This day in Lexington, May fourth, takes us back to nineteen forty-two, when something happened halfway around the world that would change the course of history for Kentucky families and the entire nation.

On this date, American forces launched the opening strike of what would become the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first major naval battle of the Pacific War fought entirely by aircraft carriers. Planes from the U.S.S. Yorktown attacked Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands, marking a pivotal moment in World War Two.

Here in Kentucky, thousands of young men were already serving in the Pacific, and many more would soon follow. The Bluegrass region contributed heavily to the war effort, from the soldiers and sailors fighting these very battles to the families back home working in defense plants and growing victory gardens.

The Battle of the Coral Sea would rage for four more days, ultimately stopping Japanese expansion southward toward Australia. For Kentucky families listening to radio reports that week, it was both terrifying and hopeful, a sign that American forces were finally taking the fight to the enemy.

That's your history for today.

Listen live: The Lexington Times runs a 24/7 local news livestream — watch on YouTube or on Facebook. This transcript is from a recent on-air segment.