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New Member |
In 1804, 13 members of the United States Navy attempted what, at the time, was one of the first-ever commando-style raids in U.S. Navy history.
Master Commandant Richard Somers, Lieutenant Henry Wadsworth and their men died in the attempt when their ship, the first USS Intrepid in the US Navy, exploded and sank. The 13 men remain buried in Libya. In 2006, with the restoration of diplomatic ties (and well before the release of the Lockerbie bombers) with Libya, the descendants of Somers and Wadsworth began to seek the return the remains of all 13 men. In April of this year, the US State Department decided the Libyans should care for the graves of our veterans and denied permission for the families to return the remains. This is wrong. If you agree, please take a moment to go to our petition to help force the State Department to allow for the return of these true heroes. The Web site is With the help of patriotic Americans, we can bring these men home. No unapproved hot links. This message has been edited. Last edited by: OldArmyLove, |
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Highly Experienced Member The Army made me do it!  Proud Member ------------------  |
HOT LINK?
 Got money for everything but "VETERANS" Same old story! |
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Way seem weird, but having the bodies there gives us some leverage in the region and "proof of purchase." Bring 'em home and you give Libyans an excuse to deny history of America's actions against pirates there - - Wandering and Wondering |
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New Member |
The families of Somers and Wadsworth have the right to bury their forebears with dignity and the 13 bodies have given us zero leverage for 205 years. These men deserve a proper burial -- at home.
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Highly Experienced Member 14000 posts as Cider33Alpha ------------------ Proud Member ------------------ |
Then the US should insist upon, and the Libyans should allow, a VA-run official US cemetery to care for the graves. As in France, Luxembourg and Tunisia, among other places. These sites are official US territory and maintained by the Veterans Administration.
The cemetery in Tunisia - mostly those lost in the North Africa campaign of WWII - is beautiful and moving, and smack in the middle of a Muslim nation. They (the Tunisians) are very respectful of it. It was once nearly triple the size it is now, but many families chose to repatriate the bodies of their loved ones after the war. I have a small American flag I received there from the "manger" or "caretaker" or whatever he is called (American guy). The proviso is that it must be returned to the cemetery in Tunisia - if not by me, then by another American coming to pay respects. If anybody is going, let me know ... I'll send it to you with a request to return it, with respect, for me. Edited for typos. This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cider33_Alpha, |
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New Member |
The one flaw in that thinking is that the French, Luxembourgers, Belgians and, yes, even the Tunisians, viewed us as liberators. They were happy were there and continue to honor our soldiers' sacrifices. The Libyans, in 1804, were less-than-pleased by the presence of the US Navy, which tried very hard to blast Tripoli apart stone by stone.
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Highly Experienced Member 14000 posts as Cider33Alpha ------------------ Proud Member ------------------ |
Good point. But, 200+ years on, you'd think it would be time to let go ...
But then look at the ME, or the Turks and Armenians, or the Yanks and Rebs. Etc.  |
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Member |
Any ship of the U.S. Navy, while passing in the vicinity of the burial grounds of these men, should render a 21 gun salute, choice of ammunition up to the Captain of said vessel, targeting likewise other than to avoid the burial grounds.
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New Member |
The graveyard in which these brave men lay is in the shadow of the castle in the harbor in Tripoli. And yes, 205 years IS a long time. However, I agree with the families of these men -- they deserve to finally come home. So, please, if you agree, sign our petition! The Web address is in the main post. Just cut and paste it into your browser.
Thanks brothers! |
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New Member |
Oh, and sorry about the hot link in the original post. I don't know how to type in the Web address without doing the link. If any of the moderators could let me know, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks |
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Don't forget - the Navy tradition is to bury at sea - -
Wandering and Wondering |
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