February 08

Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1883, William J. Donovan earned the Medal of Honor in World War I. After returning to law and politics, he was appointed by President Roosevelt to lead the OSS in 1942. Under his guidance, the OSS coordinated espionage, sabotage, and resistance operations across multiple theaters. Donovan's work laid the groundwork for the Central Intelligence Agency and modern U.S. intelligence practices. He counseled postwar leaders on national security and continued public service until his passing in 1959. Donovan's legacy endures in the structure and mission of America's intelligence community.

Born in 1918, Stanley Armour Dunham served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II before returning home to raise his family in Kansas. He married Madelyn Payne and welcomed daughter Stanley Ann Dunham, later the mother of Barack Obama. Dunham’s modest life in the Midwest and devotion to his family provided a foundation for his grandson’s upbringing. He lived through pivotal moments in 20th-century America, witnessing social change and progress until his passing in 1992, remembered today for both his service and his family legacy.

Enoch Powell served as an officer in the British Army during World War II before entering Parliament as a Conservative MP in 1950. He held several government posts, including Minister of Health from 1960 to 1963, where he promoted hospital expansion and medical research. In 1968, his "Rivers of Blood" speech on immigration sparked nationwide debate and controversy. Later, he joined the Ulster Unionist Party and continued to influence political discourse until his death in 1998, leaving a complex legacy as both reformer and firebrand.

John Murtha served with distinction as a U.S. Marine Corps officer before entering politics in 1974. He became the first Vietnam War veteran elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania for over three decades. As chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, he wielded significant influence over military funding. Murtha was respected for his pragmatic approach and willingness to work across party lines on national security issues. His outspoken views on the Iraq War and veteran affairs made him a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Washington.

Tony Malinosky made his lone Major League appearance with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934 before his baseball dreams were delayed by global conflict. He served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II, putting his athletic career on hold to answer his country's call. After the war, he remained connected to the sport through coaching and community involvement. With a life spanning over a century, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living former MLB players at the time of his passing. His story captures the intersection of American sports history and wartime service.