Most of us would have a hard time finding the Dutch island of Aruba on the map, but some of us surely will remember the name simply because of tragedies that have taken place there.
Aruba is a small, beautiful island off the northern coast of Venezuela. It is an attractive spot for tourists.
Aruba became "world news" perhaps for the first time when a German submarine shelled important oil refineries there in 1942 during World War II. There was no damage of consequence, but many Americans became familiar with the location at that time.
You also may remember that Aruba was in the news in 2005 -- in a situation of another kind.
An 18-year-old high school graduate from Alabama, Natalee Holloway, was in Aruba with members of her senior class -- but she didn't show up for her group's flight back home.
Dutch soldiers and special aircraft searched for her, and divers scoured the adjoining ocean, to no avail.
There were arrests, releases and re-arrests in that case, but it was never solved.
We recall that story now, because another young woman, Robyn Gardner, of Frederick, Md., vanished in Aruba just a couple weeks ago.
A story that she simply disappeared while snorkeling apparently has been dismissed, and an investigation is under way. Her American travel companion, Gary Giordano, also of Maryland, has been detained for questioning.
It seems increasingly likely that another tragedy has occurred on Aruba.