Although I had lived a far from perfect life, my heart and soul belonged to God, country, and family long before the Navy got hold of me.

A man does a lot of praying in an enemy prison. Prayer, even more than sheer thought, is the firmest anchor.

My principal battle with the North Vietnamese was a moral one, and prayer was my prime source of strength.

The Declaration of Independence has established certain moral confines, and governs in a manner consistent with the spirit under which our nation was founded: Love God; love thy neighbor as thyself.

Our coin bears the inscription: In God We Trust. And our Bible reassures us: The Lord is just and merciful. With the Lord thence our protector, whom or what shall we fear?

Although I had lived a far from perfect life, my heart and soul belonged to God, country, and family long before the Navy got hold of me.

We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America.