Navy 4, Libya 0

                         4 JANUARY 1989                         NAVY 4, LIBYA 0 Since 1973 Libyan strongman COL Muammar Kaddafi had claimed territorial sovereignty over the international waters of the Gulf of Sidra–a claim the United States never recognized.  In obvious rejection of Kaddafi’s claim, our warships Read More

Sampson-Schley Controversy

                        13 DECEMBER 1901                    SAMPSON-SCHLEY CONTROVERSY The naval battle of Santiago on 3 July 1898 had been a pivotal victory in the Spanish-American war, despite some initial miscues.  The overall commander, Acting RADM William T. Sampson, had gone ashore hours before the Read More

The Capture of Nancy

                        28 NOVEMBER 1775                       THE CAPTURE OF NANCY As GEN George Washington watched Boston from the Dorchester Heights during the Fall of 1775, he noted how easily the British kept their forces supplied by sea.  While Washington’s army scrounged for food, uniforms, Read More

Fort Stockton, San Diego

                        23 NOVEMBER 1846                     FORT STOCKTON, SAN DIEGO On the morning of 29 July 1846, the sloop USS CYANE, 20, dropped anchor in the quiet Mexican harbor of San Diego, whose peacefulness belied the war then raging between the US and Mexico.  Read More