“I was not yet fourteen years of age. . . . The boys were employed in waiting on the officers, but in time of action a boy was quartered [assigned] to each gun to carry cartridges.” —From Andrew Sherburne’s Experiences on a Privateer During the Revolutionary War How old was Sherburne, and what were his duties aboard the ship?

He was younger than 14 and had to wait on officers and was assigned to have a gun to carry a cartridge.

2686-2181 bce-- "egyptian civilization developed along the nile river in large part because the river’s annual flooding ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops."

1069-664 bce-- "ancient egyptians developed wide-reaching trade networks along the nile, in the red sea, and in the near east."

the award is named for an american naval historian and theorist, rear admiral alfred thayer mahan, united states navy who, through his writing, provided stimulus and guidance to those who share in the defense of the nation.