Of Special Interest to Intrepid Former Crewmembers
Repatriate War Dead - While many Americans may not be aware, today 13 U.S. sailors lay in mass graves in Tripoli, Libya. These sailors have been in their poorly marked graves since 1804.
Led by Master Commandant Richard Somers, they attempted to destroy pirate ships anchored in the Tripoli harbor, but tragically died when their 'ketch' Intrepid prematurely exploded. After their bodies washed ashore, they were fed to dogs and dumped in mass graves.
For more than 200 years, these war heroes have laid to rest in a shoddy cemetery on foreign soil. Unlike other U.S. graves on foreign soil, these heroes receivedno military burial.
Note: As Publisher/Editor of this Website and as a former New Jersey State Chapter Representative
and former USS Intrepid Association, Inc. President ('03-'05), I have been involved in this repatriation
effort since and when I served as New Jersey State Chapter Representative. I have also been in contact
with the originator of the request for repatriation and have been updated by the originator when applicable.
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House passes measure to repatriate remains of USS Intrepid sailors buried in Tripoli
By Jeff Schogol - Published: May 27, 2011
The House of Representatives has passed a measure calling for the Defense Department to bring home the remains of 13 sailors buried in Tripoli more than 200 years ago. The sailors were aboard the USS Intrepid, which exploded and sank in 1804 while on a mission during the First Barbary War.
The Bill will be brought up for consideration - again - in the Senate this fall
After washing ashore, their bodies were fed to dogs. What was left was unceremoniously buried, although most of the remains were transferred to a cemetery in Tripoli more than 100 years later.
The provision to bring them home is part of the latest National Defense Authorization Act, which still has to be passed by the Senate. It is unclear whether the measure will be part of the final version of the bill.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., introduced the bill, which would not take effect until after the current NATO campaign against Libya ends.
“Bringing the remains of those brave members of our military home and giving them a proper military funeral will finally end a tragic story that has lasted far too long,” Rogers said in a news release.
In a separate news release, a descendant of Intrepid Captain Richard Somers said his family was “delighted and encouraged” that the measure was included in the House version of the authorization act. "We've still got a long way to go, but we're more and more hopeful every day," Dean Somers said in the news release.