MOMENTS IN TIME

The History Channel

• On Nov. 11, 1942, Congress approves lowering the draft age to 18 and raising the upper limit to age 37, increasing the number of draftees. During the first draft in 1940, 50 percent were rejected for health reasons and 20 percent of those who registered were illiterate.

• On Nov. 8, 1951, Yankees catcher Yogi Berra is voted the American League's most valuable player for the first time in his career. He went on to be the league MVP twice more, in 1954 and 1955.

• On Nov. 9, 1965, the biggest power failure in U.S. history occurs as all of New York state and parts of seven neighboring states and eastern Canada are plunged into darkness. The blackout during the evening rush hour trapped 800,000 people in New York's subways and stranded thousands more in office buildings and elevators.

• On Nov. 6, 1977, the earthen Toccoa Falls Dam in northeastern Georgia gives way, and 39 people die in the resulting flood. A volunteer fireman had inspected the dam and found everything in order just hours before it suddenly failed, sending water approaching speeds of 120 mph thundering down the canyon and creek.