North S*A*R

Gerry Carroll

"A long time ago, an admiral told me that heroes disappear when wars are finished. I wish he were here today so I could tell him he was wrong. I wish he could stand here in ranks with us as we sadly send a hero home. I do not say 'in glory' because there is no glory here. Glory is for the poets and the historians and the movie directors. Glory is a lie that only those who have not been where we have been can believe. Glory is in the paintings of great battles that hang in museums. It is not in the men who are in the paintings.

"I believe we send Lieutenant Commander Fisher home, rather, in honor. He gave his life for two other men whom he had never know until he came aboard this ship. He risked his life knowingly and willingly so that they could live.

"Any man who lives honorably is a hero. It takes courage to do that, a courage that must be summoned every hour of every day. It cannot be dragged out and dusted off only in special circumstances. It must always be there, close at hand. Lieutenant Commander Fisher had that courage and he summoned it into the last moment of his life. All most of us will remember about this man is what he did yesterday, one day out of his thirty-six years. But that is enough.

"I will remember what you have done throughout my time as your commander. I have seen you day in and day out for weeks on end under conditions that those back home cannot imagine. I have never seen you fail, I have never seen you take the easy way, I have never seen you quit. If that is not living in honor, then I don't know what is. Living in honor makes you heroes too.

"I doubt if any of your names will be in history books. But many who will read those books will benefit from your sacrifice. When peace comes again, you will continue to do your jobs as best you can and then you will go home. But others will come out here and take your place.

"When you are relieved and you pass the watch to another generation, you will know that you have served well and honorably. You will have made a difference.

"I wish that admiral could be standing here among you now. Maybe he'd understand that he was wrong."