February 26

William F. Cody, known as Buffalo Bill, was born in 1846 and became a legendary figure of the American frontier. He served as a scout and soldier during the Civil War and Indian Wars, earning his nickname for hunting buffalo to feed railroad workers. In 1883 he created Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, a touring show that dramatized frontier life with sharpshooting exhibitions, reenactments, and performances by Native American riders. The show toured Europe and America, shaping popular perceptions of the Wild West. Buffalo Bill’s blend of entertainment and history left a lasting impact on American culture and the mythos of the frontier.

Husband E. Kimmel was born in Henderson, Kentucky in 1882. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1902 and served in World War I. Kimmel held various command positions before being named Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet in 1941. He led the fleet during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Following the attack, he was relieved of command and faced official inquiries into his preparedness. Although never formally convicted, Kimmel retired from the Navy amid controversy. He spent his later years defending his reputation and was a subject of historical debate. Kimmel died in 1968, remembered for his role in one of the pivotal events of World War II.

Orde Wingate began his military career in the Royal Artillery before volunteering for service in Palestine, where he organized night raids against insurgents. He later commanded the Special Night Squads, honing unconventional warfare techniques. During World War II, Wingate formed and led the Chindits in Burma, conducting deep-penetration long-range jungle operations behind Japanese lines. His bold tactics and emphasis on mobility and surprise influenced modern special operations forces. Wingate died in an aircraft crash in 1944, but his innovative approach to irregular warfare left a lasting legacy in military doctrine.

Ariel Sharon (1928–2014) was an Israeli military leader and politician known for his strategic command and controversial policies. He fought in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and rose to prominence during the Six-Day and Yom Kippur Wars. Sharon held senior government posts, including Minister of Defense, shaping Israel’s defense strategy. In 2001, he became Israel’s 11th Prime Minister and later orchestrated the Gaza disengagement plan in 2005. His complex legacy includes both staunch security advocacy and contentious peace efforts.

Susan Helms (born 1958) is a retired United States Air Force general and NASA astronaut. She was selected by NASA in 1987 and flew on four space shuttle missions including STS-54, STS-64, STS-78, and STS-101. During STS-64, she became the first woman to perform a spacewalk, spending over five hours outside the shuttle. She contributed to the assembly and safety of the International Space Station on STS-101. After leaving NASA in 2004, Helms held leadership roles in the Air Force until her retirement.