Somers Point hopes new Libya relations will bring soldier’s body home

Atlantic City Press ^ | December 26, 2003 | ALAN RAPPEPORT

[Shermy]

SOMERS POINT - Two hundred years later and local historians are still trying to bring a fallen hero home.

The hero is Richard Somers, city founder John Somers' great-grandson, who died fighting in Libya in 1804. A local movement has been going on for years to have the Navy lieutenant's body brought home from Tripoli, where he was killed fighting pirates. As tension between Libya and the United States has begun to thaw in recent weeks, city officials think now might be the time to negotiate for Somers' remains.

"Now that the situation has changed dramatically, there's a window of opportunity," said William Kelly, a local historian who wrote the book "300 Years at the Point."

"We have to take advantage of it."

Last week, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi promised to abandon his country's weapons of mass destruction programs. In March, Gadhafi agreed to a $2.7 million settlement taking responsibility for the downing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland - a move that led the United States and Britain to push the United Nations to lift sanctions from the desert country in northwest Africa.

"It's an important issue that we can rally around as a community," said Kelly, who started a petition for the cause on www.richardsomers.org.

The petition has 29 signatures from local residents and people around the country. City Council is working with U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, to urge the federal government to work on the return of Somers' remains.

"I want to bring him back and give him a proper burial," said Councilman Harvey Smith, a World War II veteran. "He's our town father."

Smith, 75, said he is meeting with LoBiondo next week and hopes to organize a trip to Libya to talk to Gadhafi about returning Somers' remains, now buried in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Tripoli.

"I want to talk to Gadhafi, he can be reasoned with, I think," Smith said. "He's trying to get in our good graces."

The city has a goal of securing Somers' return by Sept. 4, the day that he died and also the locally designated Richard Somers Day.

"Marines and Special Forces have a motto that we leave no one behind," Kelly said. "Here's someone we left behind."

To e-mail Alan Rappeport at The Press:

ARappeport@pressofac.com

[Eva]

Thanks Shermy, it's an interesting post. My husband used teach in Ocean City, and we bought our first house in Scullville.

[Shermy]

Ping and the Richard Somers web page http://www.richardsomers.org is interesting. For one, a Hollywood movie is being made about him and others starring Russell Crowe.

[billorites]

The drama of our nation's early intervention against the Barbary Pirates is still less than familiar to me.

[KantianBurke]

http://www.obannon.navy.mil/Namesake.htm

[XRdsRev]

Bring this American Hero Home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[billorites]

Thanks for the link. It shows why Historical Officer is such an important position in all units of the military.

I wonder if people will be interested in this drama until Tom Cruise makes a movie epic cast as Presley O'Bannon

[MISTERA]

A marvelous story! I lived in Tripoli for a few years, PQ
(Pre Qaddaffi). The mast of the Philadelphia was mounted
as a flagpole on Tripoli Castle. I believe it is still there.

[hasegawasama]

What was Tripoli like?

[MISTERA]

In the 60s it was quite liveable. We had a nice place West of town. Lots of oil people (Americans) around.
Lots of USAF and British Army folks around.

Also alot of poor people, some living in large fields of crude makeshift housing. The monarchy was totally indifferent to the living conditions of the people. Thus happened Qaddaffi!