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Jack Dragoni

Veterans News and Views

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He resides in Chaffee, Missouri.

'Remember the Maine'

Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Spanish American War is, perhaps, the United States' least understood war by most Americans. A precursor to that war was the explosive destruction and sinking of the battleship USS Maine. The Maine had arrived in Havana on Jan. 25, 1898, for a peaceful visit. Aboard the Maine was a complement of 24 officers, 290 sailors and 40 Marines. Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee, commander of the Maine, had ordered that no crew member take shore leave due to some civil unrest in Guba.

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