Experience the American dream with today’s Patriot of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s August 12, 1812. I’m on the deck of the USS Essex with Commander William Bainbridge. We’re fighting the British frigate Java.
JG: “Commander Bainbridge, look out! The mast is falling!”
WB: “Thank you, Mr. Gillespie. We’ve been fighting for two hours! We’re exhausted, but we will not give up the ship!”
When the battle was over, 124 British were killed and 34 Americans died. Congress awarded Bainbridge a gold medal for distinguished service, and America went on to win the battle and the War of 1812.
Read more about William Bainbridge.
John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.
