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.

The nation is only as strong as the collective strength of its individuals.

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

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.

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

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.

The family is the engine that drives civilization. Throughout history, those cultures that have failed to found their rules and attitudes of society on the central importance of the family unit have decayed and disintegrated.