Fort McHenry (LSD 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 SHIELD 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 STAR SPANGLED BANNER 4 HISTOR Y OF FOR T MCHENR Y 5 USS FOR T MCHENR Y HISTOR Y 6 SHIPS CHARACTERISTICS 7 SHIP ' S MISSION 8 COMMANDING OFFICER 9 EXECUTIVE OFFICER 10 COMMAND MASTER CHIEF n CHANGE OF COMMAND 12 ESWS 13 FLYING SQUAD SNOOPY TEAM HIS MEDICAL DENTAL 16,17 FLIGHT QUARTERS 18,19 NAVIGATION ADMINISTRATION 20,21 COMMUNITY RELA TIONS 22-25 SUPPLY DEPARTMENT 26-30 OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT 32-37 DECK DEPARTMENT 38-45 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 46,47 LANDING CRAFT AIR CUSHION 48-51 ACU-5 BMU 54 CO OF TROOPS 55-65 MARINES 68,69 DEPARTURE 70 TINIAN 71 BURIAL AT SEA 72,73 HONGKONG 74,75 SINGAPORE 76,77 AQUABA, JORDAN 78,79 ANCIENT CITY OF PETRA 80,81 INFINITE MOONLIGHT 82 BAHRAIN 83 JEBEL ALI 88-91 TIGER CRUISE 92,93,96,97 TAMIL Y AND FRIENDS 94,95,98 HOMECOMING 99 CREDITS 100 WESTPAC ' 94 ' -vf

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SHIELD: The Wavy bars refer to the Chesapeake Bay. The pile suggests the peninsula between Balti- more harbor and the mouth of the Patapsco River, a strategic location in the defense of Baltimore. The fort on the pile denotes Fort McHenry ' s location on the Whetstone Peninsula in the upper Chesapeake Bay. The fort was named for James McHenry, Secretary of War under President John Adams. The trefoil on the red cross symbolizes McHenry ' s immigration from Ireland to Philadelphia where he studied medicine and later volunteered as a surgeon during the Revolutionary War. The red cross, a symbol for medical establishments, also recalls the use of the fort as a military hospital during World War I. The colors blue and gold are traditionally associated with the Navy. CREST: The eagle, symbol of the United States, grasps a representation of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 and was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key ' s Star Spangled Banner. The bomb stands for the bombardment of the fort by the British fleet. The eagle standing on the bomb holding the United States flag high indicates the fort ' s successful defense against the British. SEAL: The complete coat of arms is in full color and is emblazed upon a white field, enclosed by a blue oblong border which is inscribed USS FORT MC HENRY at the top and LSD 4. at the bottom. The outer edge is a continuous gold rope. MOTTO: DOMUS FORTIUM (Home at the Brave).

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Ir.im is S(.i)it Kf — Anllmr nl llic Sl.ir Sp.inulril H.miur hu l(l ul I ll ' -liirnal Sat ul FRANCIS SCOTT KEY AND THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER O! say can you see by the dawn ' s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight ' s last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. O ' er the remparts we watch ' d. were so gallantly steaming? And the rockets red glare, the Bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave. O ' er the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave? FRANCIS SCOTT KEY was born on August 1, 1779, in western Maryland. When Key was 10 years old, his parents sent him to grammar school in Annapolis. After graduating at the age of 17, he studied law in Annapolis while working with his uncle ' s law firm. By 1805, he had a well-established law practice of his own in Georgetown, a suburb of Washington, D.C. By 1814, he had appeared many times before the Supreme Court, and had been appointed the United States District Attorney. During the war of 1812, Dr. William Beanes, a close friend of Key ' s, was taken prisoner by the British in the Chesapeake Bay. Key left for Baltimore. There he was to meet with Colonel John Skinner, a government agent who arranged for prisoner exchanges. Together, they set out on a small boat to meet the Royal Navy. Onboard the British Flagship, the officers were very kind to Key and Skinner. They agreed to release Dr. Beanes. However, the three men were not permitted to return to Baltimore until after the bombardment of Fort McHenry. After 25 hours of continuous bombing, the British decided to leave since they were unable to destroy that fort as they had hoped. Realizing that the British has ceased the attack. Key looked toward the fort to see if the flag was still there. To his relief, the flag was still flying! Quickly, he wrote down the words to a poem which was soon handed out as a handbill under the title, The Defense of Fort McHenry . Later, the words were set to music and renamed The Star Spangled Banner . This became a popular song and in 1931 it became our National Anthem.