The fledgling United States Marine Corps proved its dauntless
courage with a "miracle" victory in the Battle of Derna on the
shores of Tripoli in North Africa on this day in history, April 27,
1805.

The successful attack against overwhelming numbers on the
port city in present-day Libya, a stronghold of pirates who
spent years attacking United States ships at sea, was the
climactic battle of the First Barbary War (1801-05).

The victory is immortalized in a patriotic American anthem.

1st. Lt. Presley O’Bannon raised the American
flag during the Battle of Derna.

The Derna Plaque is part of "Defending the New Republic
1775-1865" display at the National Museum of the Marine
Corps in Virginia on May 25, 2010. This plaque was made
to honor a battle to take a fort from the Barbary pirates
off the northern coast of Africa. The Derna Plaque was discovered 175 years after the battle.

The history of the Marine Corps began when two battalions
of Continental Marines were formed on 10 November 1775
in Philadelphia as a service branch of infantry troops
capable of fighting both at sea and on shore.

The fledgling United States Marine Corps proved its dauntless
courage with a "miracle" victory in the Battle of Derna on the
shores of Tripoli in North Africa on this day in history, April 27,
1805.

The successful attack against overwhelming numbers on the
port city in present-day Libya, a stronghold of pirates who
Spent years attacking United States ships at sea, was the
climactic battle of the First Barbary War (1801-05).

The victory is immortalized in a patriotic American anthem.

"From the Halls of Montezuma/To the Shores of Tripoli/
We fight our country’s battles/In the air, on land and sea,"
proclaims the rousing opening lyrics of "The Marines’ Hymn".

In 1942, the Battle of Midway ended in a decisive victory for
American naval forces over Imperial Japan, marking a turning
point in the Pacific War.

February 23, 1945: During the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima, U.S.
Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th
Regiment of the 5th Division took the crest of Mount Suribachi,
the island’s highest peak and most strategic position, and raised
the U.S. flag. Marine photographer Louis Lowery was with them
and recorded the event.

Americans fighting for control of Suribachi’s slopes cheered the
raising of the flag, and several hours later more Marines headed
up to the crest with a larger flag. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer
with the Associated Press, met them along the way and recorded
the raising of the second flag along with a Marine  photographer
and a motion-picture cameraman.

Louis R. Lowery
(July 24, 1916 – April 15, 1987)