Monday, October 10 Hernan Siles Zuazo becomes President of Bolivia (1982). Siles had once before been Bolivian President from 1956-1960 but, after his term, he fell out of favor with the ruling party and was "exiled" to Uruguay as Ambassador. In 1964, a military coup toppled the government and seized power. Siles opposed the military regime and allied himself with the Communist Party to gain power. The military government in Bolivia held onto power until 1982 when they finally stepped down from power. Siles returned to the Presidency for his second term from 1982-1986. Siles stepped down after his term and moved to Uruguay where he died in 1996.

Wednesday, October 12 Columbus lands in the New World (1492). Christopher Columbus, also known as Cristoforo Colombo or Cristobal Colon, was deemed the discoverer of the New World when he landed in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. During a period of increasing imperialism and economic competition among European powers, the Italian explorer had been hired by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to find a new trade route to the eastern markets in China and India . . . by sailing west. During his four voyages, he also landed in Cuba, Hispaniola (modern day Dominican Republic and Haiti), Trinidad, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica. The news of his discovery generated a wave of explorers, treasure hunters, and "conquistadors" to the Western Hemisphere who sought "gold, glory, and God." Today, Columbus' discovery of the New World is celebrated as a public holiday in many Latin American countries. However, for the natives of the region, Columbus' arrival marked the beginning of the end of the ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs and Incas decimated by epidemics of small pox and other diseases that would cause the death of 95% of the native American populations.

Wednesday, October 12 Helicopter Hijacking in Ecuador (2000). In Sucumbios Province, Ecuador, a group of armed kidnappers led by former members of defunct Colombian terrorist organization the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), took hostage ten employees of the Spanish energy consortium REPSOL. Those kidnapped included five U.S. citizens, one Argentine, one Chilean, one New Zealander, and two French pilots (the latter escaped four days later). On January 30, 2001, the kidnappers murdered American hostage Ronald Sander. The remaining hostages were released on February 23 following the payment of $13 million in ransom by the oil companies.

Thursday, October 13 Birthday of the U.S. Navy (1775). In a highly controversial decision, the Continental Congress ordered the establishment of the Continental Navy on Oct 13, 1775 in an effort to intercept shipments of British war material and disrupt British commercial operations during the American War for Independence. Four vessels were initially funded including the first Continental Navy ship the ALFRED. Outgunned by the British ships-of-the-line, there were few one-on-one confrontations during the Revolutionary War though Captain John Paul Jones earned his aggressive reputation by attacking British harbors and capturing British ships just off their coast. By the end of the war, the last of the ships of the Continental Navy were sold or dismantled and no navy existed for the United States until 1794 when the Congress ordered the construction of USS UNITED STATES, CONSTELLATION, and CONSTITUTION. The U.S. Navy saw frequent involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean including action during the Quasi War with France (1798), the Mexican-American War (1846), the Spanish American War (1898), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and many numerous smaller events like Grenada, Panama, and Haiti. Happy Birthday, United States Navy!

Thursday, October 13 Uruguayan Rugby Team flight crashes in Andes (1972). A Uruguayan Air Force plane carrying 45 members of a college rugby team to Chile for a match crashed in the Andes on a 14,000 foot peak (4200 meters) in inclement weather. 18 people on the flight died in the crash or immediately afterwards as a result of their injuries. The white fuselage of the plane was difficult to spot from the air and rescue efforts were further situation compounded when the pilot had mistakenly radioed his position before the crash as much farther west than he actually was. After eight days, rescue teams from three countries gave up the search. Conditions for the remaining survivors were difficult: temperatures plummeted below zero at night and they had little food or water. Two weeks into the disaster, eight of the 27 remaining survivors died in an avalanche that buried the wreckage even further. With no rescue in sight and the team starving to death, the group made a collective decision to eat the bodies of the dead victims and sent a team of three persons off the peak to try to signal help. Finally, after days of hiking of hiking up and down the rugged mountains and spending nights wrapped in a makeshift sleeping bag, the group were able to signal a Chilean horseman (a "huaso") near the town of La Rufina who alerted authorities. On December 23, two Chilean military helicopters reached the crash site and carried off the remaining 16 remaining survivors. The group had survived 72 days in the high Andes. The disaster inspired numerous books and movies including the 1993 production titled "Alive!"

Thursday, October 13 President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica wins the Nobel Peace Prize (1987). Oscar Arias was the President of Costa Rica from 1986-1990. In 1987, he brokered the Central American Peace Plan which allowed a cease-fire to take effect in Nicaragua and new elections to take place. On October 13, 1987, Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Friday, October 14 Cirio de Nazare (Candle of Nazareth) Celebration in Brazil. This Christian two-day celebration is one of the most important religious celebrations in Brazil. Celebrated in Belem (Bethlehem) in the northern state of Para since the 1700s, the celebration pays homage to the Lady of Nazareth and is marked by a procession by boat, car, and foot then a procession of candles to the Cathedral and Basilica of Nazareth. The ceremony ends with a Mass.

Friday, October 14 Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). One of the major confrontations of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a showdown between the U.S., the Soviet Union, and Cuba in the Caribbean and amounted to the closest nuclear conflict during the 50 years of the Cold War. The tensions began on Oct 14 when U.S. spy planes spotted Soviet medium range ballistic missile sites being constructed in Cuba, some of which had sufficient range to reach New York and Chicago. Two days later, the Kennedy Cabinet had settled on three courses of military action: an air attack on the missile sites, a full military invasion, or a naval blockade of Cuba. The Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously agreed on the full military invasion. Kennedy chose to use a naval blockade, calling it a quarantine to avoid a provocative posture, and on Oct 22, 180 U.S. Navy ships were ordered into position in the Caribbean and Atlantic. After a tense standoff including near attacks on Soviet ships bound for Cuba, Premier Khrushchev agreed to remove the Soviet missiles if President Kennedy promised to remove similar missiles from Turkey and promised not to invade Cuba. There were multiple results from this Cold War showdown between the two superpowers: Khrushchev was forced to back down and was humiliated, Cuba gained assurance that it would not be invaded and communism continued on the island, the U.S. military senior leadership was overridden by civilian control, and the U.S. Navy proved its versatility in using measured and proportionate responses to avoid a military confrontation on the high seas.

Information collated by Professor Pat Paterson and Ms. Morgan Johnson, CHDS. Comments are welcome by email to Patrick.paterson@ndu.edu or to Morgan.johnson@ndu.edu.