› added 10 years ago

96

TIL an American Huey pilot stopped the My Lai massacre and risked his own life to save Vietnamese villagers. Landing his Huey between fleeing villagers and approaching U.S. soldiers, he ordered his door gunners to open fire if the troops tried to stop him or opened fire on them.

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KYAJB TIL: At the height of her popularity, because she was very physically coordinated and never seen missing baby teeth, child actress Shirley Temple combated rumors that she was in fact a 30 year old with dwarfism. The rumor was so prevalent in Europe that the Vatican sent a priest to investigate.
8LbV TIL; Only 2.84% of deaths are intentional (war, suicide etc) while 3.15% are caused by diarrhoea.
xVMXo TIL the McDonald's Happy Meal debuted in the US in 1979 as the "Circus Wagon Happy Meal"
78EX7 TIL: In 1977, a lightning bolt hit a NYC power line, triggering a 25-hour blackout. The blackout led to widespread looting and arson. It showed how vulnerable cities are to natural disasters.
YQxA TIL: Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels on the White House roof. When Ronald Reagan took office, one of his first actions was to have the panels, which his chief-of-staff allegedly said Reagan felt were “just a joke,” removed.