Mount Diablo Beacon Relit for Veterans Day-- Part 2

Continued from my Tattooed on Your Soul:  WW II blog.

The original lighting of the beacon dates back to 1928 and Charles Lindbergh.  Lindbergh lit the beacon to assist planes in the early days of commercial flight.  At  the time, the beacon was lit nightly, until December 8, 1941,  the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Following that fateful day, it wasn't relit until 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz,  Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces  during World War II, attended the ceremony on Mount Diablo's summit in commemoration of the survivors of Pearl Harbor.

He suggested that the Beacon be lit every December 7th to honor those who served and  sacrificed.

--Brock-Perry

Thomas Catesby ap Jones-- Part 2

From 1841 to 1844, Thomas Catesby ap Jones was commander of the U.S. Pacific Squadron and he again commanded it 1848-1850.

Expecting a war to start with Mexico, in 1842 he seized the California port of Monterrey for one day before returning it to Mexico.  In 1843, upon hearing that British captain Lord George Paulet had seized the Kingdom of Hawaii, he sailed there and restored the Kingdom.

In 1843, he returned the deserter Henry Melville to the United States from the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii).  Melville later based his "Commodore J" in "Moby Dick" after Jones.

He arrived late in the Mexican War.

During the California Gold Rush, he provided the U.S. Navy presence in San Francisco.  Jones was relieved of command in 1850 for "oppression of junior officers."  President Fillmore reinstated him in 1858.

Never a Dull Moment With This Man.  --Brock-Perry

California's Mare Island'sWar of 1812 Connections

From the April 15, 2013, Solano and Napa Valley (Ca) Times-Herald "Mare Island ties to War of 1812 include Francis Scott Key descendant" by Sarah Rohrs.

Mare Island Naval Shipyard wasn't even around during the War of 1812, but it did have some connections.

Mare Island's first commanding officer was David Farragut who joined the Navy at age 9 and served in the war as a sailor on the USS Essex which captured several British whalers.  Of course, he went on to gain some notoriety during the Civil War.

Daniel Turner is buried at the Mare Island Cemetery.  He served in the war as an assistant engineer and held the rank of second lieutenant.  He was married to Anna Arnold Key who is also buried at the cemetery.  She was the daughter of one Francis Scott Key of "Star-Spangled Banner" fame.

Mare Island was also the station of the frigate USS Independence, built near the end of the war in Boston though it never fought.  It remained at the island for 54 years and served as living quarters  for sailors and Marines, a sick bay and chapel.

In commemoration of the war, Mare Island has an exhibition of War of 1812 ships painted by Hans Skalagard at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum at 734 Marin Street running until June 29th.  "War of 1812: Ships from the Age of Fighting Sail."

If You're in the Area.  --Brock-Perry