Daniel Fraser saves Stephen Decatur during the Battle of Tripoli Harbor
Posted on 08/03/2017 6:41:58 AM PDT by fugazi
1804: During the First Barbary War, Commodore Edward Preble's Mediterranean Squadron begins his first bombardment of Tripoli Harbor. Commanding a division of ships is Stephen Decatur, the youngest sailor ever to be promoted to captain in U.S. Naval history. When Decatur's brother is killed while boarding a Tripolitan gunboat, Decatur hands over command of his ship and, along with a small crew, boards the enemy vessel and engages the much-larger force in fierce hand-to-hand combat. When the captain responsible for his brother's death attempts to behead Decatur, Daniel Fraser throws himself over Decatur, taking the lethal blow for his captain. Decatur shoots and kills the captain and avenges his brother.
1943: As American, British, and Canadian troops drive across Sicily, Axis forces begin evacuating the island. While visiting soldiers awaiting evacuation at Nicosia, Gen. George S. Patton, commanding the Seventh Army, slaps a soldier suffering from battle fatigue and orders him back to the front lines. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower reprimands Patton for the incident and the legendary general will not command another combat force for 11 months.
1950: Eight F4U-4B "Corsairs" of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 214 take off from the deck of USS Sicily (CVE-118) and attack enemy installations at Chengu, marking the first Marine aviation sortie of the Korean War. During World War II, the "Black Sheep" of VMF-214 destroyed hundreds of Japanese aircraft, sank several vessels, and earned the Presidential Unit Citation under Medal of Honor recipient and former "Flying Tiger" Maj. Greg "Pappy" Boyington - the Marine Corps' top ace, with 28 aerial victories.
Congress initiates an involuntary recall of former enlisted soldiers, ordering 30,000 men to report for duty in September.
That same day in Southeast Asia, the first...
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
Daniel Fraser saves Stephen Decatur during the Battle of Tripoli Harbor
In the late 70’s/early 80’s I worked with two former POWs.
Jay Jensen wrote “6 years in Hell”.
I don’t recall Ed’s last name but he was a POW for either 5 or 7 years.
Met Pappy once. Interesting guy.
Loved the series.
You mean the tv series BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP? I will have to check it out.
I didn’t know that story about Daniel Fraser and Steven Decatur. “Greater love hath no man ...”
The beginnings of political correctness.
As a kid, Black Sheep Squadron was a treat.
The F4U Corsair is my all time favorite WWII bird.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.