May 22 (A Triple)

334 B.C. - The Battle of Granicus: Alexander the Great defeated Persian King Darius III, in modern-day Turkey.

This battle has historical significance for many reasons:

1. It was Alexander's first great victory in his conquest of the Persian Empire.

2. It was the closest Alexander ever came to losing a battle...In fact he almost lost his life.

3. It was the first recorded battle dominated by the strength of cavalry.

4.  It was the beginning of the end of the world's first great dynasty:  The Persian Empire.

1455 - The Battle of St. Albans:  Lancastrians v. Yorkists, beginning England's 30-year War of the Roses.

This battle began a civil war, which wasn't won by either of these 'Roses.'

FYI: The House of Lancaster was symbolized by the 'Red Rose,' and the House of York by the 'White Rose'...Both the Lancasters and Yorks descended from the Plantagenet royal line, which was their basis for claiming the throne

Unfortunately for both, neither ultimately won the war, because it was the House of Tudor - led by Henry VII - which came out the victor...Founding the Tudor Dynasty.

1947 - The 'Truman Doctrine' was enacted when Congress appropriated military and economic aid for Greece and Turkey.

There have been three great National Defense strategies in U.S. history:

1. The Monroe Doctrine: Keeping Europe from dominating the Western Hemisphere...It was strengthened by the Roosevelt Corollary.

2. The Truman Doctrine: Stopping the spread of Communism.

3. The Bush Doctrine: Attacking international terrorism, and those who support terrorists...People can love or hate Bush, but make no mistake, to this point the Bush Doctrine has been effective - we have taken the war to the Jihadis, giving them less chances to bring it to American soil.

Only time will tell if our current and future leaders keep the Bush Doctrine in play...To their credit, President Obama primarily did (even though many may not have liked it), and so has President Trump.

337 - Constantine 'the Great' died.

Constantine’s life was one of the greatest of all time, because his actions affected so many (during and after his time).

He made Christianity the official religion of the Empire, was one of the last of the great Roman emperors, and the founder of one of the ancient world's greatest cities: Constantinople.

1807 - Former Vice President Aaron Burr was put on trial for treason in Richmond, Virginia. He was acquitted in August.

It’s hard to believe this scoundrel was almost President of the United States, and actually was the V.P.

1863 - Union general Ulysses S. Grant’s second attack on Vicksburg failed and he began a siege of the fort:  U.S. Civil War.

Other than ultimately winning the war, this was the beginning of Grant’s finest hour...The fall of Vicksburg was a crushing blow to the Confederacy because the Union gained control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy between east and west.

It's important to point out this is the greatest siege in the history of the American nation...And the only one of consequence on American soil.

1872 - The Amnesty Act restored civil rights to U.S. Southerners.

As a result of this act, most Southerners were allowed to reclaim their position in American society (property, voting, etc)...An important point in the healing of the torn nation.

1939 - The Pact of Steel:  Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini committed Germany and Italy to a military alliance.

Both would regret their decision to take the other as a partner, which ended with their deaths.
 
1985 - U.S. sailor Michael L. Walker was arrested aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz, two days after his father, John A. Walker Jr., was apprehended; both were later convicted of spying for the Soviet Union.

Both were Navy officers, and both escaped the hangman...What a pathetic lack of justice for two traitorous POS's.

Read more about the Walker Family.