Died On This Date

May 3
Schirra Jr., Walter M. 'Wally'
b. March 12, 1923 d. May 3, 2007
One of the original Mercury 7 astronauts chosen for the Project Mercury, America's first effort to put men in space. He was the only man to fly in America's first three space programs: Mercury, Gemini and Apollo and has logged a total of 295 hours and 15 minutes in space. The family name Schirra is originally from the Valle Onsernone, in Canton Ticino, the Italian part of Switzerland.

Berry, Hiram Gregory
b. August 27, 1824 d. May 3, 1863
Civil War Union Major General. Killed in Action at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. Entered war as Colonel of the 4th Maine Volunteer Infantry, and was with the regiment at the Battle of First Bull Run, Virginia. Promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers and commanded a brigade in the Army of the Potomac during the Peninsular Campaign and the Battle of Fredericksburg. Promoted to Major General, US Volunteers on November 29, 1862.

Nevers, Ernie
b. July 11, 1903 d. May 3, 1976
He played pro football, basketball and baseball. In a 1929 NFL game, he scored 40 points for the Chicago Cardinals.

Caniff, Milton
b. February 28, 1907 d. May 3, 1988
Cartoonist, he is best remembered as the creator and long-time producer of the comic strips "Steve Canyon" and "Terry and the Pirates." He was one of the first cartoonists to bring realism, suspense and sensuality into the comic strips, combining all with a grace and sensitivity that brought renewed public interest to the medium. Born Milton Arthur Paul Caniff in Hillsboro, Ohio, he was an Eagle Scout and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Donaldson, Francis Adams
b. June 7, 1840 d. May 3, 1928
Civil War Union Army Officer. Served as a Lieutenant in the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, then as a Captain in the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry ("The Corn Exchange Regiment"). His correspondence during the war to his family were published as the book "Inside the Army of the Potomac: the Wartime Letters of Captain Francis
Adam Donaldson".

Weston, Jack
b. August 21, 1924 d. May 3, 1996
Popular American motion picture and television actor of the 1940s thru 1980s. Appeared in many top movies and classic TV series. Cause of death:
Lymphoma.

Montana (Blevins), Patsy (Rubye Rebecca)
b. October 30, 1908 d. May 3, 1996
First female country recording artist to sell a million records with "I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart."

Barrett, Carlton William
b. November 24, 1919 d. May 3, 1986
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered the U.S. Army at Albany, New York and served as a Private in the 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. In the vicinity of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France, on the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, he and his unit, landing in the face of extremely heavy enemy fire and was forced to wade ashore through neck-deep water. Disregarding personal danger, he returned to the surf again and again to assist his floundering comrades from drowning.

Murphy, George Lloyd
b. July 4, 1902 d. May 3, 1992
Actor and dancer in films from the 1930s to the 1950s. US Senator from California 1965 - 1971. Defeated in reelection bid (1970).

Key, Ted
b. August 25, 1912 d. May 3, 2008
Cartoonist, Writer. He is best known for creating the character "Hazel", which was regularly featured in the Saturday Evening Post and became a popular television series during the 1960s starring Shirley Booth. Born in Fresno, he attended the University of California at Berkeley and later began his career writing for such publications as "Cosmopolitan", "Ladies' Home Journal" and "Better Homes and Gardens" as well as working in radio.

Jorgensen, Christine (George William Jorgensen, Jr.)
b. May 30, 1926 d. May 3, 1989
Medical Pioneer, Social Reform Figure. She was a transsexual who made history as the first American man to be surgically changed to a woman. Born George William Jorgensen, Jr., he graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Bronx, New York in May 1945, and shortly afterwards, was drafted into the United States Army for two years service. After leaving the Army, he began researching information on sexual imbalances, and soon discovered that he could have a sex change operation in.

Andrews, Frank Maxwell
b. February 3, 1884 d. May 3, 1943
United States Army General. He was commander of all United States Forces in Europe during the initial US involvement in that theatre during World War II. Graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1906, he initially served in the cavalry in the Philippines. From 1907 to 1917 he served at various forts, mostly in the northwest, until transferring to the Signal Corp.