John Paul Jones: A Lesson in Naval Heritage John Paul Jones once said, “It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win”. Senior Enlisted Leaders are entrusted to pass down Naval heritage and tradition in order to develop the future of the Navy, while leaning on heroic examples from the past. This paper will examine John Paul Jones’s life before the Navy, his Naval career, and the legacy he left behind as well as its impact on the United States Navy.
Life Before the Navy John Paul Jones was born in Scotland to a poor family in 1972 (Lorenz 2014). He had great ambitions at an early age and began his maritime career at the ripe age of 13. He sailed between England and Virginia aboard
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After his tour as an Action Officer aboard the Alfred, he quickly found himself commanding the Providence, then the Ranger. In 1778, Jones took on a mission, the first of its kind, to show the might of the United States and attack the Royal Navy in British waters. The mission was a huge success and Jones returned with many spoils of war, including the captured sloop HMS Drake and prisoners (Lorenz, 2014). This victory brought much notoriety for Jones and gave a black eye to the Royal …show more content…
While commanding the Bonhomme Richard, Jones engaged in battle off the coast of Yorkshire in an attempt to disrupt the British supply chain. This would prove to be one of the bloodiest battles Jones would ever face. He quickly found himself outmanned and outgunned. The British ship Serapis pulled alongside the Bonhomme Richard, then proceeded to board and engage in hand to hand combat. The British Captain demanded they surrender and Jones replied promptly with the now famous words, “I have not yet begun to fight”. Being a brilliant tactician, Jones instructed several of his Sailors to climb the mast and toss grenades into the cargo hold of the Serapis, where the ammunition was stored. This action was successful and ultimately sank the Serapis, claiming John Paul Jones and his crew victorious. This well-known battle, as well as several others through his prosperous Naval career, created a legacy for John Paul Jones that would impact the United States Navy for centuries to
Jack Sisson was born in 1743 in an unknown place. He was a man of many names, such as Guy Watson from South Kingston or Prince Goodwin from Plymouth, Massachusetts. Sisson was a black man in the American revolutionary war who was part of the Rhode Island First Regiment (an army of colored men) along with 40 troops of African American males. He was a slave before he joined the Regiment in 1778, where he was a boat pilot. Under the command of Colonel William Barton, Sisson completed his most daring mission yet: the capture of General Richard Prescott, a general of British forces in Newport. Jack Sisson was the captain of one of the boats that sailed across Narragansett Bay, silently past British warships, and into a deserted cove. Him and 39
The U.S. Navy nurtured into a challenging power in the years previous to World War II, with battleship construction being revived in 1937, commencing with the USS North Carolina . It was able to add to its fleets throughout the early years of the war when the US was still not involved, growing production of vessels both large and small. In a conflict that had a number of amphibious landings, naval superiority was important in both Europe and the Pacific. The mutual resource...
The British chose to attack the Americans from the north by way of Isle aux Pois in the mouth of the Pearl River because this was the only only stable water they had found that ships could ride and anchor. When hearing that the british where coming this way, Lieutenant Thomas Ap Catesby Jones and his five gunboats went to try and Barackade the Rigolets trying to make sure they wouldn’t enter. His 185 men and 23 guns awaited the British. At 10:30 on December 14th 1814 three columns of British ships, 42 to 45, armed with 43 guns and 1,200 under the command of Captain Lockyer met the American blockade. Fierce fighting began and the British had finally captured the five American boats. Losses were 17 British and 6 Americans killed, 77 British and 35 Americans wounded. This gave Gerneral Andrew Jackson six days more to improve his defenses. The British at the very beginning of the war had demolished almost all of Jacksons sea power. Jackson only had the Carolina, Louisiana, and one gunboat left.
Abrashoff begins the book by informing the reader of how his story begins; when he is given command of the USS Benfold. The Benfold was the Navy’s most advanced guided missile destroyer the Navy had in 1997 and its command was to be one of the Navy’s top innovators. Unfortunately, Abrashoff points out some flaws with the Navy’s personnel management that I found to be shocking. First, was that “nearly 35 percent of the people who joined the military annually, wouldn’t complete their enlistment contracts.” (p.2) Such turnover can be understood by many business managers in the service industry, but unlike the quick and cheap training process for them, the cost for the military (taxpayers) is astounding. Abrashoff estimates that it cost roughly “$35,000 to recruit a trainee and tens of thousands more in additional training costs to get new personnel to the basic level of proficiency.” (p.2) Curbing this trend on his own ship and eventually helping to achieve a decrease overall in the mil...
John Philip Sousa was born in 1854, the third child of ten. He was born in Washington, D.C. His parents were immigrants. John
Roosevelt had been influencing the United States Navy to be stronger ever since he wrote The Naval War of 1812, while he was at Harvard. Theodore Roosevelt’s book puts the war in a whole new perspective. Roosevelt with the help of Captain Alfred T. Mahan and Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce identified that their common ground was that America had great power in her deep ocean waters and needed to use it. Those oceans needed a capable water fleet to operate them (The Naval Strategist). In 1890 Congress approved the building of the first modern steam-powered, steel-hulled ships. Out came the most excellent warships anywhere; they were named the Indiana, the Massachusetts, and the Oregon. Roosevelt was impressed with these ships, but he wanted more. Roosevelt wanted a two-ocean navy capable of attacking the Pacific and the Atlantic simultaneously (Grondahl 2015 246). Congress agreed and Roosevelt got what he wanted. Mahan and Roosevelt campaigned to strengthen the navy through their speeches and writings. The Navy was slow, bulky, short-haul monitors guarding the home shores and swift, light cruisers that shot out of protected ports to attack enemy ships. Theodore and Mahan’s writings and speeches changed that part of the Navy for the better (Grondahl 2015 246-247). Theodore changed the Navy several ways and not all by
...hought it was interesting learning the various ways people had fought out in the sea, including the ways the young officers would eventually end up becoming the only Five-Star Fleet Admirals. In the book The Admirals the officers (Nimetz, King, Halsey, Leahy) prove that men should not be ranked on their skills or technology alone, but on both areas in a synchronized manner to overcome obstacles and rise above all other elements that stand in the way. The ships that the men grew fond of had become an inspiration to keep moving forward and succeed when it came to the battlefield. This thought would later become the thought that America has adopted to move forward when it comes to technology and build upon what has been learned. Anything from the structure of sea vessels to the artillery it carried did not only aid in war, but it aided in a country that could progress.
The history of Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller is not well known outside of the U.S. Marine Corps, but as the most decorated marine in history his legend will live on and continue to inspire the marines of tomorrow. The enlisted corps has idolized him, frequently encouraging one another to do that last push up when motivated by fellow marines saying “Do one for Chesty!” The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that Chesty, using current day leadership theories, was a visionary and ethical leader who exemplified the characteristics that our nation’s military needed during World War II and still needs today. I will explain how he embodied some principles of Full Range Leadership Development that are taught today. Then I will describe how he demonstrated his ethical leadership through combat actions when faced with general military ethics situations. Finally, I will examine how my own leadership abilities, though noncombat focused, compare to how Chesty led his marines. Let’s begin by exploring the visionary leadership that Lt Gen Puller exhibited.
Davies were put in a row boat and pointed in that direction. Once on land, Mr. Davies went to the Governor William Nicolay to report what had happened to him and his crew (Blaufarb and Clarke 93). Davies explained everything that happened to Governor Nicolay and Governor Nicolay acted at once by getting in contact with the Secretary of War and Colonies, Sir George Murray; the Governor of Guadeloupe; the Admiral, the Baron Des Rotours; and Admiral Fleming, commander of the British Navy. Fleming took Rotours’s absence as evasiveness and was considered to be involved in the Neirsee incident; however, Deare and Davies investigated the taking of the Neirsee. Davies recognized a boat that belonged to Janoel, the pilot that took the Neirsee, but when searching for him, they could not find him inland.They then entered Guadalupe to search for any slaves that were sold, but they were soon sought out by an officer and told to leave. The French felt disrespectful that they were accused by being involved in the slave trade and that the British searched their island without permission; therefore, the French and British went through confrontations about why Captain Owen took the Neirsee and how to prevent further occurrences like the Neirsee incident. The French finally took the matter at and end when they received a letter of Captain Owen’s account of how the ship was never a French ship and it was
Why did he pick the Marines as his topic? Attracted to the Corps perception and morale, Thomas E. Ricks expresses the Marines as the only service still upholding its honor and tradition. Due to society changing into a commercial society with a “me” attitude, civilians focus on how they can splendor themselves with material items—never looking big picture at all that we can accomplish as a team if we give our heart and soul in life. Team meaning everyone on earth, for we are the people that provide for one another with peace and prosperity. As a Marine, it is imperative to have leadership skills along with being capable to work with others. This book was written to enhance the reader’s mentality of how the Marines operate. It informs those who are looking into the service, and provides an in depth look into the trials and tribulations it has been through—as well as conquered.
Years after the birth of the United States, the Navy became part of the new country’s military branch. However, piracy was a huge issue throughout the Imperial age in the United States. In 1794, the legislative body imposed an Act to strengthen the forces of the navy (USS Constitution Association). As the result, David Stodder and his co-builders, Josiah Fox and Joshua Humphreys, built one of the first ships called the USS Constellation 1797, which it gained recognition through barbaric battles and British rival dominance.
Exemplary performance has always attracted accolades and numerous prices; this gives morale and vigor for everyone to achieve their best. In the disciplined forces, particularly the marine, the service members always receive a major reward that elevates them in rank; this is the medal. This rewards them for their bravery and contribution in the missions they are involved in. Indeed, they contribute a lot to the peace and security of the world at large and they truly deserve these medals for recognition (Tucker, 2011). This has been a practice for the U.S. Marine to issue Corps medals since the Civil War to present day. Among the Corps Medal categories include American Defense Medal-WWII, Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal among others. Since the Civil War there have been over 120 U.S. Marine Corps Medals. This paper identifies Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller and describes why he has been one of the most decorated marines in the history of the U.S.
Captain Aubrey exhibits and demonstrates leadership characteristics that inspire his crew to be the best that they can be. One of the most important leadership traits that Captain Jack has is a single-minded focus on his purpose. All of his decisions are held up against the g...
Not only were Nathanael Greene and Nathan Hale heroic, John Paul Jones proved that he was a great hero when he won his battle at sea on September 23, 1779. Even though Jones knew that the Bonhomme Richard, his out-dated ship with its inexperienced crew was no match to the British ship, the Serapis he still attacked (Phillips 171). The 50-gun Serapis with an experienced crew thought that they could easily defeat the attacking ship, while protecting their merchant ships in the process (Schulman). The ships battled for what seemed like hours with short range cannon fire and eventually they started boarding each other when the famous quote, “I have not yet begun to fight,” was said by Jones, when the British captain asked him if he would surrender.
A few days later, the Englishmen retaliated by firing their cannons and muskets at the shore, killing about 30 Hawaiians. His ship returned to England eighteen months later, in October of 1780.