Today in History

Today is Monday, June 22, the 173rd day of 2015. There are 192 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 22, 1945, the World War II battle for Okinawa ended with an Allied victory.

On this date:

In 1611, English explorer Henry Hudson, his son and several other people were set adrift in present-day Hudson Bay by mutineers aboard the Discovery; their fate remains unknown.

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated for a second time as Emperor of the French.

In 1870, the United States Department of Justice was created.

In 1911, Britain's King George V was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

In 1937, Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jim Braddock in the eighth round of their fight in Chicago. (A year later on this date, Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.)

In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.

In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights."

In 1959, the Swedish film "Wild Strawberries," written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, opened in New York.

In 1965, movie producer David O. Selznick ("Gone with the Wind") died in Los Angeles at age 63.

In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights."

In 1984, the British airline Virgin Atlantic began operations.

In 1995, the docudrama "Apollo 13," starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, had its world premiere at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California.

Ten years ago: White House adviser Karl Rove set off a political firestorm with a speech to the New York state Conservative Party in which he said, "Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers" while conservatives, he said, "saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war." Federal drug agents launched a wide-ranging crackdown on medical marijuana providers in northern California.

Five years ago: White House Budget Director Peter Orszag announced he was stepping down. South Carolina Republicans chose Nikki Haley, a tea party favorite, to run for governor (she went on to win a runoff and the general election). Dino Ciccarelli, Cammi Granato and Angela James were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as players; Jimmy Devellano and the late Daryl "Doc" Seaman were elected as builders. South Africa became the first host nation not to advance in 80 years of World Cup play.

One year ago: President Barack Obama, in a recorded interview aired on CBS' "Face the Nation," said that al-Qaida-inspired militants who had violently seized territory in Iraq could grow in power and destabilize other countries in the region. Fouad Ajami, 68, a Middle East scholar who rallied support for the American invasion of Iraq and advised policy makers in the Bush administration, died in Palo Alto, California. Steve Rossi, 82, one half of the comic duo of Allen & Rossi, died in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michelle Wie closed with an even-par 70 for a two-shot victory over Stacy Lewis, the No. 1 player in women's golf, for her first major championship in the U.S. Women's Open. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" received its eighth trophy as outstanding entertainment talk show at the Daytime Emmy awards ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Prunella Scales (TV: "Fawlty Towers") is 83. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is 82. Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson is 79. Movie director John Korty is 79. Actor Michael Lerner is 74. Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer is 72. Fox News analyst Brit Hume is 72. Singer Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon) is 71. Actor Andrew Rubin is 69. Actor David L. Lander is 68. Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan is 68. Singer-musician Todd Rundgren is 67. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is 66. Actress Meryl Streep is 66. Actress Lindsay Wagner is 66. Singer Alan Osmond is 66. Actor Murphy Cross is 65. Actor Graham Greene is 63. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper is 62. Actor Chris Lemmon is 61. Rock musician Derek Forbes is 59. Actor Tim Russ is 59. Rock musician Garry Beers (INXS) is 58. Actor-producer-writer Bruce Campbell is 57. Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) is 56. Actress Tracy Pollan is 55. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is 55. Rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville is 54. Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler is 53. Actress Amy Brenneman is 51. Author Dan Brown is 51. Rock singer-musician Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) is 51. Rock singer Steven Page is 45. Actor Michael Trucco is 45. Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub (RYS'-kub) is 44. TV personality Carson Daly is 42. Rock musician Chris Traynor is 42. Country musician Jimmy Wallace is 42. Actor Donald Faison (FAY'-zahn) is 41. Actress Alicia Goranson is 41. Actor-comedian Mike O'Brien (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 39. TV personality/actor Jai Rodriguez is 36. Actress Lindsay Ridgeway is 30. Pop singer Dina Hansen (Fifth Harmony) (TV: "The X Factor") is 18.

Thought for Today: "If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm." -- Elizabeth Bowen, Irish author (1899-1973).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.