1980: The “Miracle on Ice” took place at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., as the U.S. Olympic hockey team upset the Soviet Union, 4-3. (The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal two days later with a 4-2 victory over Finland.)

In the world

1967: More than 25,000 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops launched Operation Junction City, aimed at smashing a Viet Cong stronghold near the Cambodian border.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Paul Dooley is 97. Actor James Hong is 96. Actor Julie Walters is 75. Basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving is 75. Golf Hall of Famer Amy Alcott is 69. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 66. Golf Hall of Famer Vijay Singh is 62. Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine is 60. Actor-comedian Rachel Dratch is 59. Actor Jeri Ryan is 57. Actor Thomas Jane is 56. Actor-musician Lea Salonga is 54. Tennis Hall of Famer Michael Chang is 53. Musician James Blunt is 51. Actor Drew Barrymore is 50. — The Associated Press