Today in History: January 9, Americans arrive in Lingayen Gulf during World War II

"On Jan. 9, 1945, during World War II, American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces. Also on this date: In 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union, the same day the Star of the West, a merchant vessel bringing reinforcements and supplies to Federal troops at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, retreated because of artillery fire."

"In 1916, the World War I Battle of Gallipoli ended with an Ottoman Empire victory as Allied forces withdrew. In 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority following the death of Yasser Arafat the previous November. In 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the Macworld conference in San Francisco. In 2018, downpours sent mud and boulders roaring down Southern California hillsides that had been stripped of vegetation by a wildfire;"

"Today's birthdays: Musician-activist Joan Baez is 85. Rock musician Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) is 82. Singer Crystal Gayle is 75. Actor J.K. Simmons is 71. Actor Imelda Staunton is 70. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu is 67. Actor Joely Richardson is 61. Musician Dave Matthews is 59. Rapper and singer Sean Paul is 53. Actor Angela Bettis is 53."

Today is Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, the ninth day of the year, with 356 days remaining. On Jan. 9, 1945, American forces began landing on Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon commenced, producing an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces. In 1861, Mississippi seceded from the Union and the Star of the West retreated under artillery fire at Fort Sumter. In 1916 the Battle of Gallipoli ended with an Ottoman victory. In 2007 Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone. In 2018 Southern California mudslides killed more than 20 people after wildfires stripped hillsides. Notable birthdays include Joan Baez (85), Jimmy Page (82), and Catherine, Princess of Wales (44).

Read at www.mercurynews.com