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Article: AMERICA'S FIRST CONFLICT WITH ARAB NATIONS PRODUCED A NEW WAR HERO.(PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS)
- Article from:
- The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)
- Article date:
- November 4, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 The Virginian Pilot-Ledger Star. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: ALAN FLANDERS
ONE OF THE THINGS that history teaches us about war is to expect the unexpected. Our first war again Arab nations, against the Barbary pirates of North Africa, was no exception.
Somehow, the accidental grounding of one the nation's newest warships would turn the tide for the United States and introduce America to its newest war hero!
It began on a stormy night - believe it or not - while the frigate U.S.S. Philadelphia was sailing in blockade duty off the rocky Tripolitan coast. Under the command of Capt. William Bainbridge, (for which Bainbridge Avenue at the Norfolk Naval Base is named), she fell into rough seas and ran ...