Let's talk about (NAVY) pride for a minute. I didn't come from 
money but I did pretty good with the ladies and I was always 
the best player on every team and every sport. I went through 
two years of college, boot camp, BEE and A school thinking it 
was no big deal. And then I reported to my first ship. I realized 
then that I was tiny and only a small part of a bigger picture. I 
met people who were smarter than me and better than me at 
a whole bunch of things. Standing on the quarterdeck that night 
with my sea bag and looking at what was displayed around me 
caused my chest to swell and I knew I was a part of something 
really special.

Michael Howard
US NAVY Fire Controlmen
Facebook Dec. 2013

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Ricardo Mireles
Honorable Shellback
Facebook  
20 December 2013

Shipmates..since the my first thought of the Navy at the age of 8 
from a farm in South Texas and after serving over 22 years, all I 
can say is that pay was great, the traveling was enjoyable and it 
was the most I will ever do in my lifetime, but after serving on 6 
ships and two shore duties... I have lived, shared and treasured 
some of the VERY BEST memories with the Very Best U.S. Navy 
Sailors, SHIPMATES of this WORLD...Regretting not one single 
second of joining or serving my country.