Lt. O’Bannon was a Marine officer; who was born in Fauquier County, Va. He lead the Marine detachment in the expedition to capture Derna, Libya, during the Tripolitan War in April 1805, and in a precursor to Iwo Jima he helped raise the first American flag to fly over foreign soil. Thus, establishing that the United States would not pay tribute to the Barbary pirates. For his heroism, he was awarded the Mameluke sword, which all Marine officers proudly wear to this day.