee of the train company, Raymond Dinh, left, offers Champagne to French Odette Lesca and British Dereck Barber, two passengers of the "Orient Express" train leaving the Gare de Lyon in Paris, on May 19, 1977, for its last 1.900 miles journey to Istanbul.
Mount St. Helens eruption
Clouds from the Mount St. Helens volcano move over Ephrata airport in Washington on May 19, 1980, days after the volcanic eruption, days after the earthquake-triggered eruption that left 57 people dead and untold destruction.
Mount St. Helens eruption
John Brown is covered with mud and exhausted following his unsuccessful rescue attempt of three horses in a log yard flooded by the Toutle River after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington state on May 19, 1980. Although Brown was helped by at least three other individuals all efforts to save the horses failed.
Pope John Paul II recovers from gunshot
Pope John Paul II sits in his hospital bed at the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome May 19, 1981 in one of the first pictures of the world's Catholic leader since he was shot in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City on May 13.
Unabomber suspected
Bottles of Extra-Strength Tylenol are tested with a chemically treated paper that turns blue in the presence of cyanide, at the Illinois Department of Health in Chicago October, 1982.
The Chicago FBI confirmed May 19, 2011, that the agency has asked for DNA from Unabomber Ted Kaczynski in an investigation to see if he may have been involved in the 1982 Tylenol poisonings that killed seven people in the Chicago area. The Tylenol case involved the use of potassium cyanide and resulted in a mass recall. Kaczynski says he has never possessed potassium cyanide.
Paul Newman launches spaghetti sauce
Spoon and fork in hand actor and race car driver Paul Newman sits before a spaghetti dinner made with his own spaghetti sauce, "Newman's Own Industrial Spaghetti Sauce" at Keens Chop House in New York, May 19, 1983. The event celebrated the commercial marketing of his sauce.
Vietnam Veterans statue
Sculptor Fredrick Hart gestures while standing in front of the completed clay model of a heroic-sized statue of three fighting men which is scheduled to be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington shown on May 19, 1984.
When cast in bronze, the statue will be placed in an entrance plaza setting at the memorial so the men are looking directly at the black granite walls on which the names to more than 58,000 dead and missing in Vietnam are inscribed.
President Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan, appearing at the White House News Photographers Association's annual dinner in Washington, May 19, 1986, placed his thumbs to his ears and wiggled his fingers at the photographers saying, I've been waiting for years to do this.
It was not immediately clear if the President knew the funny face was being carried live by C-Span, a cable television service that provides coverage of Washington events.
Wu'er Kaixi in Tiananmen Square
Wu'er Kaixi (C), one of the student leaders of the pro-democracy movement walks past a police line along with a fellow student in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, May 19, 1989.
The 1989 pro-democracy protest was crushed by Chinese troops in June 1989 when army tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square June 4.
Mobuto deposed
A Zairian boy defaces a painting of President Mobutu Sese Seko in the looted house of the deposed leader in Kinshasa, May 19, 1997.
Mobutu ruled as a dictator for 32 years and was known for his corruption and excesses with the incredible wealth he accumulated.
Rebel forces controlled the entire capital of the country renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gucci murder trial
Bendetto Ceraulo, left, the alleged hit man in the 1995 murder of fashion scion Maurizio Gucci, and co-defendant Orazio Cicala, stand in the defendants' cage at the start of the trial in Milan, May 19, 1998.
Ceraulo and Cicala are two of the five people, including Gucci's ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli, accused for the murder.
Naked chicken
A featherless genetically engineered chicken is shown in this undated photo. After two years of research, scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Department of Agriculture in the central Israeli town of Rehovot introduced the naked chicken, as it has been dubbed, May 19, 2002. It is a low calorie bird because the lack of feathers means the chicken has less fat. It also matures earlier than its feathered counterparts.
Bird Diaper
Lorraine Moore of Avian Fashions shows off "Mattie" and "Flick" both wearing their patented Bird Diapers in their home May 19, 2004 in Stafford, Virginia.
The Bird Diaper allows pet birds to live outside their cages without soiling carpets and furniture. The diapers feature a disposable liner and sell for between about $15 and $25 each. They come in a variety of colors, designs and sizes. Mark and Lorraine Moore's invention began as a personal project for their own pets and snowballed into a million dollar business which they run full time from their house in Stafford, Virginia.