Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	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
	98k	Undated, location unknown. USS Renshaw (DD-176), USS Chauncey (DD-296), USS Hogan (DD-178) and USS O'Bannon (DD-177).		Lynette Jeffres
	93k	Undated, location unknown.		Lynette Jeffres
	88k	Undated, location unknown.		Lynette Jeffres
	78k	Undated, location unknown.		Lynette Jeffres
	64k	Undated, location unknown.		Lynette Jeffres
	77k	Undated, location unknown.		Lynette Jeffres
	134k	"Red Lead Row" at the San Diego Destroyer Base, date unknown. This is where most of the inactivated flush deck destroyers rested. Six boats up from the bottom are two Eagle Boats sandwiched in among the flush deckers. Visible are the USS Walker (DD-163), USS O'Bannion (DD-177), and USS Hpward (DD-179) (far back). Photos from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.		Robert Hurst
	196k	Undated at the Claudine Wharf, Maui, Hawaii. Photo form the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	64k	Destroyers at San Diego, California, circa December 1919. These ships are, from left to right: USS O'Bannon (Destroyer # 177); USS Sproston (Destroyer # 173); USS Hogan (Destroyer # 178); USS Chauncey (Destroyer # 296); and USS Renshaw (Destroyer # 176). All were members of the 22nd Destroyer Division except Chauncey, which was then the only active member of the 32nd Destroyer Division. Note "Merry Christmas" sign and Christmas tree atop Renshaw's pilothouse. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Tony Cowart
	47k	Photo #: NH 100413, destroyers moored off San Diego, California, circa 1920-1922. Among the ships in this "nest" are USS MacKenzie (DD-175), USS O'Bannon (DD-177) and USS Swasey (DD-273). Courtesy of Jack Howland, 1985. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Tony Cowart
	63k	Circa early 1920's, location unknown.		Marc Piché
	104k	O’Bannon, DD 177, about 1920. Naval Historical Center photo NH 63480.		Fred Weiss
	120k	A panoramic photograph of Officers and Crews of the 22nd Destroyer Division, taken on the ships' foredecks while they were moored in San Diego, California, January 10 1922. Taken by A.O. Tunnell, San Diego. Ships are from left to right: USS Rizal (Destroyer # 174); USS Renshaw (Destroyer # 176); USS O'Bannon (Destroyer # 177); USS Hogan (Destroyer # 178); and USS Mackenzie (Destroyer # 175). Note signalmen making semophore signals from atop the ship's pilothouses. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photo # NH 102784.		Robert Hurst
	195k	Red Lead Row, San Diego Destroyer Base, California. Photographed at the end of 1922, with at least 65 destroyers tied up there. Ships present are identified as: (left to right, in the right diagonal row): Stansbury (DD-180); MacKenzie (DD-175); Renshaw (DD-176); Howard (DD-179); Gillis (DD-260); Tingey (DD-272); McLanahan (DD-264); Swasey (DD-273); Morris (DD-271); Bailey (DD-269); Tattnall (DD-125); Breese (DD-122); Radford (DD-120); Aaron Ward (DD-132) -- probably; Ramsey (DD-124); Montgomery (DD-121); and Lea (DD-118). (left to right, in the middle diagonal row): Wickes (DD-75); Thornton (DD-270); Meade (DD-274); Crane (DD-109); Evans (DD-78); McCawley (DD-276); Doyen (DD-280); Elliot (DD-146); Henshaw (DD-278); Moody (DD-277); Meyer (DD-279); Sinclair (DD-275); Turner (DD-259); Philip (DD-76); Hamilton (DD-141); Boggs (DD-136); Claxton (DD-140); Ward (DD-139); Hazelwood (DD-107) or Kilty (DD-137); Kennison (DD-138); Jacob Jones (DD-130); Aulick (DD-258); Babbitt (DD-128); Twiggs (DD-127); and Badger (DD-126). (left to right, in the left diagonal row): Shubrick (DD-268); Edwards (DD-265); Palmer (DD-161); Welles (DD-257); Mugford (DD-105); Upshur (DD-144); Greer (DD-145); Wasmuth (DD-338); Hogan (DD-178); O'Bannon (DD-177); and -- possibly -- Decatur (DD-341). (Nested alongside wharf in left center, left to right): Prairie (AD-5); Buffalo (AD-8); Trever (DD-339); and Perry (DD-340). Minesweepers just astern of this group are Partridge (AM-16) and Brant (AM-24). Nearest ship in the group of destroyers at far left is Dent (DD-116). The others with her are unidentified. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. : NH 42539		Robert Hurst

LT Robert Frank Gross    Aug 27 1919 - Oct 19 1919
CDR William Linn Culbertson    Oct 19 1919 - Aug 22 1920
LT John Frood Prentice Miller    Aug 22 1920 - Dec 4 1920
LT Jay Ray Smith    Dec 4 1920 - Nov 14 1921
LCDR John Harding Culin    Nov 14 1921 - Nov 21 1921
LT George Maus Lowry    Nov 21 1921 - May 27 1922 (Later RADM)

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