John Wayne once said, sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? I’m not ashamed of that, never have been and never will be.

"Our cause is righteous and I have no doubt of final success. But I see our generation, and perhaps our whole land, drowned in blood."

This is by far, my favorite song - ever; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OyL-BbKyqE

A true American hero; http://www.stethem.navy.mil - Do you have the courage to do what he did? To offer your life, so that others might live?

“Freedom has a taste, and for those that have fought for it, the taste is so sweet the protected will never know”- General George Patton

“The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” - Thomas Jefferson

“Here the country had finally given liberals a war against fundamentalism and they don’t want to fight it. They would have, except it would put them on the same side as the United States.” - Ann Coulter

I’m a single Dad, raising two sons (one son has graduated HS and joined the Coast Guard this year, January 2008 (very, very extremely proud of him).
Thank God there are still young men (and women) willing to step and relieve the watch.

I have another son working towards his Eagle Scout and college. We attend church every week. I am a retired Navy Chief (June 2006) and my last deployment was 2003.

I am a product of the Reagan Navy which began in 1985 (the goal was a 600 ship Navy) in my 20 year career I was fortunate enough to have served in a Naval Aviation Squadron, two Ships, a Naval Construction Regiment, the Pentagon and onboard the mighty ship Reagan (only for 3 weeks) - 5 1/2 acres of American Sovereignty, anytime, anywhere, oppose any foe.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Core Values
HONOR: I will bear true faith and allegiance ...; Accordingly, we will: Conduct ourselves in the highest ethical manner in all relationships with peers, superiors and subordinates; Be honest and truthful in our dealings with each other, and with those outside the Navy; Be willing to make honest recommendations and accept those of junior personnel; Encourage new ideas and deliver the bad news, even when it is unpopular; Abide by an uncompromising code of integrity, taking responsibility for our actions and keeping our word; Fulfill or exceed our legal and ethical responsibilities in our public and personal lives twenty-four hours a day. Illegal or improper behavior or even the appearance of such behavior will not be tolerated. We are accountable for our professional and personal behavior. We will be mindful of the privilege to serve our fellow Americans.

COURAGE: I will support and defend..; Accordingly, we will have: courage to meet the demands of our profession and the mission when it is hazardous, demanding, or otherwise difficult; Make decisions in the best interest of the navy and the nation, without regard to personal consequences; Meet these challenges while adhering to a higher standard of personal conduct and decency; Be loyal to our nation, ensuring the resources entrusted to us are used in an honest, careful, and efficient way. Courage is the value that gives us the moral and mental strength to do what is right, even in the face of personal or professional adversity.

COMMITMENT: I will obey the orders ...; Accordingly, we will: Demand respect up and down the chain of command; Care for the safety, professional, personal and spiritual well-being of our people; Show respect toward all people without regard to race, religion, or gender; Treat each individual with human dignity; Be committed to positive change and constant improvement; Exhibit the highest degree of moral character, technical excellence, quality and competence in what we have been trained to do. The day-to-day duty of every Navy man and woman is to work together as a team to improve the quality of our work, our people and ourselves