Hologram
09-16-08, 05:52 PM
I just finished reading To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and I was incredibly impressed with Lt. Presley O'Bannon and his seven Marines in the assault of Derne.
He, along with William Eaton, led a contingent of Marines and several hundred foreign mercenaries, both Christian and Muslim, from Alexandria to Derne. He and his Marines nearly had to defend themselves and Eaton from a couple of mutinies by the several hundred mercenaries, and during the actual assault itself, he was recognized as being so brave by Bashaw Hamet Karamanli that he was awarded the bashaw's personal Mamaluke sword, the same sword still worn by Marine officers on their dress uniforms.
A Marine of this caliber will always be remembered by the Corps for his bravery and actions.
And he was an incredibly handsome fellow to boot! :D
He, along with William Eaton, led a contingent of Marines and several hundred foreign mercenaries, both Christian and Muslim, from Alexandria to Derne. He and his Marines nearly had to defend themselves and Eaton from a couple of mutinies by the several hundred mercenaries, and during the actual assault itself, he was recognized as being so brave by Bashaw Hamet Karamanli that he was awarded the bashaw's personal Mamaluke sword, the same sword still worn by Marine officers on their dress uniforms.
A Marine of this caliber will always be remembered by the Corps for his bravery and actions.
And he was an incredibly handsome fellow to boot! :D