Died On This Date - Feb. 16

Thompson, Henry A.
b. 1841 d. February 16, 1889
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. His true name was Roderick P. Connelly. He served as a Private in the United States Marine Corps. His citation reads "On board the USS Minnesota in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Pvt. Thompson advanced partly through a breach in the palisades and nearer to the fort than any man from his ship despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men.

Monroe, Pvt. James Howard
b. October 17, 1944 d. February 16, 1967
Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. At Bong Son, Hoai Nhon Province, Republic of Vietnam, on February 16, 1967, Pfc. Monroe’s platoon was deployed in a night ambush when the position was suddenly subjected to an intense grenade attack. Responding to the calls for help from the wounded men Pfc. Monroe moved forward through heavy small-arms fire to the foxhole.

Kennedy, Charles R.
b. 1871 d. February 16, 1950
Playwright.

Wilson, Charles
b. December 15, 1852 d. February 16, 1943
Indian Campaigns Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He entered the United States Army at Beardstown, Illinois and served as a Corporal in Company H, 5th United States Infantry. His Medal of Honor actions took place at Cedar Creek, Montana (and other surrounding areas) during the period October 21, 1876 to January 8, 1877. His citation (issued April 27, 1877) reads simply "Gallantry in action."

O'Kane, Richard H.
b. February 2, 1911 d. February 16, 1994
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Commander and commanding officer of the submarine "USS Tang". He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in the vicinity Philippine Islands, on October 23 and 24, 1944. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Tang operating against 2 enemy Japanese convoys on 23 and 24.

Creech, Jesse Orin
b. August 22, 1895 d. February 16, 1948
World War I Fighter Ace. A native of Harlan, Kentucky, initially joined the British Royal Flying Corps in 1917. After training in Canada, he subsequently transferred to the United States Army Air Service and served as a flight instructor in Texas. In early 1918, he was assigned to the 148th Aero Squadron. Flying the Sopwith Camel aircraft, he earned a total of 7 victories in air combat. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Meacham, Alfred B.
b. 1826 d. February 16, 1882
Indian Agent. Author. He was appointed the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon in 1869. Unlike others in the position before him, he did not treat the Indians as savages, but as intelligent people. A year after he resigned, he was part of a commission working for peace among the Mordoc Indians. During what was to have been a peaceful meeting with Mordoc leaders, the Indians attacked the peace officials. Two men on the commission, including General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby were killed..

Taylor, Joseph
d. February 16, 1912
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Union Army as Private in Company E, 7th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Weldon Railroad, Virginia, on August 18, 1864. His citation reads "While acting as an orderly to a general officer on the field and alone, encountered a picket of three of the enemy and compeled their surrender."

Slaughter, John Horton
b. October 3, 1841 d. February 16, 1922
Western Lawman. He was Civil War veteran, Texas Ranger, trail-driver, cattle-king, sheriff, distinguished Arizona represntative and professional gambler. Walt Disney produced a television western series about his life called "Texas John Slaughter".

Tucker, Jacob R.
b. March 1, 1845 d. February 16, 1926
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Corporal in the US Army in Company G, 4th Maryland Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Petersburg, Virgina on April 1, 1865. His citation reads "Was one of three soldiers most conspicuous in the final assault."

Kane, Elisha
b. February 3, 1820 d. February 16, 1857
Explorer. He was part of the Grinnell Expedition of 1850, which went to the Arctic Circle to find the remains of the 1845-1846 Sir John Franklin expedition. He led a second expedition to the area, and persevered through great hardships His expedition's tale of survival became popular 19th Century reading subject. His brother, Civil War General Thomas L. Kane, was buried in Elisha Kane's tomb until removed in 1884 to be reburied in Kane, Pennsylvania.

Smith, Elmelindo R.
b. July 27, 1935 d. February 16, 1967Viet Nam Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the Viet Nam War in the United States Army first as a Platoon Sergeant in the 1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on February 16, 1967. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Buhl, Bob
b. August 12, 1928 d. February 16, 2001
Major League Baseball Player. He was a pitcher in fifteen seasons (1953 to 1967) with the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He was a member of the 1957 World Champion Braves. During that season, Buhl won 18 games and posted a 2.74 ERA. He was a member of the 1960 National League All Star Team. He will be remembered by many as being the player (along with pitcher Larry Jackson) traded by the Cubs in 1966 to the Phillies in exchange for future hall of fame pitcher Ferguson.

Moore, William
b. May 18, 1837 d. February 16, 1918
He served as boatswain's mate on board the USS Benton during the attack on Haines Bluff, Yazoo River, 27 December 1862. Wounded during the hour-and-a-half engagement in which the enemy had the dead-range of the vessel and was punishing her with heavy fire, he served courageously in carrying lines to shore until the Benton was order to withdraw.

Masters, William Howell
b. December 27, 1915 d. February 16, 2001Medical Pioneer. One half of Masters and Johnson. Along with psychologist (and wife) Virginia Johnson they helped pioneer the field of sex therapy and clinical counseling.

Koch, Howard W. (Winchel)
b. April 11, 1916 d. February 16, 2001Motion picture producer and director. He was producer or executive producer in "Fort Yuma" (1955), "The Manchurian candidate" (1962) and "The odd couple" (1968). Also he directed fims such as "Jungle heat" (1957) and "Andy Hardy comes home" (1958). He worked as director on such TV series as "Cheyenne" or "The untouchables" and was the head of Paramount Pictures. He died from Alzheimer' disease and was cremated in Los Angeles and his ashes was scattered in Turkey Crossing location over Utah.

Willan, Healey
b. October 12, 1880 d. February 16, 1968Organist, music writer.
Crutcher, Tommy Joe
b. August 10, 1941 d. February 16, 2002
Professional Football Player. He played as a linebacker with the Green Bay Packers, helping them win three straight National Football League titles and the first two Super Bowls. He was a stand out All American at Texas Christian before being drafted by the Packers. He played pro football from 1964 to 1972.