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  ADM J.M. BOORDA
  CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
  SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION  (SNA) REMARKS
  25 OCT 94
  
  THANK YOU CAPTAIN PORTER.  YOU KNOW, AS I THOUGHT ABOUT
  WHAT I MIGHT SAY TONIGHT, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT I SHOULD SPEAK
  ABOUT ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS OUR NAVY IS DOING AROUND THE
  GLOBE, ABOUT ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE US, ABOUT OUR
  HOPES FOR THE FUTURE AND ABOUT OUR FEARS FOR THE FUTURE AS
  WELL.  THEN, I THOUGHT I WOULD END UP WITH A PLEA FOR YOUR
  CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR PERSONAL HELP IN THE DAYS
  AND MONTHS AHEAD.  JUST SUCH A SPEECH WAS PREPARED....AND IT
  WAS A GOOD ONE.
  
  THEN, AS I RODE BACK FROM GENERAL TONY MCPEAK'S RETIREMENT
  CEREMONY JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, HAVING JUST HEARD HIM TELL
  THE AUDIENCE WHAT BEING A PILOT IN HIS AIR FORCE HAD MEANT TO
  HIM, I KNEW THAT MY ORIGINAL SPEECH WAS NOT THE RIGHT ONE FOR
  ME TONIGHT.  SO, INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE PENTAGON
  (ALWAYS A DREARY THOUGHT ON A BEAUTIFUL FALL AFTERNOON) I
  WENT STRAIGHT HOME AND SAT DOWN TO PUT A DIFFERENT SET  OF
  THOUGHTS ON PAPER.  A SET OF THOUGHTS THAT MATCHED MY MOOD,
  MY REAL FEELINGS AND, I HOPE, THE FEELINGS OF THOSE OF YOU IN
  OUR WONDERFUL SURFACE WARFARE ASSOCIATION.
  
  FOR, YOU SEE, THIS IS NOT JUST ANY SPEECH FOR ME.  THIS SPEECH IS
  SPECIAL.  THIS IS COMING HOME FOR ME.  THIS IS A YOUNG SURFACE
  WARRIOR, PERHAPS NOT SO YOUNG ANYMORE BUT YOUNG IN HEART
  NONETHELESS, COMING HOME TO BE WITH HIS PROFESSIONAL FAMILY. 
  THIS IS A NIGHT FOR ME TO TELL YOU HOW I REALLY FEEL ABOUT YOU,
  MY SEAGOING SHIPMATES AND THOSE OF YOU HERE  WHO, THOUGH
  NOT SURFACE WARRIORS IN FACT, ARE SURFACE SAILORS IN YOUR  
  HEARTS OR YOU WOULD NOT BE WITH US NOW.  THIS TRULY IS SPECIAL
  FOR ME.  IN PLAIN SIMPLE LANGUAGE, I LOVE GOING TO SEA AND I
  HAVE A SPECIAL RESPECT AND AFFINITY FOR THOSE WHO LOVE IT AS
  MUCH AS I DO.  WE SHARE A BOND THAT IS STRONGER THAN THOSE
  WHO ARE BOUND TO THE SHORE CAN UNDERSTAND.  IT IS THE FEELING
  OF THE SHIP GENTLY ROLLING AS YOU PASS THE SEA BUOY.  IT IS THE
  SPECIAL FELLOWSHIP YOU FEEL FOR THOSE IN YOUR WATCH SECTION
  AS YOU ENTER A DARKENED BRIDGE TO BEGIN THE MID WATCH ON A
  STORMY NIGHT.  IT IS THE SECOND WIND AND THE FEELING OF REBIRTH
  (YES THAT IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT WORD....REBIRTH) WHEN THE SUN
  COMES UP ON THE FOUR TO EIGHT AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE NEW
  AND FRESH.  IT IS THE GREAT REWARD YOU FEEL INSIDE WHEN YOU
  MAKE YOUR FIRST LANDING AND THE EVEN GREATER ONE YOU FEEL
  WHEN YOU ARE FINALLY THE SKIPPER AND A NEW ENSIGN MAKES HIS
  FIRST ONE.  IT IS A SPECIAL MOMENT WHEN YOU ARE FIRST IN
  COMMAND AND THAT FIRST UNDERWAY HAPPENS.  YOU TAKE IN ALL
  LINES AND SUDDENLY YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE THE CAPTAIN....THE
  SHIP AND THE RESPONSIBILITY ARE YOURS.  IT IS THE STUFF OF
  SURFACE WARRIORS, THE STUFF THAT KEEPS US COMING BACK FOR
  MORE.
  
  IT IS ALSO THE SADNESS OF THE DEPLOYMENT SEA DETAIL AS YOUR
  WIFE AND CHILDREN WAVE GOOD-BYE FROM THE PIER, THE
  LONELINESS AS YOU GO TO YOUR STATEROOM OR CABIN AS THAT SEA
  DETAIL ENDS AND YOU THINK ONLY OF THE TIME THAT MUST PASS
  UNTIL YOU SEE THEM ONCE AGAIN.  AND THEN, IT IS THE WORK AND
  ANTICIPATION OF ACTION THAT OVERTAKE YOU AS THE DEPLOYMENT
  REALLY BEGINS.  IT IS THE JOY OF THE NIGHT BEFORE RETURNING TO
  HOME PORT, THE DIFFICULTY GETTING TO SLEEP AND THE STRAINING
  TO SEE YOUR FAMILY ON THE PIER EVEN AS YOU KNOW YOU MUST PAY
  ATTENTION AS THAT FINAL  APPROACH AND LANDING ARE COMPLETED
  SAFELY.  IT IS ALL THESE THINGS AND   MORE.
  
  IT IS ALSO THE MISSILE FIRING OR GUNNERY THAT HITS THE TARGET
  AND THE  CHEERS THAT GO UP IN THE SPACES WHERE, FOR JUST A
  MOMENT, WE ARE ALL JUST LIKE BALLPLAYERS WHO HAVE HIT A
  HOMERUN OR SCORED A TOUCHDOWN.  IT IS THE SENSATION WE CAN'T
  REALLY DESCRIBE OF ACTUAL FIRING AT A REAL ENEMY AND
  KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR BEST EVEN THOUGH, IN YOUR
  HEART, YOU KNOW THAT YOUR WEAPONS HIT THE TARGET AND
  SOMEONE ELSE WILL NEVER RETURN HOME AGAIN BECAUSE YOU DID. 
  IT IS WHAT WE, THOSE WHO ARE PROUD TO CALL OURSELVES SURFACE
  WARRIORS, ARE REALLY ALL ABOUT.
  
  YES, I KNOW I AM NO LONGER A YOUNG SAILOR, A SHIP'S OFFICER OR A
  SEA CAPTAIN.  NO, NOW I AM THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.  BUT
  INSIDE, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, IS  A SURFACE WARRIOR...A
  SAILOR.  THAT IS WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL.
  
  OH, I COULD TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED
  ABOUT BUILDING GREAT SHIPS, ABOUT BUDGETS, ABOUT OUR ROLES
  AND MISSIONS FOR THE FUTURE.  BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW WE
  SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH THINGS AND WE ALL WILL GIVE
  THEM DUE CONSIDERATION.....TOMORROW.
  
  TONIGHT, LET US THINK OF OUR SHIPMATES AT SEA.  AT SEA IN THE
  PERSIAN GULF....IN FANTASTIC SHIPS ARMED WITH TOMAHAWK
  MISSILES.  THEY ARE SENDING A MESSAGE OF STRENGTH AND
  FREEDOM, A MESSAGE THAT WAS NOT MISSED BY A DICTATOR WHO
  WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A MOST SERIOUS MISTAKE ONE MORE TIME.  A
  MISTAKE WE AND OUR NAVY AVIATION AND SUBMARINE TEAMMATES
  WOULD  NOT PERMIT HIM TO MAKE WITHOUT PAYING A VERY DEAR
  PRICE.  EVEN AS WE  DINE TOGETHER THIS EVENING, THEIR MESSAGE
  HAS BEEN HEARD AND HE HAS WISELY HEEDED IT.
  
  TONIGHT, LET US REJOICE IN THE PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR SHIPMATES
  UNDERWAY IN THE ADRIATIC, ENFORCING AN EMBARGO IN COMBAT
  CONDITIONS THAT HAS  LESSENED THE VIOLENCE IN THE BALKANS,
  THAT HAS SAVED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO
  WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO LEAVE IN QUIET PEACE.
  
  TONIGHT, LET US GLORY IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR NAVY AND
  MARINE CORPS TEAM IN HAITI WHERE, BECAUSE OF THEM AND THEIR
  JOINT COMPATRIOTS, LIFE, THOUGH STILL HARSH, IS SO MUCH BETTER
  FOR AN OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
  
  YES, TONIGHT FULLY HALF OUR NAVY IS UNDERWAY DOING THE
  NATION'S WORK AND DOING IT EVEN BETTER THAN WE DID DURING
  OUR SEAGOING DAYS.  DOING IT IN STYLE AND DOING IT RIGHT.
  
  TOMORROW WILL BE SOON ENOUGH FOR USE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
  SIZE OF OUR NAVY, THE BUDGET FOR TRAINING AND OPERATIONS, THE
  TOUGH DECISIONS WE MUST MAKE ABOUT WHAT TO BUY, WHAT TO
  KEEP AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT.  TOMORROW WILL BE SOON ENOUGH
  FOR US TO WORK ON THE DETAILS OF SO MANY PROGRAMS, SO MANY
  CHANGES WE MUST MAKE TO STAY STRONG AND RELEVANT IN THIS
  NEW AND UNPREDICTABLE WORLD.  THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS
  ENOUGH FOR EVERY TOMORROW THAT IS TO COME.  TONIGHT IS A
  NIGHT FOR US TO BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE AND
  WHAT WE STAND FOR.  TONIGHT IS A NIGHT FOR US TO CELEBRATE OUR
  OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND, EVEN MORE IMPORTANT,  THE
  ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW
  US....FORWARD...FROM THE   SEA.
  
  THESE NEW SURFACE WARRIORS WILL NOT STEAM INTO UNCHARTED
  WATERS IF WE DO OUR WORK WELL.  THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SAIL IN
  THE FINEST SHIPS, WITH THE BEST WEAPONS, THAT THIS NATION CAN
  PRODUCE.  THEY WILL FIGHT, OH YES, I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I DO
  NOT BELIEVE THE LAST FIGHT HAS BEEN FOUGHT AND WON.  WHEN WE
  BEGIN TO BELIEVE THAT THE LAST DESTRUCTIVE WAR WAS TRULY THE
  LAST THEN WE ARE DOOMED  TO FIGHT ONCE AGAIN, PERHAPS SOONER
  THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE NECESSARY.  BUT THEY WILL FIGHT AND
  THEY WILL WIN IF WE DO OUR WORK WELL.  IF WE PROVIDE THEM
  WITH THE TRAINING AND THE TOOLS AND TEACH THEM THE TRADITION
  OF SURFACE WARFARE WELL, THEN THEY WILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
  TO PREVAIL REGARDLESS OF WHAT COURSE  HISTORY MAY TAKE.  IF
  WE DO WHAT WE MUST...THEY WILL BE READY.  SO, REGARDLESS OF
  HOW DIFFICULT, REGARDLESS OF THE POPULARITY OR UNPOPULARITY
  OF OUR MESSAGE, WE MUST DO OUR WORK WELL OR WE WILL NOT BE
  TRUE TO THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US TO THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW
  US TO SEA.  WE WILL DO OUR WORK WELL....EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
  US...IN EVERY WAY WE CAN.
  
  AS I REVIEW THE NAVY OF THE PAST, AS I EXAMINE THE NAVY OF
  TODAY...OUR NAVY, AND AS I TRY TO IMAGINE THE NAVY OF THE
  FUTURE, THE ONE YOU AND I WILL SHAPE, I FEEL NOTHING BUT
  OPTIMISM TONIGHT.  I MET WITH ADMIRAL ARLIEGH BURKE LAST
  WEEK.  WE DID NOT SAY MUCH.  WE JUST SAT QUIETLY TOGETHER.  BUT
  STRENGTH...SURFACE WARFARE, SEAGOING STRENGTH SEEMED TO
  EMANATE FROM HIM.  HAVING EXPERIENCED THAT, HAVING SEEN
  TODAYS SHIPS AND TODAY'S SAILORS AT SEA, JUST THIS PAST WEEK,
  KNOWING THAT THE FUTURE FOR THEM WILL BE EVEN BETTER THAN
  OUR WONDERFUL PAST, HOW COULD  THIS CHIEF  OF NAVAL
  OPERATIONS FEEL ANYTHING BUT PRIDE AND COMMITMENT FOR OUR 
  SURFACE NAVY AND OUR ENTIRE NAVY.  WE, AND THEY AND THEIR
  SHIPS AND THEIR AIRCRAFT TOO, ARE WHAT MAKES US THE BEST NAVY
  THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.  MODERN, POWERFUL AND READY.
  
  TONIGHT IS A NIGHT TO BELIEVE.  TO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO, WHAT
  WE WILL DO AND TO BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER.  I BELIEVE.  I KNOW YOU
  BELIEVE AS WELL.  WE ARE NUMBER ONE, WE ARE THE BEST, WE ARE
  THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
  
  GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND GOD BLESS OUR NAVY. 
  I AM PROUD TO BE ONE OF YOU.  I AM PROUD TO BE A SAILOR.
                               -USN-