John Paul Jones (1747 – 1792)
Scottish-born naval officer who was America's first well-known naval hero during its Revolutionary War, and later served in the Imperial Russian Navy.
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I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way.
That flag and I are twins, born in the same hour from the same womb of destiny. We cannot be parted in life or in death.
Where men of fine feeling are concerned there is seldom misunderstanding.
I have not yet begun to fight!
The future naval officers, who live within these walls, will find in the career of the man whose life we this day celebrate, not merely a subject for admiration and respect, but an object lesson to be taken into their innermost hearts. . . . Every officer . . . should feel in each fiber of his being an eager desire to emulate the energy, the professional capacity, the indomitable determination and dauntless scorn of death which marked John Paul Jones above all his fellows.
It is by no means enough that an officer of the Navy should be a capable mariner. He must be that, of course, but also a great deal more. He should be as well a gentleman of liberal education, refined manners, punctilious courtesy, and the nicest sense of personal honor.
He should be the soul of tact, patience, justice, firmness, kindness, and charity. No meritorious act of a subordinate should escape his attention or be left to pass without its reward, even if the reward is only a word of approval. Conversely, he should not be blind to a single fault in any subordinate, though at the same time, he should be quick and unfailing to distinguish error from malice, thoughtlessness from incompetency, and well meant shortcomings from heedless or stupid blunder.
In one word, every commander should keep constantly before him the great truth, that to be well obeyed, he must be perfectly esteemed.
I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike!
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