MOMENTS IN TIME - Oct. 7, 2010

* On Oct. 13, 1953, the world’s first art museum on wheels opens in Fredericksburg, Va. It was called the Artmobile, a $20,000, 34-foot-long air-conditioned trailer with museum-quality lighting. The trailer was pulled around the state behind an enormous blue truck.

* On Oct. 14, 1968, U.S. Defense Department officials announce that the Army and Marines will be sending about 24,000 men back to Vietnam for involuntary second tours because of the length of the war, high turnover of personnel and the tight supply of experienced soldiers.

*On Oct. 16, 1976, “Disco Duck” hits the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts. Created by bored drive-time radio disc jockey Rick Dees, the song got airplay in every town except Memphis, where Dees had his radio show.

* On Oct. 24, 1775, a British naval fleet of six ships sails up the James River to destroy the town of Norfolk, Va. Expecting the Patriots and local militia to come charging and to engage in open combat, the British were surprised to come under fire from expert riflemen, who began striking down British troops at a distance.

* On Oct. 18, 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for less than 2 cents an acre, a purchase championed by Secretary of State William Seward. The American public believed the land to be barren and worthless, and dubbed the purchase "Seward's Folly."

* On Oct. 23, 1921, in France, U.S. Army Sgt. Edward Younger selects from four caskets the body of the first "Unknown Soldier" to be honored among the approximately 77,000 United States servicemen killed during World War I. He marked the casket with a spray of white roses.

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.