Today in History

Today is Sunday, May 28, the 148th day of 2023. There are 217 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 28, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, made up of freed Blacks, left Boston to fight for the Union in the Civil War.

On this date:

In 1892, the Sierra Club was organized in San Francisco.

In 1918, American troops fought their first major battle during World War I as they launched an offensive against the German-held French village of Cantigny; the Americans succeeded in capturing the village.

In 1934, the Dionne quintuplets -- Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie and Yvonne -- were born to Elzire Dionne at the family farm in Ontario, Canada.

In 1937, Neville Chamberlain became prime minister of Britain.

In 1940, during World War II, the Belgian army surrendered to invading German forces.

In 1959, the U.S. Army launched Able, a rhesus monkey, and Baker, a squirrel monkey, aboard a Jupiter missile for a suborbital flight which both primates survived.

In 1964, the charter of the Palestine Liberation Organization was issued at the start of a meeting of the Palestine National Congress in Jerusalem.

In 1972, Edward, the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the English throne to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson, died in Paris at age 77.

In 1977, 165 people were killed when fire raced through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky.

In 1987, to the embarrassment of Soviet officials, Mathias Rust, a young West German pilot, landed a private plane in Moscow's Red Square without authorization. (Rust was freed by the Soviets the following year.)

In 1998, comic actor Phil Hartman of "Saturday Night Live" and "NewsRadio" fame was shot to death at his home in Encino, California, by his wife, Brynn, who then killed herself.

In 2020, people torched a Minneapolis police station that the department was forced to abandon amid spreading protests over the death of George Floyd. Protesters in New York defied a coronavirus prohibition on public gatherings, clashing with police; demonstrators blocked traffic and smashed vehicles in downtown Denver before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. At least seven people were shot as gunfire erupted during a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March.

Ten years ago: Calling it perhaps the biggest money-laundering scheme in U.S. history, federal prosecutors charged seven people with running what amounted to an online, underworld bank, saying that Liberty Reserve handled $6 billion for drug dealers, child pornographers, identity thieves and other criminals around the globe. Sen. John McCain, quietly slipped into Syria for a meeting with anti-government fighters, whom he supported the U.S. arming. McCain was a fierce critic of Obama administration policy there while stopping short of backing U.S. ground troops in Syria, but he supported aggressive military steps against the Assad regime.

Five years ago: Speaking before an audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families, President Donald Trump paid a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery, saying he came to honor "America's greatest heroes." The Golden State Warriors reached the NBA Finals with a win over the Houston Rockets; it was the fourth straight year the Warriors would meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals.

One year ago: As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defense. Real Madrid became European champion for a record-extending 14th time after beating Liverpool 1-0 in soccer's Champions League final. Police deployed tear gas and security struggled with fans desperate to see the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Many broke through stadium security in an attempt to see the match, whose start had to be delayed by 37 minutes. Director Ruben Ostlund's social satire "Triangle of Sadness" won the Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, giving Ostlund one of cinema's most prestigious prizes for the second time.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Carroll Baker is 92. Producer-director Irwin Winkler is 92. Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West is 85. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is 79. Singer Gladys Knight is 79. Singer Billy Vera is 79. Singer John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 78. Country musician Jerry Douglas is 67. Actor Louis Mustillo is 65. Former governor and U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., is 63. Actor Brandon Cruz (TV: "The Courtship of Eddie's Father") is 61. Country singer Phil Vassar is 59. Actor Christa Miller is 59. Singer-musician Chris Ballew (Presidents of the USA) is 58. Rapper Chubb Rock is 55. Singer Kylie Minogue is 55. Actor Justin Kirk is 54. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is 52. Olympic gold medal figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva is 52. Television personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck is 46. R&B singer Jaheim is 46. Actor Jake Johnson is 45. Actor Jesse Bradford is 44. Actor Monica Keena is 44. Actor Alexa Davalos is 41. Actor Megalyn Echikunwoke is 41. Pop singer Colbie Caillat is 38. Actor Carey Mulligan is 38. Actor Joseph Cross is 37. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Craig Kimbrel is 35.