Meet the Billy D
by wjw on February 20, 2012
I’m back from D.C. (where I gave a talk on Internet culture to an international audience with more credentials than even I can shake a stick at), but I’m jetlagged and feeling unmotivated and uncommunicative, so instead of me talking, I’ll let History do it, and introduce you to the most incompetent warship in the history of the world.
The destroyer William D Porter twice opened fire, with live ammunition, on the President of the United States, shelled the house of its base commander while the base commander and numerous high-ranking guests were in it, riddled a friendly warship during battle, and is the only warship in history to have its entire crew placed under arrest.
Please enjoy the true story of this Ship of the Damned while I try to catch up on my sleep.
