FEBRUARY 15

On this date in 1898, the battleship USS Maine was sunk in Havana harbor due to an explosion and 266 sailors died.   At that time, Cuba and Puerto Rico were Spanish possessions and Spain was having problems putting down local insurrections on those islands.  The inhabitants were fighting for their independence.

The US Navy instigated a board of inquiry over the USS Maine incident.  It was determined that Spain was responsible by setting mines in the harbor.  In April, the US declared war on Spain.

Commodore Dewey led our Naval attack against the Spanish fleet.  Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in our attack on Spanish ground troops in the Caribbean.  The war was extended halfway around the world to the Spanish possession of the Philippines.

This all eventually led to independence for those countries and Teddy Roosevelt being elected President.  The motto during our War with Spain was "Remember the Maine".
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