MARMELUKE SWORD

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1932

MARINES ACCOMPLISH MISSION IN TRIPOLI

Derna, Tripoli (JFK+50) Two hundred and eleven years ago today, April 27, 1805, American agent William Eaton* led a small force of United States Marines to the Tripolitan port city of Derna in an attempt to depose the ruling pasha, Yusuf Karamanli**.

Supported by the USS Argus and USS Hornet, the mission was accomplished. Marine commander, Lt. Presley O'Bannon***, would be presented a sword (Marmeluke Sword) by the former pro-American pasha which would serve as a pattern for the swords carried by Marine officers today.

Lt. O'Bannon raised the American Flag over Derna marking the first time the US Flag flew over a conquered foreign city.

The phrase in the Marines Hymn, "to the shores of Tripoli" comes from this mission.

*William Eaton (1764-1811) was born in Woodstock, Connecticut.  He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1792 & became a captain in the Legion of the United States.  WE was appointed Consul at Tunis.  WE was also a principal witness in the trial of Aaron Burr.

**Yusuf Karamanli (1766-1838) was born in Tripoli.  As pasha, he demanded a payment of $225,000 in tribute from the United States which resulted in President Thomas Jefferson sending the US Navy to blockade Tripoli.  YK signed a treaty which ended the War with the Barbary Pirates in 1805.

***Lt. Presley O'Bannon (1776-1850) was born in Virginia.  His father served as a captain in the Continental Army.  PO joined the USMC in 1801 and served until 1807.  After his military service, PO was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature & then the Kentucky State Senate.

USMC Marmeluke Sword

'IN THE AIR, ON LAND AND SEA'

70TH ANNIVERSARY OF USMC LANDINGS ON IWO JIMA

Iwo Jima (JFK+50) 70 years ago at 9 o'clock this morning, February 19, 1945, three divisions of the United States Marine Corps landed on the beach here on the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima*.

The landing forces, representing the 3rd, 4th and 5th USMC Divisions, were met with an uncanny silence.  The Japanese had decided to wait until all U.S. forces were on the beach before responding.

The island was defended by 7 Japanese battalions comprised of 21,000 soldiers who were protected by a network of caves.

As Marines approached the first lines of hidden Japanese soldiers, they encountered heavy machine gun fire and suffered many casualties.  By evening, the Marines had lost 550 dead and 1800 wounded.  

One of the most remembered phases of the battle came only 4 days after the landing, February 23, 1945, when Mount Suribachi was captured and the United States Flag proudly displayed.  Photographer Joe Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize for his image which became the basis for the United States Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted until March 26, 1945.  By that time 19,000 of the 21,000 Japanese defenders were dead.  Despite this fact, the battle was the only one fought by the USMC in the Pacific in which they suffered more casualties than the enemy.

*Iwo Jima, a.k.a. Sulfur Island, 8 square miles in size is located 750 miles from Tokyo, Japan.  The island was discovered in 1543 by Spanish explorer Bernardo de la Torre.

Its' highest point, Mount Suribachi, is 528 feet high.  The United States occupied the island from 1945 to 1968 at which time it was returned to Japan.

Marines on Iwo Jima
27th Regiment
USMC Image

"From the halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our Nation's battles
In the air, on land  on sea."

Marine Corps Hymn