Naval Station Norfolk, VA. (June 15, 2022). At the start of the Revolutionary War, America had just 27 ships to confront a modern British Navy with over 270 ships and thousands of sailors with combat experience.
Talk about David taking on Goliath!
The colonists did have one advantage; they had a large maritime population with many merchant seamen willing to convert to combat sailors when their nation needed them. One such sailor was Scottish-born John Paul Jones who, as captain of the Ranger, terrorized the east coast of Britain and the Irish Sea, capturing numerous enemy vessels before arriving in France a hero. Unsatisfied, in 1779 Jones took command of the Bonhomme Richard and accompanied by four ships, took part in one of the most famous sea battles in history. Jones and his tiny fleet came upon the British warships Serapis and Countess of Scarborough, engaging the better armed vessels in a three-hour gun battle. Early in the encounter, Jones answered an enemy demand for surrender with the memorable words, “I have not yet begun to fight”.
Today, America’s Navy is certainly not an underdog anywhere In the world. Right now, thousands of sailors and Marines stand ready to confront any nation that means America harm. We can be justly proud of these young Americans as they carry on the finest traditions of patriotism and selfless service. In this photo by Communications Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely returns to Naval Station Norfolk after a scheduled overseas deployment. The Gravely is part of the Harry S. Truman Strike Group recently placed under NATO command to defend the Baltic, Adriatic, and Mediterranean Seas.
As we welcome these proud sailors home, we should keep in mind that thousands like them are deployed around the world, often separated from their families for long periods of time. Support Our Troops sends hard-to-get items to our deployed servicemembers in Care Packages to bases around the world. Won’t you help? Please contribute to our Care Packages Program at https://supportourtroops.org/care-packages today.