Historical Events
- Operation Chopper begins, America's first combat mission in the Vietnam War
Agent Orange in Vietnam
Operation Ranch Hand begins, a US Air Force operation to spray South Vietnamese forests with defoliants such as Agent Orange
Famous Birthdays
- Gunde Svan, Swedish cross country skier (4 Olympic gold 1984, 88), born in Järna, Sweden
- Joe Quesada, American comic book writer, born in NYC, New York
- Richie Richardson, West Indies cricketer (elegant West Indian batsman 1983-95), born in Five Islands Village, Antigua and Barbuda
Famous Deaths
- Ariadna Tyrkova-Williams, Russian writer and feminist, dies at 92
- Richard de Guide, composer, dies at 52
1962 Highlights
About January 12, 1962
Day of the Week: Friday
How Long Ago? 61 years and 23 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Capricorn
Music Charts
#1 Song: The Twist - Chubby Checker
#1 Song: The Young Ones - Cliff Richard & The Shadows