Peter Tork of the Monkees born 1942

 

Peter Tork, born Peter Halsten Thorkelsen February 13, 1942 in Washington, DC, rose to fame as a member of The Monkees, a television show that aired in the 1960s. He began piano lessons at nine and learned to play banjo and guitar.  Tork joined the folk music scene in Greenwich Village.

Tork was cast in The Monkees with Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith.  He left the show in 1969 and began a solo career.  He appeared on numerous television shows and movies into the 2010s.

He passed away in February 2019 from cancer.

Milkshake by Peter Tork

Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Eric Shinseki, first Asian American four-star general

Eric Shinseki was born November 28, 1942 in Lihue, Kaua'i, Hawai'ian territory to a family of Japanese ancestry.  His grandparents emigrated from Hiroshima to Hawai'i in 1901. 

Taking inspiration from his uncles, he graduated from the US Military Academy in 1965 and was commissioned as second lieutenant.  He served two tours in the Vietnam War.  The first was with the 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions as an artillery observer; and then as commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 5th Calvary. 

He was injured by a land mine, but recovered and returned to active duty in 1971. For his service, he was awarded three Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts.

He became the first Asian American four-star general.  In 2009, the US Senate unanimously confirmed Shinseki as the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, becoming the first Asian American to hold the position.  He resigned in 2014 after a scandal involving the Veteran Health Administration.  

Cosmonaut Anatoli Berezovoy born 1942

Anatoli Berezovoy, born April 11, 1942 in Moscow, Russia, made one record-setting trip into space. He trained as a fighter pilot and reached the rank of colonel in the Soviet Air Force.

He launched in Soyuz T-5 as commander to Salyut 7 in May 1982.  It was the first mission to the new Salyut space station. 

He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-7 in December 1982, after 211 days in space, setting a record at the time for longest stay in space with fellow cosmonaut, Valentin Lebedev.

Berezovoy passed away in September 2014.

Happy birthday, Star Trek actor Andrew Robinson!

Andrew Robinson, born February 14, 1942 in New York City, is best known for his role as Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A versatile and talented actor, he has been nominated for awards for his work on Ryan's Hope (daytime soap), Child's Play 3, and Deep Space Nine. He's provided the voice for Garak in other Star Trek series and video games.  He has also appeared in an episode of The X-Files, The Incredible Hulk, and two episodes of Murder, She Wrote.

Happy birthday, actor extraordinaire Michael York!

Michael York, born March 27, 1942 in Buckinghamshire, England, has had a lengthy and stellar acting career, including some daring roles. He has appeared as D'Artagnan in several musketeers films as well as the Austin Powers movies.  He first appeared in Accident in 1967, but it was his role as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet in 1968 that proved to be his break-out performance.  He starred with Angela Lansbury as a bisexual man in Something for Everyone.

He then went on to star as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and its sequel, The Four Musketeers. He appeared in Murder on the Orient Express in 1974. 

In 2001, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in The Lot.

I think it is tragic that such an accomplished, versatile actor has not been nominated for more awards, especially an Oscar.  He truly is remarkable and seems under-rated.  He's one of my favorites.

Irving Berlin wins Academy Award for "White Christmas" 1942

Irving Berlin won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for his composition White Christmas at the 15th annual ceremony held March 4, 1942.  Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds performed it in the movie Holiday Inn.  The song has become one of the most beloved Christmas carols of all time.  

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Valentin Lebedev!

Valentin Lebedev, born April 14, 1942 in Moscow, Russia, went into space twice.

His first flight was aboard Soyuz 13 in December 1973 as flight engineer.  The flight lasted almost 8 days.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz T-5 as flight engineer to Salyut 7 in August 1982.  He stayed aboard until December, when he returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-7.  

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut and US Senator Bill Nelson!

Bill Nelson, born September 29, 1942 in Miami, Florida, went into space aboard Columbia (STS-61-C) as payload specialist in January 1986.   He was in space for over 6 days.  He was a member of the US House of Representatives from January 1979 to January 1991.  He was a United States Senator from January 2001 to January 2019.

"Holiday Inn" released 1942

Holiday Inn, released in the US September 4, 1942, is best known for its score by Irving Berlin and the debut of White Christmas.  Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, it won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, White Christmas.

The success of White Christmas led to the movie of the same name in 1954, also starring Bing Crosby. 

The American Film Institute listed White Christmas as No. 5 in its list of 100 Years...100 songs.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Anthony England!

Anthony England, born May 15, 1942 in Indianapolis, Indiana, went into space aboard Challenger (STS-51-F) as mission specialist in July-August 1985.  He was the second amateur radio operator to trasnmit from space during the mission.  Owen Garriott was the first in 1983 from STS-9.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov!

Vladimir Dzhanibekov, born May 13, 1942 in the former Soviet Union, is a veteran of five space flights.

His first mission was as commander aboard Soyuz 27 to Salyut 6 in January 1978.  He participated in expedition EP-1 and returned to Earth on Soyuz 26 about 6 days later.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz 39 as commander to Salyut 6 in March 1981, where he spent about 8 days before returning to Earth.

His third flight was aboard Soyuz T-6 as commander to Salyut 7 in June 1982 for another 8 days.

His fourth flight was as commander abord Soyuz T-12 to Salyut 7 in July 1984, where he stayed for about 12 days.

His fifth and final flight was aboard Soyuz T-13 as commander to Salyut 7 in June 1985.  He remained on board for about 3 1/2 months before returning to Earth.

He has a minor planet named after him: 3170 Dzhanibekov discovered in 1979.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Robert Stewart!

Robert Stewart, born August 13, 1942, in Washington, DC, is a veteran of two space flights.

His first mission was aboard Challenger (STS-41-B) as mission specialist in February 1984.  He performed the first untethered EVAs with fellow astronaut Bruce McCandless.

His second and final mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-51-J) as mission specialist in October 1985.  The mission carried a payload for the Department of Defense.

Stewart is a retired brigadier general of the US Army. 

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov!

Valeri Polyakov, born April 27, 1942 in the former Soviet Union, holds the record for the longest single stay in space for a human.  He stayed aboard Mir for 427 days, 18 hours.  His total time in space is 678 days, 16 hours.

His first mission was aboard Soyuz TM-6 to Mir in August 1988.  He participated in expeditions Mir EO-3 and Mir EO-4, returning to Earth on Soyuz TM-7 in April 1989.

His second and final flight was his record setting stay.  He went into space aboard Soyuz TM-18 in January 1994.  He participated in expeditions Mir EO-15, Mir EO-16 and Mir EO-17.  He returned to Earth on Soyuz TM-20 in March 1995, after more than 14 months.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vladimir Kovalyonok!

Vladimir Kovalyonok, born March 3, 1942, is a cosmonaut who went into space three times.  His first flight was aboard Soyuz 25 to the space station Salyut 6 in October 1977.  The mission was aborted when the crew of Soyuz 25 was unable to dock with Salyut 6.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz 29 as commander to Salyut 6 in June 1978.  He and fellow cosmonaut Aleksandr Ivanchenkov stayed aboard until September and returned to Earth aboard Soyuz 31.

Kovalyonok's third and final flight was commander aboard Soyuz T-4 in March 1981 to Salyut 6.  He and cosmonaut Viktor Savinykh were the last long-term crew on Salyut 6.  They returned to Earth in May 1981.

Celebrating Black History Month: Alfred Masters, first African-American in the US Marine Corps

Alfred Masters, born February 5, 1916 in Palestine, Texas, was the first African-American in the US Marine Corps when he was sworn in June 1, 1942. His first training camp was at Montford Point in North Carolina.  He rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Masters passed away in New Mexico in June 1975.

Actress Bibi Besch born 1942

It stands to reason that I would celebrate an actress who has appeared in so many of my favorite movies.  Bibi Besch, born February 1, 1942 in Los Angeles, California, is probably best known for her role as Dr. Carol Marcus in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.  She starred in Steel Magnolias, Tremors, The Day After, and a guilty favorite, Meteor.

On television, she appeared in Murder She Wrote and The Six Million Dollar Man. She started her career on the daily soap opera, Secret Storm.

Unfortunately, she passed away in September 1996 from breast cancer.

Gennadi Sarafanov, Soyuz 15 cosmonaut, born 1942

Gennadi Sarafanov, born January 1, 1942 in the former Soviet Union, went into space aboard Soyuz 15 in August 1974. He and fellow cosmonaut Lev Dyomin were to dock with Salyut 3 space station but the mission was aborted after docking failed.  It was his only spaceflight before retiring.

He passed away in September 2005.

Happy birthday, Mr. Olympia Frank Zane!

Frank Zane, born June 28, 1942 in Kingston, Pennsylvania, is a three-time Mr. Olympia.  He was one of my inspirations during my dream days. He began bodybuilding as a teenager and received a Bachelor of Science.  He taught mathematics and chemistry while continuing his bodybuilding.

He won his IFBB Mr. Olympia titles 1977-1979.  Frank is one of only three men to have beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger in a bodybuilding contest. 

Donald Williams, Space Shuttle astronaut, born 1942

Donald Williams, born February 13, 1942, was a veteran of two space shuttle flights.  He earned his Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering and received a commission through the Naval ROTC both from Purdue University.

His first flight was on Discovery (STS-51-D) as pilot in April 1985.  During the mission, he became the first person to juggle in microgravity!

His second and final flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-34) as commander in October 1989. The Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter was deployed during this mission.

Williams passed away in February 2016.

"Bambi" released 1942

Everyone's favorite young-deer-growing-up movie, Bambi, debuted in movie theaters August 21, 1942.  At the time, it wasn't a money-maker but subsequent releases have boosted it to blockbuster status and made it one of the most beloved Disney movies ever.

Reading the trivia notes on imdb.com, it appears that the novel from which the movie is based, is totally NOT a children's book.  It is much darker with more deaths and gore.  Fortunately, Disney did not include such aspects and the result is a very G-rated film for all ages.

It was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Sound, Recording; Best Music, Original Song (for Love is a Song); and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedic Picture.