At some point we find ourselves sitting in the fire, challenged with and surrounded by stress that threatens to consume us whole. We don't choose how or when we get there. Our power lies in choosing how we react to the flames. One Sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) stood face-to-face with hardships that would burn straight through many others. But, like the steel that makes up our fleet, he stood up to the heat and became stronger.

At six-foot-one and around 200 pounds, it's easy to pick Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Larry Criswell out in a crowd. He is big, both in stature and achievements. Recently, he was declared Truman's Sailor of the Quarter, edging out the top Sailors from every department on the ship.

His good fortune is not a given, however. Rather, it is the result of a long road of trials starting with humble beginnings.

Criswell joined the Navy in 1998, just three weeks after graduating high school in Dyersburg, Tennesee. After attending Aviation Electronics Technician "A" school, he reported to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, the Diamondbacks, aboard Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. Criswell deployed twice with the Diamondbacks; once aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and again with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Criswell loved the Navy and planned to make a long career out of his service.

It wasn't until he reported to his first shore duty that his problems began.

"Back then I had a bad attitude," said Criswell. "Somehow my own failures and shortfalls always seemed to me like someone else's fault."

During his first year on shore, Criswell failed two Physical Readiness Tests (PRT) based on his Body Composition Assessment (BCA).

"I needed a good mentor," said Criswell. "I never took into account the things that I failed to do to make myself successful. I was one failure away from a discharge from the Navy."

Later that year, Criswell was engaged to Shirley, now his wife of 11 years. The engagement motivated him and opened his eyes.

"Something finally just clicked with me," said Criswell. "I was about to be married and possibly have kids down the road. I needed to take a look in the mirror and take charge of my life and my career."

Criswell decided he needed help. Shortly after the wedding, he sought out a personal trainer, a former competitive bodybuilder, to prepare him for the PRT.

"Unfortunately, my diet was horrible," said Criswell. "I quickly found out that you can't out-exercise a poor diet. I just managed to lose enough weight and inches off my waist to pass my next BCA and stay in the Navy."

The trainer saw potential in Criswell and encouraged him to set a goal beyond just meeting the Navy's minimum requirements. Because of PRT failures, the Navy placed him in the Fitness Enhancement Program to help him establish a healthy lifestyle and maintain physical readiness. As soon as he was released from the program, Criswell volunteered as an assistant command fitness leader.

It was at the gym aboard Naval Air Station Oceana he learned about the 2006 Military Open All Natural Bodybuilding Competition and found a new challenge to tackle.

"Over the course of eight months, I went from 268 pounds down to 179 and managed to win my weight class in my first competition," said Criswell. "I was hooked. Over the next six years, I would do competition after competition."

Criswell said he is somewhat of an introvert and that is why bodybuilding appeals to him - the constant dieting and training requires him to be a little anti-social. It also keeps him modest about his achievements. Criswell was featured on a popular bodybuilding website as the Military Bodybuilder of the Month in 2010; won overall at the 2010 Organization of Competition Bodies (OCB) Tidewater All Natural; and won the heavyweight class at the 2012 OCB Battle for Tidewater, qualifying for the International Fitness Professionals Association.

Throughout these years, Criswell noticed his new-found discipline and work ethic rub off on his Navy career. He advanced to petty officer first class in 2011, and qualified as master training specialist in 2012. Later that year, he finished his Associate's Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology.

"I was now a firm believer that hard work will always bring good things," said Criswell. "The best part of 2012 happened, however, when my wife Shirley told me she was pregnant with our first child. I was so happy to be a dad. Life, for me, had built a tremendous amount of positive momentum."

Criswell decided to take a break from competing to prepare to be a parent.

In May 2013, Criswell was the leading petty officer of the Aviation Electronics Technician shop for Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15, the Valions, aboard Naval Air Station Oceana. Shirley was past her due date and any day they would meet their son, whose name was to be Maddox.

"We had an appointment on May 7 at about 6 p.m. to listen to Maddox's heartbeat and make plans to induce labor if it didn't happen in the next couple of days," said Criswell. "We listened to Maddox's heartbeat for 20 minutes and, finally, went home excited for our son's arrival."

No one expected the worst to happen.

"I'm sorry, there is no heartbeat," said the doctor. Chriswell's life was changed forever. "Our son was now an angel - an angel my wife still had to deliver. We were absolutely heartbroken."

At the memorial service, Criswell was touched by the support from his friends, family and shipmates.

"As we walked through the church with Maddox's ashes, we waded through a sea of men and women in dress white uniforms," said Criswell. "They looked back at me as if to say, 'If you don't have the strength to take this walk, brother, we've got you.' It is still the most powerful sight I have seen in my naval career."

Criswell returned to his squadron, undergoing workups and trying to put the past behind him, but eventually stress and unresolved issues from the loss caught up with him.

"That disciplined and motivated person that I had become - the one that believed that hard work paid off - had disappeared," said Criswell. "I didn't understand how you could do everything right and have something so horrible happen to you."

After speaking with his chain of command, Criswell accepted a period of limited duty to get his family and personal health back in order. An amazing thing happened during this recovery time. Shirley was pregnant again with a girl they named Adyson.

In May 2014, Criswell was cleared to return to duty and received orders to Truman. He remained nervous. His wife was 33 weeks pregnant and nothing would calm him except hearing his daughter's cry when she was born.
On June 19, 2014, Adyson Criswell was born, a perfectly healthy baby girl.

"It was the greatest day of my life," said Criswell. "I went back to work with a renewed motivation for reviving my career and pushing toward making chief."
During an underway, Criswell's life would again come tumbling down.

Adyson's respiratory system failed. Her tiny life was at the mercy of machines, tubes and pumps. She was diagnosed with Group B strep bacterial meningitis and her brain was swelling. The next 24 hours were critical.

"The Truman quickly made arrangements for me to fly off the next morning," said Criswell. "I can't explain how defeated I felt. This couldn't be happening again. There was just no way."

Criswell met his wife and Adyson at Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk at 11 a.m. the next day. There was nothing they could do but wait and see if the antibiotics would work.

Ten days later, they had. Adyson's vitals stabilized and she underwent an MRI to check for any lasting damage. The doctor took Criswell and his wife to a private room and informed them that their daughter would be fine, and may never show a single sign that anything had happened.

"I felt like I could bench-press an aircraft carrier right then and there," said Criswell. "Thanks to prayers and a great team at CHKD, we were going to take our child home."

Adyson is now a happy and completely healthy child getting ready to celebrate her first birthday.

"Recently, I was selected as Harry S. Truman's Sailor of the Quarter. I was extremely excited when I found out; partially because it is recognition of my hard work, but mostly because I once again believe that hard work leads to good things," said Criswell. "This story is very personal, but if it inspires or strengthens one person, it's a story worth telling. I hope what people get from this is nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved without hardships, obstacles or difficulty. Regardless of how far down life may beat you, if you make it back to your feet, you will be surprised at how much fight you have left."

For more news from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), visit www.navy.mil/.