God bless the U.S. Navy!

Two hundred thirty one years ago today, the Continental Congress established our Navy. From two ships intended to act more like customs vessels, to our current size of over 300 ships and almost 400,000 men and women, our Navy has served and defended the United States of America with courage and honor.

Speaking as the wife of a retired Naval Officer, and as the daughter of a World War II Navy veteran, it is the Navy that is my favorite branch of the DoD. The Marines rock, the Army is awesome, the Airforce is stupendous, and the Cost Guard is fantastic (yes, I include the Coasties in our Armed Forces!) - but the US Navy is all these things and more!

Come on, we've got hot ships:

We've got fast planes:

We've got cool missles:

We've got stealthly submarines:

We've got guys that kick ass:

And we've got men and women who go out and do the job, day after day, with honor and bravery:

So, God bless them all, amd may all the citizens of the United States of America give them the honor and respect that these men and women - past and present - have earned. May the Navy always be blessed with the service of men and women of integrity and courage!

Happy Birthday to the United States Navy!

Comments

[Jackson Landers]

1.

Don't forget the Merchant Marine. Everybody always does but it just isn't right.

They go back to even before we formally declared our independance. In war time merchant mariners become automatically part of the military. In 1775 a group of Merchant Mariners in an unarmed schooner managed to board and capture the British Sloop of War Margaretta, 20. It was the first victory of an American ship over a British man-o-war in history.

All legitimate American privateers were also part of the Merchant Marine and to this day the Congress has the power to resume issuing letters of marque to American mariners. The Merchant Marine participated in every Marine landing from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. One unescorted Liberty ship actually managed to sink a German man-o-war despite being hopelessly outgunned and sinking. In the second world war, 1 out of every 26 Merchant Mariners was killed in action.

So don't leave out the Merchant Marine.