OCTOBER 25, 1983 - Approximately 7,600 troops from the United States and several Caribbean allies invaded the island nation of Grenada two days after the assassination of Grenada's Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and a military coup of his government. Control of the country was regained within a matter of days, though the invading forces remained on the island until December. The United States justified the invasion citing the assassination of Bishop, the risk of political instability so close to the United States, and the presence of American medical students studying in Grenada. Furthermore it was later learned that Grenada's Governor-General, Sir Paul Scoon, had requested the invasion through secret diplomatic channels. While popular in the United States and especially among Grenada's citizens, the invasion was criticized by the United Nations as a flagrant abuse of international law. October 25th was subsequently designated Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday in Grenada commemorating the invasion.

OCTOBER 29, 1964 - Several valuable gems from the J.P. Morgan collection, including the Star of India and the Eagle Diamond, were stolen from American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Thieves entered the building through an open second story window after discovering that security surrounding the gems was lax. The Star of India was the only gem in the collection protected by an alarm, but the alarm's battery was dead. Within two days of the heist, the notorious cat burglar and one-time surfing champion, Jack Murphy (also known as "Murph the Surf"), was arrested along with two accomplices. While most of the gems were later recovered the Eagle Diamond was never found. Investigators believe it was cut down into smaller diamonds and sold.