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77k | Presley Neville O’Bannon (1776 - 12 September 1850) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War. He received a sword for his role in restoring Prince Hamet Karamali to his throne at Tripoli in recognition of his bravery. That sword became the model for the Mameluke Sword adopted in 1825 as the Marine officers' sword that is still part of the dress uniform today. Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, O'Bannon entered the Marine Corps 18 January 1801. As a First Lieutenant, he commanded a detachment of seven Marines in General William Eaton’s little force in the War with Tripoli. During the combined operations with the U.S. Navy, he led the successful attack in the Battle of Derna 27 April 1805, giving the Marines' Hymn its immortal “to the shores of Tripoli”. Although some sources maintain that at this battle Presley O'Bannon became the first man to raise the American flag over foreign soil, his superior William Eaton had done so a few months earlier while traveling on the Nile from Alexandria to Cairo. According to tradition, Hamet Karamanli was so impressed with O'Bannon's bravery, that following the attack, he presented Lt. O'Bannon with his personal Mameluke sword as a gesture of gratitude. Upon his return to the states, the state of Virginia presented him with a silver-hilted sword featuring an eaglehead hilt and a curved blade modeled after the original Mameluke given him by Hamet. Its blade is inscribed with his name and a commemoration of the battle of Tripoli. After resigning from the Marine Corps 6 March 1807, O’Bannon moved to Logan County, Kentucky, where he built a home in Russellville. He served in the Kentucky state legislature 1812, 1817, 1820-21 and in the Kentucky state senate 1824-1826. He died 12 September 1850 in Franklin County, Kentucky. His remains were moved to the Frankfort Cemetery in 1919. Perhaps due to the Marines' distinguished record during this campaign, including the capture of the Tripolitan city of Derna after a long and dangerous desert march, Marine Corps Commandant Archibald Henderson adopted the Mameluke sword in 1825 for wear by Marine officers. After initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn except for the years 1859-75 (when Marine officers were required to wear Army M1850 foot officers' swords), and a brief period when swords were suspended during World War II. Since that time, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers in a continuing tradition to the present day as of 2007. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 138k | Artist's conception of the O'Bannon as she appeared following her construction by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. | Navy Yard Associates | |
| 4k | Undated, location unknown. | - | |
| 66k | Undated, location unknown | Igancio F. Lopez, Spanish Navy (RET) | |
| 88k | Undated, location unknown | Jerrod W. Brown | |
| 57k | Undated postcard Copyright © Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA. | Mike Smolinski | |
| 85k | Undated, location unknown | Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr | |
| 25k | Rodman, Panama Canal Zone July 31 1982. | Marc Piché | |
| 68k | Lisbon, Portugal January 1984. | Marc Piché | |
| 49k | Lisbon, Portugal January 1984. | Marc Piché | |
| 96k | DN-ST-92-03447. Two members of Fleet Composite Squadron 6 (VC-6) conduct a pre-launch check on a BQM-74C target drone on the flight deck of the destroyer USS O'BANNON (DD 987) during Unitas XXXII, combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and nine other countries. Photo by PH2 John Bivera, July 31 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 128k | DN-ST-92-03326. Crew members plot the course of the destroyer USS O'BANNON (DD 987) as the ship takes part in Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and nine South American nations. Photo by JO1 Marc Boyd, August 1 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 110k | DN-ST-92-03453. Crew members man the rails aboard the destroyer USS O'BANNON (DD 987) as it passes through the Panama Canal during Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and nine South American nations. Photo by PH2 John Bivera, August 1 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 184k | DN-ST-92-03464. Crewmen and guests listen to a U.S. Navy band playing near the stern of the destroyer USS O'BANNON (DD 987) as the ship transits the Panama Canal during Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and nine South American nations. A Light Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 34 (HSL-34) SH-2F Seasprite helicopter and a Fleet Composite Squadron 6 (VC-6) BQM-74C target drone are on the ship's flight deck. Photo by PH2 John Bivera, August 1 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 104k | DN-ST-92-03456. The destroyer USS O' BANNON (DD-987) moves through the Miraflores Locks as it transits the Panama Canal during Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the Naval forces of the United States and South American nations. Photo by PH2 John Bivera, August 1 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 96k | DN-ST-92-01296. Crew members aboard the destroyer USS O'BANNON (DD-987) fire a saluting gun as the ship enters port at Valparaiso. The vessel is taking part in exercise Unitas XXXII, an annual, combined exercise involving the U.S. Navy and the naval forces of nine South American countries. Photo by JO1 Marc Boyd, September 14 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 119k | DN-ST-92-04860. The destroyer USS O' BANNON (DD-987) is silhouetted against the sunlit water while en route to its home port of Naval Station, Charleston, S.C., following Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and eight South American nations. Photo by PH2 John Bivera, December 9 1991. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 44k | June 1 1992, Kiel, Germany, the destroyer USS O`Bannon (DD-987) approaches a quay during BALTOPS `92. The German national ensign flies from the stern of the destroyer FGS Molders (D-186) in the foreground. | Fred Weiss | |
| 67k | USS O'Bannon DD 987 seen at Malaga, Spain on 19th March 1995. | © Daniel Ferro | |
| 66k | At sea aboard USS O’Bannon (DD 987) Nov. 24, 2002, smoke is released from the barrel of the ship’s MK-45 five inch gun mount during a live fire exercise. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Marthaellen L. Ball. | Mike Smolinski | |
| 154k | 030227-N-4649C-001. Caribbean Sea, February 27 2003, the destroyer USS O’Bannon (DD 987) launches a RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow missile during an exercise conducted with the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility. O’Bannon is the flagship for the multi-national force participating in UNITAS 44-03. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Chantel Chapman. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 45k | 030625-N-9251B-041, the Pacific Ocean, June 25 2003, USS O'Bannon (DD 987) conducts small boat operations in the coastal waters of Chile. O'Bannon is among 19 ships participating in Teamwork South 2003. Teamwork South is a bi-annual multi-national exercise hosted by the Chilean Navy and conducted in Chilean territorial waters to further bolster a robust relationship and mutual understanding in the region. It offers a unique opportunity to maintain a consistent training environment in the region as well as a continued multi-national commitment to hemispheric defense and coalition. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Marthaellen L. Ball. | Jack Treutle | |
| 88k | 050119-N-078F-051. January 19 2005, the Spruance Class Destroyer, USS O'Bannon (DD 987) is escorted by tugs to the Marathi Pier Facility as she arrives for an official port visit to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, while on a routine deployment to the Mediterranean. U.S. Navy Photo by Paul Farley. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 44k | 050303-N-0780F-026. March 3 2005, a starboard bow view of the Spruance Class Destroyer, USS O'Bannon (DD 987) as she approaches the Marathi Pier Facility for an official port visit to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, while on a routine deployment to the Mediterranean. U.S. Navy Photo by Paul Farley. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 102k | Ship's patch | Mike Smolinski | |
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