Today in History

After being underground for a record 69 days, all 33 miners trapped in a Copiapo, Chile, mine are rescued.

The Lebanese Civil War ends when a Syrian attack removes Gen. Michel Aoun from power.

The Space Shuttle Challenger, carrying seven, the largest crew to date, lands safely at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Dr. F.A. Murphy at Center for Disease Control obtains the first electron micrograph of an Ebola viral particle.

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes Mountains, near the Argentina-Chile border; only 16 survivors (out of 45 people aboard) are rescued on Dec. 23.

Nancy Kerrigan, figure skater; won Olympic bronze (1992) and silver (1994) medals; US National Champion 1993; on Jan. 6, 1994, she was clubbed on the knee in an attack intended to aid one of her skating rivals.

Kate Walsh, actress (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice TV series).

Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary for Pres. George W. Bush (2001-03).

Marie Osmond, singer (“Paper Roses”), songwriter, actress; co-hosted TV variety show Donny & Marie with her brother Donny (1976-79).

First appearance of Paddington Bear, now a beloved icon of children’s literature.

Sammy Hagar, “The Red Rocker,” singer, songwriter, musician; replaced David Lee Roth as lead singer of the band Van Halen.

The Fourth Republic begins in France; will continue to 1958.

Troops of the advancing Soviet Army occupy Riga, capital of Latvia.

Italy declares war on Germany.