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Jan 5, 1999 - It was reported that Iraqi security forces killed hundreds of people in the Shiite Muslim south in summary executions directed by Saddam Hussein's 2nd son over the last 6 weeks. Jan 7, 1999 - The Senate impeachment trial against pres. Clinton began. Chief Justice William Rehnquist was sworn in to preside over the trial. Bill Clinton was ultimately acquitted of charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Jan 17, 1999 - US talks with North Korea over inspection of an underground nuclear site were adjourned. North Korea demanded $300 million in compensation to inspect the Kumchangni site. |
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Feb 1, 1999 - The Morse code SOS was officially retired and replaced by the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. Feb 3, 1999 - The Clinton administration told Congress a NATO-led peacekeeping force could be needed in Kosovo for three to five years and might include up to 4,000 American troops. Feb 8, 1999 - Jordan's King Hussein was laid to rest during a five-hour funeral in Amman attended by dignitaries from all over the world, including President Clinton and former presidents Bush, Carter and Ford. Feb 12, 1999 - Pres. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate 55-45 on the perjury charge and 50-50 on the obstruction of justice charge. He once again apologized for burdening the nation with his conduct. Clinton told Americans he was "profoundly sorry" for what he had said and done in the Monica Lewinsky affair that triggered the impeachment drama. Feb 13, 1999 - Pres. Clinton announced that he would send some 4,000 troops to Kosovo as part of a NATO peacekeeping force if warring Serbs and ethnic Albanians reached a political settlement. Feb 20, 1999 - The United States and five other nations agreed to extend by three days the deadline for a Kosovo peace agreement. NATO had threatened air strikes against the Serbs if they did not reach an agreement with Albanian insurgents. |
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March 1, 1999 - A US report on policy with North Korea indicated that North Korea was involved in the production and distribution of narcotics. An area 10-17 thousand acres was estimated to be under poppy cultivation with opium production at 30-44 annual metric tons. March 4, 1999 - In North Carolina a military jury acquitted Captain Richard J. Ashby of all charges in the 1998 death of 20 people, who died when his jet cut the cable of their ski gondola in the Italian Alps. Italian authorities were outraged. March 11, 1999 - The US Rodman naval base in Panama was transferred to Panama. March 12, 1999 - Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic formally joined NATO in a ceremony at Independence, Mo., where Pres. Truman announced in 1949 the formation of the Atlantic alliance for defense against the Soviet bloc. March 16, 1999 - A railroad car, formerly the "Indian Song", retired by the railroad and converted into a McDonald's Restaurant Dining Room in Greenwood, Indiana, was donated to CAMP ATTERBURY by the McDonald's owner. The car was moved to the Military Display Area of the CAMP ATTERBURY Museum. It will be converted in a gift shop and will contain displays concerning the railroad system at the former Army base. -- North Korea agreed to allow US inspectors to visit a suspected nuclear weapons site in exchange for assistance to increase potato yields. March 17, 1999 - CAMP ATTERBURY website worth the visit. www.IndianaMilitary.org March 20, 1999 - Balloonists Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland and Brian Jones of Britain established an around the world record after floating over Mauritania at 1:54 a.m. PST. This won them a $1 million prize from Anheuser-Busch as the first aviators to fly a hot-air balloon around the world nonstop. March 24, 1999 - In Serbia NATO forces sent a broad wave of air attacks against Yugoslav forces in an attempt to halt the Serbian offensive in Kosovo. Cruise missiles and planes targeted military sites near Belgrade and some 40 sites in total. Initial reports said 10 people were killed and 38 wounded in the bombing. The air strikes marked the first time in its 50-year existence that NATO had ever attacked a sovereign country. |
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April 12, 1999 - NATO allies considered establishing a protectorate to shield Kosovo from Yugoslav forces. Senior commander Gen'l. Wesley Clark asked the Pentagon for 300 more warplanes. NATO bombs hit a train car at a railroad bridge over the Juzna Morava River and 10 were killed and 16 injured. April 13, 1999 - Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile, the Ghauri II, at Dina. It was reported to have a range of 1200 miles. April 15, 1999 - The US Pentagon planned to ask for 30,000 reservists and National Guard members for NATO support. Pres. Clinton was expected to ask for $5.9 billion in emergency spending to cover US costs in the Kosovo operation. April 17, 1999 - The US launched the 505-foot Navy destroyer Winston S. Churchill at the Bath Iron Works in Maine. April 20, 1999 - In Littleton, Colo., 2 Columbine High School students, students Eric Harris (18) and Dylan Klebold (17), used guns and explosives to randomly kill 12 other students and one teacher before killing themselves. They wounded 28 other students and were part of a small clique that identified themselves as the "Trench Coat Mafia." 30 homemade bombs attributed to Harris and Klebold were found at the school. Harris and Klebold had both worked at the Blackjack Pizza No. 2025. Klebold and Harris recorded 5 videos prior to the shooting in which they spoke of a bloodbath with hundreds killed. April 27, 1999 - The US Pentagon announced a call for 33,102 reservists for active duty in Kosovo. April 30, 1999 - The US State Dept. annual report on terrorism listed Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria as sponsoring terrorism groups. |
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May 1, 1999 - The Liberty Bell 7 Mercury capsule, which sank in 1961, was found 300 miles offshore from Cape Canaveral in 3 waters 3 miles deep. May 10, 1999 - In the US it was tax freedom day, the day by which citizens met their financial obligations to the government. In 1902 it was Jan 31, and in 1940 it was Mar 8. May 19, 1999 - The US Justice Dept. moved to revoke the citizenship of John Demjanjuk (79), a retired Cleveland autoworker, and said it had new evidence that he was a death camp guard at Treblinka during WW II. May 27, 1999 - The Int'l. War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague announced an indictment against Pres. Milosevic and 4 senior aides for atrocities and mass deportations and multiple counts of crimes against humanity. Also indicted were: Milan Milutinovic, president of Serbia; Vlajko Stojilkovic, Serbian interior minister; Nikola Sainovic, deputy prime minister of Yugoslavia; and Gen'l. Dragoljub Ojdanic, chief of staff of the Yugoslav army. May 29, 1999 - It was reported that the US Defense Dept. had ordered 9,000 Purple Hearts from Graco Industries near Houston to "replenish its supply." |
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June 3, 1999 - Pres. Milosevic agreed to end the Kosovo conflict on the 72nd day of bombing. The key elements included: an end to fighting in Kosovo; a quick and verifiable withdrawal of Yugoslav and Serb forces; deployment a security force "with essential NATO participation;" disarmament of the KLA; and the safe return of ethnic Albanian refugees. Separately it was reported that over 5,000 members of the Yugoslav security forces had been killed by NATO air strikes. June 9, 1999 - NATO Alliance Agrees on Kosovo Peace Plan. Germany sent $18 million to the US Treasury for distribution to the survivors of the WW II concentration camps. June 19, 1999 - In Franklin, Ind., Ronald Lee Shanabarger smothered to death his 7-month old son, Tyler, in revenge against his wife, Amy, who had refused to cut short a vacation in 1996 when his father died. It was later learned that Shanabarger had a $100,000 insurance policy for the boy. |
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July 11, 1999 - In London 2 Egyptian associates of Osama bin Laden were arrested. The fingerprints of Ibrahim Hussein Abdel Hadi Eidarous (42) and Adel Abdel-Meguid Abdel-Bary (39) were found on statements taking responsibility for the attacks against US embassies in Africa last August. July 25, 1999 - The US and Vietnam agreed to normalize relations after 3 years of negotiations. Commercial ties were expected to follow. |
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Aug 7, 1999 - CAMP ATTERBURY Drop Zone named and dedicated for 2 members of 151st Long Range Surveillance Detachment, Sgt Christopher A. Bowden and SSgt Christian Robinson, both of whom died during parachute drops in training. A Landing Zone will be dedicated to S4 Charles K. Larkins and the CAMP ATTERBURY airstrip will be dedicated to Maj Gen Kenneth W. Hinsel. Aug 8, 1999 - CAMP ATTERBURY Museum opens. |
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Sept 2, 1999 - Historic Italian 'Chapel in the Meadow' damaged by arson. Roof partially burnt through. North Korea declared a new demilitarized zone with South Korea that placed 5 islands controlled by South Korea with North Korean territory. Sept 10, 1999 - Historic Italian 'Chapel in the Meadow' again hit by arsonist. Roof totally destroyed and interior damaged. Volunteers restore to original condition. FBI searches for arsonist. Sept 17, 1999 - The US lifted key parts of its trade embargo against North Korea following North Korea's pledge to refrain from testing long-range missiles. |
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Oct 6, 1999 - The US introduced a resolution to the UN Security Council calling for the seizure of assets of the Taliban militia and grounding all int'l. flights from Afghanistan until Osama bin Laden is turned over. Oct 16, 1999 - Jean Shepherd, radio personality, died in Florida at age 78. His syndicated PBS TV programs included "Jean Shepherd's America" and "Shepherd's Pie." He was separated from the US Army at CAMP ATTERBURY, Indiana. Oct 17, 1999 - CAMP ATTERBURY's life as a deserter processing operation for those seeking amnesty for deserting military service closes. The center processed more than 1,000 deserters. Oct 27, 1999 - The Clinton administration authorized the first direct military training for opponents of Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein. |
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Nov 26, 1999 - In Ukraine Reactor No. 3, the functioning power plant at Chernobyl and site of the 1986 accident, reopened. |
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Dec 3, 1999 - Pres. Clinton offered to reduce bombing practice on Vieques in the spring and use only dummy bombs plus $40 million in economic incentives with phase out in 5 years. Puerto Rico rejected the offer. Dec 15, 1999 - In North Korea a US led consortium signed a $4.6 billion deal to build 2 nuclear reactors in Kumho. Dec 17, 1999 - Unscom is replaced by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Unmovic). Iraq rejects the resolution. Dec 18, 1999 - Iraq rejected the UN proposal for an inspection plan that would lead to suspension of sanctions.
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