Today in History

Today is Thursday, June 6, the 157th day of 2013. There are 208 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on "D-Day," beginning the liberation of German-occupied western Europe during World War II.

On this date:

In 1513, troops of the Swiss Confederation defeated the French in the Battle of Novara.

In 1799, American politician and orator Patrick Henry died at Red Hill Plantation in Virginia.

In 1844, the Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London.

In 1912, the greatest volcanic eruption of the 20th century took place as Novarupta in Alaska began a series of explosive episodes over a 60-hour period.

In 1925, Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corp.

In 1932, the Senate approved, and President Herbert Hoover signed, a Revenue Act containing the first federal gasoline tax, which was one cent per gallon.

In 1933, the first drive-in movie theater was opened by Richard Hollingshead in Camden County, N.J. (The movie shown was "Wives Beware," starring Adolphe Menjou.)

In 1966, black activist James Meredith was shot and wounded as he walked along a Mississippi highway to encourage black voter registration.

In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, a day after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

In 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative calling for major cuts in property taxes.

In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon to drive Palestine Liberation Organization fighters out of the country. (The Israelis withdrew in June 1985.)

In 1985, authorities in Brazil exhumed a body later identified as the remains of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious "Angel of Death" of the Nazi Holocaust.

Ten years ago: The government reported the U.S. unemployment rate had hit a nine-year high of 6.1 percent the previous month. Already the holder of U.S. rights to the Olympics through 2008, NBC secured the contracts for the 2010 and 2012 games for $2.2 billion.

Five years ago: The Dow industrial average dropped 394.64 points to 12,209.81, its worst loss in more than a year. Crude futures made their biggest single-day jump ever, soaring nearly $11 for the day to $138.54 a barrel. Actor Bob Anderson, who played young George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," died in Palm Springs, Calif., at age 75.

One year ago: Business social network LinkedIn reported that some of its users' passwords had been stolen and leaked onto the Internet. New Yorkers lined the West Side waterfront to welcome the space shuttle Enterprise as it sailed up the Hudson River to its new home aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Billie Whitelaw is 81. Civil rights activist Roy Innis is 79. Singer-songwriter Gary "U.S." Bonds is 74. Country singer Joe Stampley is 70. Actor Robert Englund is 66. Folk singer Holly Near is 64. Singer Dwight Twilley is 62. Playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein is 61. Comedian Sandra Bernhard is 58. International Tennis Hall of Famer Bjorn Borg is 57. Actress Amanda Pays is 54. Comedian Colin Quinn is 54. Record producer Jimmy Jam is 54. Rock musician Steve Vai is 53. Rock singer-musician Tom Araya (Slayer) is 52. Actor Jason Isaacs is 50. Rock musician Sean Yseult (White Zombie) is 47. Actor Max Casella is 46. Actor Paul Giamatti is 46. Rhythm-and-blues singer Damion Hall (Guy) is 45. Rock musician Bardi Martin is 44. Rock musician James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn) is 43. TV correspondent Natalie Morales is 41. Country singer Lisa Brokop is 40. Rapper-rocker Uncle Kracker is 39. Actress Sonya Walger is 39. Actress Staci Keanan is 38. Actress Amber Borycki is 30. Actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (TV: "Modern Family") is six.

Thought for Today: "To be successful, grow to the point where one completely forgets himself; that is, to lose himself in a great cause." -- Booker T. Washington, American educator (1856-1915).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.