| Learn Who The Famous People Born on February | | | | He is a retired Major General in the U.S. Air Force |
| 13th Are –Sgt. York! And More!!! | | | | and a veteran of both World War II and |
| ALVIN CULLUM YORK was born in Pall Mall, | | | | Vietnam. After World War II, he became a test |
| Tennessee in 1887. was awarded a Medal of | | | | pilot of many kinds of aircraft and rocket planes. He |
| Honor, for his actions in leading an attack on a | | | | was the first man to break the sound barrier on |
| German machine gun nest that took 32 machine | | | | October 14, 1947. His flying career spans more than |
| guns, killed 28 German soldiers and captured | | | | six decades and he’s traveled to most parts of |
| another 132. This action took place during the | | | | the globe. Yeager broke many other speed and |
| Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, during World | | | | altitude records. He was the first commandant of |
| War I. In addition to the Medal of Honor he has a | | | | the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School that |
| Distinguished Service Cross, World War I Victory | | | | produced astronauts for NASA and the Air Force. |
| Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II | | | | Among the many medals he has been awarded is the |
| Victory Medal, French Legion d’honneur, French | | | | Congressional Silver medal (1976) for being first to |
| Croix de guerre with Palm, Italian Croce di Guerra, | | | | break the sound barrier, and the collier Trophy and |
| and Montenegrin War Medal. Alvin C. York Veterans | | | | Mackay Trophy. Though he is now fully retired from |
| Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee is named for him | | | | the military, he kept busy by serving on the Rogers |
| as is Alvin C. York Institute – a private agricultural | | | | Commission that investigated the explosion of the |
| high school. In 1941 the film Sergeant York was | | | | Space Shuttle Challenger. |
| released. Gary Cooper won an Academy Award for | | | | MARILYN PAULINE “KIM” NOVAK was |
| Best Actor for his role in this film. It was the | | | | born in 1933, in Chicago, Illinois. She is an actress |
| highest-grossing movie in 1941. (d. 1964) | | | | who’s won two Golden Globe Awards and is |
| ERNEST JENNINGS FORD better known as | | | | best known for her performance in the film Vertigo |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford, was born in Bristol, Tennessee | | | | (1958). She also co-starred in the 1958 film, Bell, |
| in 1919. He was a recording artist and TV host. He | | | | Book and Candle. In 1962, she did Boys’ Night |
| was successful in the country and Western, pop, and | | | | Out with James Garner and Tony Randal. In 1960 |
| gospel musical genres. He started out as an | | | | she worked with Kirk Douglas in Strangers When We |
| announcer on WOPI-AM Radio. In l939 we left to | | | | Meet. There are some 30 plus more films she’s |
| attend the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio | | | | appeared in the years spanning 1954-1991. Since |
| to major in classical music and voice. He served in | | | | 1991 Novak has been retired, and is an accomplished |
| World War II as a bombardier on a B-29 | | | | artist living in Eagle Point, Oregon, with her husband |
| Superfortress in missions over Japan. Following his | | | | who is a veterinarian. |
| service he worked in radio in San Bernardino and | | | | GERALD NORMAN “JERRY” SPRINGER |
| Pasadena, California. It was during his time at the | | | | was born in Highgate, London, England in the year |
| San Bernardino station that he picked up his nickname | | | | 1944. He is a television presenter best known as |
| of “Tennessee Ernie.” In the forties Ford | | | | the host of The Jerry Springer Show since 1991. He |
| did musical tours. During this time a talent scout for | | | | is also a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Capitol Records brought him to their attention, and | | | | (1977-1979). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree |
| Ford ended up signing a contract with them. In the | | | | from Tulane University in 1965, majoring in political |
| 1950s he released 50 country singles. Some of these | | | | science. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at |
| early recordins included “Shotgun Boogie, and | | | | Northwestern University in 1968. His broadcast |
| “Blackberry Boogie.” His rendition of | | | | career started with Cincinnati radio station WEBN |
| “Sixteen Tons” was a big hit in 1955. From | | | | FM. The NBC affiliate WLWT TV then hired him as |
| 1956-1961 he had his own prime-time NBC television | | | | a political reporter and commentator. The Jerry |
| show, The Ford Show. From 1962-1965 he hosted | | | | Springer Show debuted in 1991. In recent years he |
| The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. He has three | | | | has made some appearances acting on television |
| stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And in 1984 | | | | series such as Roseanne and The X-Files. He made |
| was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His | | | | cameo appearances on Austin Powers; The Spy Who |
| induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame came in | | | | Shagged Me . Springer also appeared in an episode |
| 1990. (d. 1991) | | | | of Married. . . With Children and also in the soap opera |
| CHARLES ELWOOD “CHUCK” YEAGER | | | | Days of Our Lives. |
| was born in 1923, in Lincoln County, West Virginia. | | | | |