Anchored in History: Honoring the Navy’s 250 Year Voyage

As a career Naval officer, it’s difficult to put into words what it feels like to witness the United States Navy celebrating its 250th anniversary. That’s two and a half centuries of ships at sea, sailors standing the watch, and generations of Americans answering the call to defend freedom around the world. It’s humbling. It’s inspiring. And for someone who wore the uniform for 22 years, it’s deeply personal.

The Early Days

The United States Navy was born on October 13, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the outfitting of two armed vessels to intercept British supply ships. It was a bold and desperate move by a fledgling nation with few resources, but great resolve. From those modest beginnings grew the most powerful naval force the world has ever known.¹
 
The American Revolution gave us one of the finest naval officers in our country’s history – Commodore John Paul Jones (1747-1792). Jones commanded multiple ships during his naval career – the most famous being the frigate, USS Bonhomme Richard. John Paul Jones will be forever remembered for quotes like these:²

“I have not yet begun to fight!”

 “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm’s way.”

Over the years, wooden hulls gave way to steel. Cannons were replaced by guided missiles. Sail-powered frigates became nuclear-powered carriers and submarines and gas-turbined cruisers and destroyers. What hasn’t changed is the Navy’s core values – Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These aren’t just words on a wall. They are the heartbeat of the Navy, passed down through the ranks with every watch stood, every battle fought, and every hard decision made in the line of duty.

250 Years at Sea

As we celebrate the Navy’s 250th anniversary, I think of those who came before me – sailors who braved the stormy seas of the American Revolution, who fought on ironclads in the Civil War, who gave their all in the horrific sea battles of World War II, and who patrolled the rivers of Vietnam. 
 
I also think of the young men and women who today are raising their right hand and taking their oath to serve. They are the future of the U.S. Navy. They carry the torch forward into a world of new threats and new technologies – but also into new opportunities to serve, to lead, and to protect.
 
The U.S. Navy’s story is far from over. At 250 years, the Navy is still writing new chapters every day. And though I no longer wear the uniform, the Navy remains a part of who I am. The lessons I learned, the friendships I made, the values I hold – they were forever forged at sea.

Time to Reflect

Honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy is deeply personal to me. I joined the Navy 50 years ago in 1975 during the year of its 200th anniversary. Some of my most treasured life memories occurred while I served. I made the decision to believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior while in boot camp. I married my high school sweetheart, Nancy, while serving in Navy. My two sons, Andrew and Ryan, were born during my Naval career. 
 
I enlisted at age 17. My parents had to sign a consent form for me to join as I was a minor. One month after graduating from high school, I was off to U.S. Navy boot camp. I still vividly remember that long day. I rode a bus from my hometown in Wildwood, Florida to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Jacksonville. From there, a U.S. Navy bus brought us to the Recruit Training Center in Orlando. We finally made it to bed at 0200 and that first reveille came just three hours later at 0500 with the thunder of metal trash cans tossed through our berthing compartment. I remember thinking, what have I got myself in to!

I still remember the first time I stepped aboard ship – the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42). Hearing the crisp snap of the American Flag on the fantail and seeing the Union Jack flying high on the bow gave me a sense of pride that I still feel today. The briny scent of salt air mixed with JP-5 jet fuel, the sound of aircraft tugs positioning fighter jets in the hanger bay, and sailors scurrying about their shipboard duties – it felt like I was stepping into a legacy far greater than myself. And now, looking back, I know I was.
 
Reflecting on the Navy’s 250th anniversary, I wish I could celebrate it with my great-aunt Florence and great-uncle Benjamin. They both served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. You can read the story of my great-aunt, YN2 (F) Florence Momberger, in Don’t Call That Sailor Mister HERE. And SK3 Benjamin Spaulding’s story is documented in Harvard Naval Radio School in WW1 HERE. My great-aunt Florence and great-uncle Benjamin were both alive in the early years of my time in the Navy.

My Naval Career

Serving in the Navy was both demanding and fulfilling. Long deployments at sea away from family was challenging. Missed wedding anniversaries, birthdays of my wife and children, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas celebrations were all part of the sacrifices of serving. Moving 13 times was also particularly demanding on my wife and children.

The old adage, “Join the Navy – See the World” is so true. During my 22 year naval career, I sailed the oceans and seas of the world visiting countries on every continent.

I served on multiple ship types from an aircraft carrier to a guided-missile cruiser to auxiliary ships. I had many unique jobs from maintaining the carrier’s air search radar as a 19 year old electronics technician, to working in the nuclear power plants of submarines in Guam, to division officer tours in anti-submarine warfare and engineering, to serving as a shipboard Operations Department head. I stood many, many watches as Officer of the Deck (OOD) on the bridge. The amount of responsibility laid the shoulders of the OOD underway is indescribable.

The U.S. Navy provided me with many education opportunities along the way. After boot camp, I attended a year of Electronics Technician (ET) training. At the 10 year point in my career, I was selected for an officer’s program and transferred to Auburn University and then to Officer Candidate School (OCS). After two Surface Warfare division officer tours at sea, I attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Yes, a Naval career is both challenging and fulfilling. But, this ole sailor can’t complain after enlisting as a 17-year-old Seaman Recruit and retiring 22 years later as a Lieutenant Commander with a Masters Degree. 

So here’s to 250 years of the United States Navy! May we remember the sacrifices, honor the traditions, and celebrate the legacy of the world’s finest maritime force.

Fair winds and following seas to all who serve, have served, and will serve. 

GO NAVY!

Hearing from You

If you served in the U.S. Navy, or you have a relative that served, please drop a note in the COMMENT section below. If you’d like to receive my monthly Fortitude posts directly to your email, please SUBSCRIBE below. 

NOTES

1. All Hands Magazine. Happy Birthday to the United States Navy. Accessed from https://allhands.navy.mil/Features/Navy-Birthday/ on July 22, 2025. 
2. U.S. Naval Academy. John Paul Jones. Accessed from https://www.usna.edu/PAO/faq_pages/JPJones.php  on July 22, 2025. 
3. Featured Image: Navy Exchange. Celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy. Accessed from https://www.mynavyexchange.com/browse/military/navy-pride/navy-250/_/N-1171195711? on July 24, 2025.