Cape Cod Military Museum

05/30/2026

80 years ago today: George Robson, who had never before finished first in a major auto race, won the Indianapolis 500, which was being run for the first time since 1941. Wikipedia

05/30/2026

May 30th 1941:The service comedy film In the Navy starring Abbott and Costello was released. Wikipedia

05/29/2026

80 years ago today: Eddie Klep became the first white player in baseball's Negro leagues when he pitched seven innings for the Cleveland Buckeyes, in an 8–6 win over the Chicago American Giants in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was his first and only appearance. Wikipedia

05/29/2026

May 29th 1941: The Allied garrison at Heraklion was evacuated. Wikipeida

05/28/2026

80 years ago today: Carter Glass, 89, died. The United States Senator (D-Virginia) since 1920 and oldest member of the U.S. Senate. Senator Glass had not appeared in Congress in almost four years after a stroke, but had been re-elected later in 1942. Even after he became incapacitated, his seat was never declared vacant. Wikipedia

05/28/2026

May 28th 1941: N**i Germany and Vichy France signed the Paris Protocols, granting the Germans military facilities in French colonies in exchange for the French receiving a reduction in the occupation costs they were obligated to pay Germany as well as the release of French prisoners of war.The agreement would never be ratified. Darlan wanted better terms so the protocols lapsed. Wikipedia

05/27/2026

80 years ago today: In Vietnam, the French colonial government created an administration for the minority Montagnard population, separate from the Vietnamese people, with the headquarters at Buôn Ma Thuột. A short-lived, autonomous Pays Montagnard du Sud followed in 1950. wikipedia

05/27/2026

May 27th 1941: After taking more damage, the crippled Bismarck was severely damaged from overwhelming Royal Navy shelling and torpedoes from the battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney and the Heavy Cruiser HMS Dorsetshire; still afloat despite the enemy bombardment, the Bismarck was scuttled by her own crew. Robert Ballard found the wreck of the ship on June 8th 1989. Wikipedia

05/27/2026

Given the mission of “Expert Mouser,” a cat named Herman was officially commissioned into the Coast Guard and assigned a very specific duty in 1943: hunting down and controlling the rodent population aboard active vessels.

Herman wasn’t just a guest on board - he was enlisted. Tasked with keeping ships free of rodents that could damage supplies and disrupt life at sea, he earned his place as a working member of the crew through sheer instinct and consistency.

Herman even received an official identification card issued in his hometown of Baltimore, marking him as an official member of the service.

Photo credits Baltimore Sun Media Group

05/27/2026