What was the most televised broadcast in history? The answer to this question is quite surprising. The most televised broadcast in history occurred on December 24, 1968, when the Apollo 8 read from the Bible while orbiting the Earth for the first time. In addition, on December 24, 1979, Russia waged a nine year war against Afghanistan that would deplete their supplies and lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union. December 24 also marks the composition of one of the most famous Christmas songs of all time; Silent Night in 1818 by an Austrian composer. The last major event that occurred on December 24th, this time in 1923, was President Coolidge's lighting of the first public Christmas tree. To learn more, watch the This Day in History Video: December 24th.
Samuel Sandoval, one of the last original Navajo Code Talkers, recalls enlisting in the Marines at 18 to help create an unbreakable code. Using their sacred, unwritten language, he and his brothers-in-arms forged a secret weapon that never fell to the enemy.
Historian Zonnie Gorman shares the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers, including her father, Carl. These heroes used their native language to help secure every major Pacific battle. As Major Connor noted, without them, Iwo Jima would never have been taken.