Farragut Sailors Join Chilean Sailors in Celebration of "Glorias Navales"

PUNTAS ARENAS, Chile (NNS) -- Chile celebrates Glorias Navales May 21 with festivities, celebrations, parades, speeches and commemoration services. All are held in honor of the Battle of Iquique, a naval battle which occurred on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific.

This year, Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) joined their Chilean counterparts to honor the "Armada" in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Sonar Technician Surface 1st Class (SW) David Pettys marched in the Glorias Navales naval parade and said he felt honored to be a part of the Chilean celebration.

"Being asked to march in a parade stateside is an honor itself, celebrating our own accomplishments, victories and losses. But being asked to celebrate the same things for another country… it's beyond honor," said Pettys. "Despite the cold weather, we put our best foot forward to pay our respects to the honor and courage of Arturo Prat Chacón, Ignacio Serrano Montaner and Juan de Dios Aldea Fonseca, Chile's greatest naval heroes."

The War of the Pacific began between Chile and Bolivia, over mineral rights and taxation, continued with Peru, and ended with Chile in possession of much of the great northern Atacama Desert.

On May 21, 1879 the Peruvian ironclad Huascar and the wooden Chilean ship, Esmerelda fought off the coast of Antofagasta.

Arturo Prat Chacon, the captain of the Esmeralda had told his men that he would not surrender any cost. At one point in the battle, the two ships were close enough for Prat to issue the command "Al abordaje muchachos!" ("To boarding, boys!"). Only two men heard the command and jumped with him. All three were killed in the attempt.

After Prat's death, the commander of the Huascar ordered the ship back while they waited for the Esmeralda to surrender. The Chileans, remembering Prat's words, did not surrender, but continued to fight.

The Huascar attacked again, ramming the wooden ship, opening a breech and firing at close range. Two more boarding attempts on the Huascar were repelled and the Chilean sailors continued to fight even as the Esmeralda sank beneath them. Of the 198 crew aboard the Esmeralda, only 58 survived.

The naval Battle of Iquique was a Peruvian tactical victory; the blockade on Iquique was lifted and Chile temporarily left the area. However, it proved to be strategically costly. One of the most powerful warships in the Peruvian Navy was lost, while Chile only lost one of its oldest wooden warships. This left the Huascar alone to fight the entire Chilean Navy.

The heroic death of Prat inspired thousands of Chilean youth to join their country's cause. This is considered in Chilean history as one of the most important factors for their victory.

"Participating in Glorias Navales de Chile events was truly an honor for Farragut Sailors. From attending a solemn dinner recreating the events of the battle to attending church with the people of Punta Arenas and then marching in the holiday parade, the people of Chile welcomed us with open arms and it was our privilege to share in their naval history," noted Farragut's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Scott Dugan.

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