October 07

Underhill was born in England in 1597 and emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. He served as a militia officer and took part in the Pequot War, including key engagements around Mystic in 1637. He later moved to New Netherland, continuing his service in the colony’s defense and local governance. Underhill authored "Newes from America", a firsthand account of colonial life and military actions. His writings provide valuable insights into the tactics and settler–Indigenous relations of early North American history.

Born in 1713, Elliott embarked on a military career in the British Army and rose through the ranks. He participated in major engagements of the War of the Austrian Succession, demonstrating strategic skill on the battlefield. Known for his organizational talents, he commanded infantry brigades and coordinated with allied forces across Europe. His leadership and adaptability earned respect among both British and continental officers. Elliott died in 1759, leaving a record of service during a pivotal era of 18th-century warfare.

Born into a prominent Delaware family in 1728, Rodney trained in law before entering politics. He served as Delaware’s delegate to the Continental Congress and cast the decisive vote for independence. Rodney is celebrated for his overnight ride to Philadelphia in July 1776 to secure Delaware’s support for the Declaration. After the Revolution, he served as brigadier general of the Delaware militia and as Governor from 1778 to 1781. His leadership and willingness to sacrifice personal comfort made him a patriotic icon in American history.

Born in 1744 to a noble Russian family, Vyazmitinov embarked on a military career in the Imperial Russian Army. He saw action in the Russo-Turkish Wars, earning a reputation for skilled command. In 1790, he was appointed War Governor of Saint Petersburg, overseeing the city’s defenses and military administration. He held senior roles in the war ministry, contributing to early organizational reforms. Vyazmitinov retired with the rank of general and died in 1819 after decades of service to the Russian Empire.

Richard Heron Anderson was a lawyer-turned-soldier born in 1821. He served as a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Anderson earned acclaim for his decisive actions at the Battles of Seven Pines and Spotsylvania Court House. He was known for his calm demeanor under fire and strategic insight. After the war, he returned to legal practice in New Orleans. Anderson died in 1879, remembered as one of the South's capable military commanders.

Leonidas Paraskevopoulos was born in 1860 and became a prominent Greek general. He commanded troops during the Balkan Wars and led Greek intervention in Asia Minor during World War I. Beyond his military career, Paraskevopoulos served as Minister of Military Affairs and briefly as Prime Minister. He worked to modernize the Greek army's structure and training methods. After a long public service, he retired amid political turmoil. Paraskevopoulos died in 1936, remembered for his dual roles in Greece's military and government.

Mikhail Drozdovsky was born in 1881 and served as an officer in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. After the Bolshevik Revolution, he organized and commanded White Army volunteer detachments known as the Drozdovsky Brigade. His leadership and tactical skill were instrumental in fighting Bolshevik forces in southern Russia. Drozdovsky was wounded in action and died in 1918, becoming a celebrated figure among anti-Bolshevik forces. His reputation for courage and loyalty endures in Russian military history.

Harold Geiger was born in 1884 and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He became one of the first Army officers trained as an aviator and helped establish early military flight operations. Geiger commanded aviation units and oversaw the development of airfields, including the facility later named Geiger Field in Washington state. His dedication to aviation safety and training advanced the U.S. Army Air Service between World War I and II. Geiger died in a training flight accident in 1927, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of American military aviation.

Claud Ashton Jones was born in 1885 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1907. During World War I, he earned the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions following a boiler explosion aboard USS Memphis. Jones later rose to the rank of rear admiral, commanding various fleet units and serving in senior leadership roles. His career spanned submarine and destroyer service, and he was respected for his technical expertise and leadership. Jones retired in 1948, leaving behind a record of distinguished naval service and valor.

Heinrich Himmler (1900–1945) served as Reichsführer-SS, leading the Schutzstaffel and overseeing the Gestapo, concentration camps, and the Einsatzgruppen. A central planner of the Holocaust, he coordinated the mass murder of six million Jews and other targeted groups. Himmler also pursued pseudoscientific racial research and managed Germany's labor camps. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest confidants, he played a pivotal role in Nazi Germany's oppressive regime and war crimes. Captured by Allied forces in 1945, he committed suicide shortly thereafter, leaving a legacy of atrocity and inhumanity.

Erastus Corning 2nd held the mayoralty of Albany for over forty years, making him the longest-serving mayor of any major city in the United States. A member of a prominent New York political family, he briefly served as a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II before returning to local politics. Under his leadership, Albany underwent significant urban renewal and cultural development. Corning also wielded considerable influence within the New York Democratic Party. His pragmatic approach and dedication to public service left a lasting impact on his city until his death in office at age 74.

Georg Leber (7 October 1920 – 21 August 2012) began his career as a military man before transitioning into politics after World War II. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he held various ministerial roles, including Transport and Postal Services. From 1978 to 1982, Leber was Germany's Federal Minister of Defence under Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. He oversaw defence policy during the Cold War, focusing on NATO cooperation and military modernization. Leber was also a Bundestag member for over two decades, advocating social welfare and infrastructure development. His leadership balanced a commitment to peace with the strategic demands of the era.