Remains Of 19th Century U.S. Sailors Lie On The Shores Of Tripoli

04:58

July 04, 2011

Here & Now Guest:

Dean Somers, descendant of Navy sailor whose remains are in Tripoli

Col. Richard Somers — Capt. Richard Somers of the USS Intrepid. Somers and his twelve man crew died aboard the Intrepid.

New legislation would require the Pentagon to return the 200-year-old remains of 13 American soldiers from a mass grave in Tripoli.

During the First Barbary War in 1804, sailors on the USS Intrepid, led by Captain Richard Somers, died in a explosion when their ship was attacked. Legislation making its way through Congress would require the Pentagon to locate and return the remains for a military funeral.

Dean Somers, is one of the descendants of the U.S. sailors working with the Intrepid Project to return the bodies to the United States. Somers says his family is delighted and encouraged by the bill.

"We've still got a long way to go," Somers said. "But we're more and more hopeful every day."

This segment aired on July 4, 2011.