German armies took Allied forces by surprise in the Ardennes, marking the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge.
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The Boston Tea Party protest occurred.
The Great White Fleet began its worldwide navigation.
Vasco da Gama became the first European to sail along Africa's East Coast.
The mayor of Flint, Michigan, declared a state of emergency over contaminated water.
The Pioneer 6 space probe was launched atop a Delta-E rocket.
