TODAY IN HISTORY

Wednesday, December  04, 2013 AP Highlight in History:  On Dec. 4, 1992, President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops to lead a mercy mission to Somalia, threatening military action against warlords and gangs who were blocking food for starving millions.   AP Photo/Dennis Cook
On this date in: 1783 Gen. George Washington said farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York. 1816 James Monroe of Virginia was elected the fifth president of the United States. 1918 President Woodrow Wilson set sail for France to attend the Versailles peace conference. 1942 U.S. bombers struck the Italian mainland for the first time in World War II. 1945 The Senate approved U.S. participation in the United Nations. 1978 Dianne Feinstein became San Francisco's first woman mayor when she was named to replace George Moscone, who had been assassinated. 1980 The rock group Led Zeppelin announced it was disbanding after the death in September of drummer John Bonham. 1980 The bodies of four American nuns slain in El Salvador two days earlier were unearthed. (Five national guardsmen were later convicted of murder.) 1991 Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, the longest-held Western hostage in Lebanon, was released after nearly seven years in captivity. AP Photo/Greg English 1995 The first NATO troops landed in the Balkans to begin setting up a peace mission. 2001 The United States froze the financial assets of organizations allegedly linked to the terrorist group Hamas.		Video HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DAY IN HISTORY Today's Birthdays: Actor Jeff Bridges turns 64 years old today. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill Name Profession Age Wink Martindale Game show host 80 Chris Hillman Rock singer, musician (The Byrds) 69 Johnny Lyon Rock singer (Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes) 65 Cassandra Wilson Jazz singer 58 Fred Armisen Actor, comedian ("Saturday Night Live") 47 Jay-Z Rapper 44 Tyra Banks Model, TV host ("America's Next Top Model") 40 Actress Marisa Tomei turns 49 years old today. AP Photo/Dan Steinberg