Free Republic

Hunley crewmen search leads to Old World By BRUCE SMITH, Associated Press Writer Thu Mar 22, 7:30 PM ET CHARLESTON, S.C. - The story of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the first sub to sink an enemy warship, is leading back to the Old World as researchers plan to spend weeks trying to discover the roots of four European crewmen. Scientists also said Thursday they have recovered a second coin from the hand-cranked sub — a silver dime to go along with a $20 gold piece recovered in 2001. With a mint date of 1841, the dime shows Lady Liberty...

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 2, 2006) -- Lance Cpl. Michael L. Ford wasn’t one to keep quiet when he saw wrong doings. In fact, the Marine from New Bedford, Mass., often piped right up to correct mistakes – whether they were others’ or his own. “He had a lot of guts. If something was wrong, he’d stand up (against) it, no matter what the situation was,” said Cpl. Robert C. Shea, a 19-year-old from Haverhill, Mass. – just an “hour and a half” drive from Ford’s hometown. Ford, a M1A1 Main Battle Tank crewman, or “tanker,” was killed April 26,...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A crewman died Sunday from injuries sustained when the U.S. nuclear submarine USS San Francisco ran aground Saturday off Guam in the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said. Medical personnel rushed to the submarine continued to treat 23 other injured crewmen, some critically, suffering from broken bones, lacerations and bruises, a Navy spokesman said. Lt. j.g. Adam Clampitt, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said the name of the sailor was being withheld for a 24-hour period following notification of the next of kin. He said there was no damage to the nuclear reactor that powers...