Died On This Date: Mar 8

DiMaggio, Joe (Joseph Paul)
b. November 25, 1914 d. March 8, 1999
Professional baseball player. He was born Giuseppe (Joseph) Paolo (Paul) DiMaggio, the eighth of nine children to Sicilian immigrants Giuseppe and Rosalie DiMaggio in the small fishing village of Martinez, California. After a move to San Francisco where fishing was deemed better, Dominic, the ninth was born.

Nitschke, Ray
b. December 29, 1936 d. March 8, 1998
Hall of Fame (1978), played with the Green Bay Packers his entire career, rookie year was 1963, playing defense. He appeared in the movie "The Longest Yard" with Burt Reynolds and Eddie Albert.

Tilton, William
b. October 27, 1834 d. March 8, 1910
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Union Army as a Sergeant in Company C, 7th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during the Richmond Campaign, Virginia. His citation reads "Gallant conduct in the field."

Eckstine, Billy (William Clarence) 'Mr. B'
b. July 8, 1914 d. March 8, 1993Singer, Actor. Mr. "B" is often considered a ground breaker for black vocalists. He cut a swath through American before Nat "King" Cole came to the scene. He was one of the very first African American matinee idols, singing first with Earl "Fatha" Hines orchestra, then veering off with his own band. He appeared in several musicals for MGM in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

Inman, John
b. June 28, 1935 d. March 8, 2007
Actor. Best known his role of shop assistant 'Mr Humphries' in the long-running BBC comedy "Are You Being Served?" and the follow up series "Grace & Favour". He was made famous by his catchphrase "I'm free!" In 1976 he won "Funniest Man On Television" by readers of TV Times magazine and was also named BBC TV's "Personality Of The Year". He also took part in the stage revival of "Are You Being Served?" in 2001.

Strother, David Hunter
b. September 26, 1816 d. March 8, 1888
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General, Artist, Author. Born Martinsburg, Virginia. (now West Virginia), he was a nationally known artist and author before the Civil War, working under the nom de plume "Porte Crayon". He began his Civil War service as an Assistant Adjutant General on the Staff of Maj. General Nathaniel Banks. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he then served as a Topographical Engineer.

Collins, Harry J.
b. December 7, 1895 d. March 8, 1963
Career Army Officer. Commander, 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division, World War II. Graduate, Western Military Academy and University of Chicago. Received commission, assigned to 3rd Infantry Regiment, 1917. Served in variety of assignments in US and overseas, most notably on staff of Infantry School at Fort Benning. In August 1942, was named assistant division commander of 99th Infantry Division at Camp Yap Dorn, Mississippi.

LaBelle, James Dennis
b. November 22, 1925 d. March 8, 1945
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was killed in action. He served as a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in the 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on March 8, 1945 at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. His citation reads in part "Suddenly a hostile grenade landed beyond reach of his foxhole.

Lloyd, Harold
b. April 20, 1893 d. March 8, 1971
Legendary, innovative comic actor in many motion pictures of the 1910s through the 1950s. Born in Nebraska, Harold's career began at the age of 12. In 1913, he moved with his father to Los Angeles where the motion picture industry was still in its early stages. He then tried to break into the industry, taking any small part he could get. He soon made friends with Hal Roach, who was putting together his own production company.

Franklin, William Buel
b. February 27, 1823 d. March 8, 1903
Civil War Union Major General. Graduated from the United States Military Acadeny in 1843, graduating 1st in the class where Ulysses S. Grant was 2lst. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was commissioned Colonel of the 12th United States Regular Infantry and three days later commissioned Brigadier General, US Volunteers. His first engagement was at the First Battle of Bull Run with a less then stellar brigade command.

Capablanca, Jose Raul
b. November 19, 1888 d. March 8, 1942
Jose Raul Capablanca. World Chess Champion from 1921 to 1927. He is considered by many to have been one of the greatest chess players of all time. Capablanca came to world attention when he participated in a tournament at San Sebastian, Spain in 1911, winning first place against the leading players of the day. In 1913 he was given nominal employment as a diplomat with the Cuban Foreign Ministry, a cover which secured for him a steady income while he played chess full time.

Newman, Beryl Richard
b. November 2, 1911 d. March 8, 1998
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Captain in the United States Army. He was awarded the Medal of Honor as a First Lieutenant in Company F, 2d Battalion, 133d Infantry, 34th Infantry Division for action on May 26, 1944 near Cisterna, Italy. His citation reads in part "Covering his assault by firing into the doors and windows of the house, 1st Lt. Newman, boldly attacking by himself, called for the occupants to surrender to him.

Taft, William Howard
b. September 15, 1857 d. March 8, 1930
27th United States President. William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a political family. His father was a Cabinet minister in the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant. He graduated from Woodward High School then enrolled at Yale, his fathers alma mater, graduated and immediately began the study of law and graduated from the Cincinnati Law School.

Connor, Peter Spencer
b. September 4, 1932 d. March 8, 1966
Vietnam Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He was a Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at Quang Nag Province, Republic of Vietnam on February 25, 1966. His official CMOH citation reads as follows: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy Viet Cong forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Johnston, Gordon
b. May 25, 1874 d. March 8, 1934
Philippine Insurrection Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a member of the “Rough Riders” during the Spanish-American War. Served during the Insurrection in the Philippines as a First Lieutenant in the United States Signal Corps. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Mount Bud Dajo, Jolo, Philippine Islands, on March 7, 1906. His citation reads “Voluntarily took part in and was dangerously wounded during an assault on the enemy's works”.

McBryar, William
b. February 14, 1861 d. March 8, 1941
Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Sergeant in Company B, 10th United States Cavalry, serving in Arizona on May 11, 1889, when he earned his Medal. His citation reads: Distinguished himself for coolness, bravery and marksmanship while his troop was in pursuit of hostile Apache Indians. He was awarded his Medal on May 15, 1890. He was one of only eighteen black soldiers to win the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars, and the only recipient of the 10th U.S. Cavalry.

Lummus, Jack
b. October 22, 1915 d. March 8, 1945
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a Rifle Platoon attached to the 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945.