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August 20, 1953

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from August 20, 1953

ENEMY RED CROSS ACCUSED IN KOREA; U. N. Complains to Communists of Agents' Activities Among P. O. W.'s in Allied Camps ENEMY RED CROSS ASSAILED IN KOREA

By Lindesay Parrottspecial To the New York Times

UN complains that Chinese and NK Red Cross reprs working in SK camps go beyond authorized duties; US repr on Armistice Comm Col Friedersdorff denies Communist charges of brutal treatment of POWs; says UN guards took only minimum measures to assure order; 60 Amers, 300 SKs and 90 Britons freed; no Communist POWs returned because of weather; SK repts Communists used 4,000 SK POWs to repair bombed airfields, rrs and bridges; UN Red Cross reprs reptdly allowed to talk only with hand-picked POWs

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Notable Births

1953Gerry Bertier, American football player (died 1981)[†]

Gerry Bertier was a high school American football player and Paralympian. He became known for his participation on the 1971 Virginia State Champion football T. C. Williams High School team, and their portrayal in the Disney film Remember the Titans. Bertier was also the nephew of Howie Livingston. After the conclusion of the 1971 season, Bertier was involved in an automobile crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Despite this injury, Bertier attended Northern Virginia Community College and remained an active athlete, participating in the Paralympics. In 2006, Bertier's family started the "Bertier #42 Foundation", dedicated to raising money for research on spinal cord injuries. There is also a gymnasium at Alexandria City High School that bears his name.

Peter Horton

1953Peter Horton, American actor and director[†]

Peter Horton is an American actor and director. He played Professor Gary Shepherd on the television series Thirtysomething from 1987 until 1991.

1953Mike Jackson, American politician[†]

James Michael Jackson, known as Mike Jackson is a Republican former member of the Texas Senate representing the 11th District. He was also the President pro tempore of the Texas Senate, before running the United States House of Representatives in 2012. In this capacity, he was an acting governor of Texas while Governor Rick Perry campaigned for U.S. President and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst was on holiday or campaigned for Perry.

Jim Trenton

1953Jim Trenton, American radio host and actor[†]

James Trenton, nicknamed "the Poorman", is an American radio broadcaster. He is best known as the creator and host of Loveline on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles from 1983 to 1993. He currently hosts a morning radio program on KOCI 101.5 FM, a station located in south Orange County, California. "Poorman's Morning Rush" is also now in 4 markets. Three shows are taped daily M-F and KOCI is live five days a week.

Leroy Burgess

1953Leroy Burgess, American singer, songwriter, keyboard player, recording artist, and record producer[†]

Leroy O'Neil Jackson Jr., known by his stage name Leroy Burgess, is an American singer, songwriter, keyboard player, recording artist, arranger and record producer.

Historical Context for August 20, 1953

In 1953, the world population was approximately 2,634,106,235 people[†]