Little Known Facts About the First Barbary War-- Part 2: Hyms, Scimitars and A Few Good Men

In 1801, Tripoli declared war on the United States.  President Thomas Jefferson sent the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to the Mediterranean Sea to battle them.  After a four year war, the U.S. finally won.

HYMNS AND SCIMITARS:  After the Battle of Derna, the phrase "To the Shores of Tripoli" was added to the Marine Corps battle hymn.

The Marine Corps officer sword, adopted in 1826, was modeled after the Marmaluke scimitar given to Lt. O'Bannon in honor of his role in the march to Derna.

A FEW GOOD MEN:  In 1799, the Marine Corps consisted of 25 officers and 58 enlisted men.  Lt. O'Bannon continued to serve aboard the USS Argus and retired in 1807.  He moved to Kentucky where he served in both houses of the state legislature before dying in 1850 in Russellville.

A Frankfort, Kentucky, memorial to him that has the inscription "As captain of the United States Marines, he was the First to Plant the American Flag on Foreign Soil."

--DaCoot