On October 13th, the Navy will celebrate its 241st birthday.

This year's theme, "America's Sailor. For 241 Years: Tough, Bold, and Ready" echoes the legacy of honor, courage, and commitment Sailors have kept and passed down since 1775. In the Campbell family, this legacy has been passed down for three generations, from father to son to grandson.

The Navy tradition in the Campbell family began with Ronald Campbell. He served as a machinist's mate during World War II, 1942-1948.

World War II was a period of tremendous advancement for the Navy. Marked by technological innovation and the unyielding patriotism of the tough, young Sailors who had been drafted to serve during the war, this era saw America's Navy become the greatest the world had ever known.

Ronald Campbell's son, David Campbell, watched and admired his father's toughness and loyalty to his country and family.

"Everybody has a hero," said David. "Mine was my father. He grew up in poverty; they didn't have much, but they had a moral code. They didn't rob and steal, and he was taught to protect the weak. This is the moral code my dad lived by as a man and a Sailor, and they're the principles that I was raised on."

David admired his father so much he decided to follow in his footsteps.

"My Dad served; it was an honorable profession, so I wanted to serve," he said.

December 1964, during the Vietnam War, David enlisted in the Navy. He proudly served as a machinist's mate, just as his father had done 16 years before.

The Vietnam War was not like any war America had ever fought and it brought with it new adversity. Many Americans opposed the war, people questioned whether the draft and the war itself was ethical. Pictures and video footage depicting the horrors of war could be seen on every news outlet in the country. Still, David Campbell boldly served his country during the war and continued to serve after it ended for a total of 29 years, achieving the rank of commander.

"Family and duty to your country is what it's about," David said.

Though he followed in his father's footsteps, he didn't necessarily push his own son, Jonathan Campbell, to do the same.

"I wanted him to go to college and continue his education after high school," said David. "I didn't want him doing everything the hard way like me. If he did join (the military), I told him not to do it just because it's something to do; do it because you want to serve."

Not only did his son want to serve, but he wanted to serve in the Navy as a machinist's mate. So just as his father had done 44 years before and as his grandfather had done 22 years before that, in December of 2008, Jonathan enlisted in the Navy as a machinist's mate.

"I joined the Navy because it's something that I felt I needed to do," said Jonathan. "I watched the service members come back home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and I decided that I should serve and give back to my country. It's a family tradition."

Jonathan said he doesn't plan on separating from the Navy until he reaches maximum retirement age. Having watched his father serve and having heard stories about his grandfather's service in the Navy, he learned the meaning of commitment. His loyalty and readiness to serve is part of the Navy legacy and his family legacy. In essence, Navy heritage is Campbell family heritage.

"Traits that the Navy probably put in my father, like good work ethic, I see those in myself now," Jonathan said. "My dad instilled those traits in me. If my kids want to serve, I will fully support them. Service to others is more important than anything else, and that's what I want to make sure my kids understand. This is a family tradition for us."

Through World War II, the Vietnam War, and the modern wars in the Middle East, each Campbell has boldly carried with him an unwavering commitment to service.

Tough, bold, and ready -- these are traits that helped build generations of Campbell boys into the men their fathers raised them to be, and they are the characteristics which have defined America's Sailors for 241 years.

As we celebrate the Navy's 241st birthday, the Campbell family reminds us that the strength of Navy families is part of the foundation on which the toughness, boldness, and readiness of America's Sailors is built.

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