'Risk Taker' from MilesR - 'Capt. Stephen Decatur, USN'

My submission for the Risk Takers bonus round and my Curtgeld for this year is Capt Stephen Decatur, USN.  The figure is 28mm scale from Brigade Games.

 Stephen Decatur is a legend within the US Navy for numerous acts of herorism in the Barbary Wars, the Quasi War with the French and the War of 1812.

His daring assault to burn the captured US frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor is the plot of a movie - Decatur disguised his ship as a merchant and with 80 hand picked marines sailed openly into the harbor and seized the Philadelphia and set her ablaze.  He then fought his way out of the harbor out numbered 10:1.  Nelson, who was in the Med at the time blockading Toulon called the action "The most bold and daring act of the age".  Perhaps a bit of hyperbole but high praise indeed.

 Another example of his "bad assery" (technical term) occurred during the second barberry war when Decatur's brother was mortally wounded by a Barberry captain.  Upon hearing of the wounding of his brother, Decatur took nine men in a launch and rowed over to the ship and assaulted it.  His group faced 70 or so pirates but they managed to take the ship and Decatur killer the pirate captain in single combat.

 The first three pictures show Decatur in command of his favorite frigate, the USS Enterprise which bears a striking resemblance to the Wasp....

 Two shots of Decatur on shore leave.  He served admirably in the War of 1812 taking numerous prizes including the 38 gun frigate  Macedonian.

In 1814 Decatur was captured by a fleet of 4 British ships which outgunned the USS President 214 to 40  guns.  Decatur was taken to Bermuda where we was treated as a honored guest rather than as a prisoner.

Sadly, Decatur was killed in a duel with another officer in 1820 - in fact the US Navy was loosing so many experienced officers to duels that the practice was outlawed.

I'd like to thank Curt for the creative ideas around all of the bonus rounds this year - I think they add a nice change of pace to the Challenge, which can grind on a bit as we get to the close.