Adm. Frank J. Fletcher Archives

August 24 in U.S. military history

1814: Just ten miles northeast of Washington, D.C., British soldiers and Royal Marines clash with an American force of militia

1800: The frigate USS Constellation (the first of four so-named American warships) under the command of Capt. Thomas Truxtun defeats

I recently came across this fascinating cross-section of a Fletcher-class destroyer. The Navy commissioned 175 of these highly effective and

“Handsome Jack” and “Black Jack” 1866: “Decoration Day” – the predecessor to Memorial Day – is first observed by order