Liberating Tripoli

The Libyan rebels are close to overthrowing Mommar Gadaffy regime in Tripoli. Or what I call The Third Barbary War. Most American are familiar with General George Patton's Third Army who chased The German Desert Fox off the coast of Libya in the Second Barbary War. General Patton in concert with the United States Marines marched across the African Desert in 5 months of fierce fighting.

The First Barbary War was also fought in Tripoli in 1805. The history here is steep in United States Marine Corp legends and "The Battle of Derna". The newly founded nation 1783 in America wasted no time in established nation building. Their very first foreign war. Having won our freedom we began the arduous task of climbing to a world power enjoyed today.

The First Barbary War was launched in Alexandria, Egypt in a family feud over the control of Libya. Naturally, the US supported the under dog brother who was rightful heir to the Monarchy.

President Thomas Jefferson ordered the full force of the United States Of America to bear down on Libya. Jefferson dispatched Three Ships and 1o United States Marines to Alexandria. Not 10 divisions, 10 men or a single bus load of America's Finest. The plan was to bombard the enemy from the three ships USS Nautilus, Commander Oliver Perry, USS Hornet Commander Samuel Evans and The USS Argus Commander Issac Hull and one very famous Lt, Presley O'bannon USMC. Reaching Alexandria Lt O'bannon grouped with 400 hundred Arab and Greek mercenaries to avenge the deposed King. Lt O'bannon and his 9 US Marines marched fifty days across the North African Desert to Tripoli under the fire cover of the three ships.

There was mutiny between the Christian and Muslim mercenaries along the march as the total numbers dwindled to 250 men against 4000 enemy. After reaching the port city of Bomba the Battle of Derna raged on two days. On the second day an impatient Lt O'bannon yelled charge and the enemy all ran into the desert. That's it, 10 USMC against 4000 at the Battle of Derna. The USMC waged a decisive victory as the American Flag flew the first time over foreign soils. You may wonder why this obscure battle is relevant today. Many would say yada, yada ,yada Jimmy Crack Corn.

The significance of Lt Presley O'bannan's famous charge is found in the sword of Mameluke awarded to him by the Ottoman Empire. The Sword of Mameluke is now the symbol of the United States Marines. The famous song sung by American school children known as the Marine Corp Hymn. "From the Halls of Montezuma to Shores of Tripoli" has it's roots in The Battle of Derna. The song lives on and the battle is never forgotten.

The Marine Corp Hymn is more interesting than the Battle of Derna in that the song has no author. The Marine legend is: the song was a product of the enlisted men who themselves added to the verses's with every battle encountered. The song passed along from each generation. There are many version sung and all are correct. Somewhere the verse's were recorded with music and the rest is History. One verse claims : When you get to Heaven the streets are guarded by the United States Marines. Considering their convictions here on Earth I'm inclined to beleive them.

Oh, the "Halls of Montezuma was added in 1847 after the war with Mexico. Again the USMC battled just West of Mexico City at Chapultepec Castle in overwhelming odds. The fearless heritage of the United States Marine Corps can be traced all the way back to the Revolutionary War where Patrick Henry spoke "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death". These words tempered the fear out of a nation of free men to fight and never run.