1 00:00:00,390 --> 00:00:01,250 - Greetings everyone. 2 00:00:01,250 --> 00:00:03,530 Welcome to Heritage Weeks online. 3 00:00:03,530 --> 00:00:05,870 I am Logistics Specialist Third Class Petty Officer 4 00:00:05,870 --> 00:00:08,500 Jason Adele Petitfrere, or just Jason. 5 00:00:08,500 --> 00:00:10,300 And I have the immense pleasure today 6 00:00:10,300 --> 00:00:12,130 to take you up throughout this building, 7 00:00:12,130 --> 00:00:14,190 which is the USS Constitution Museum 8 00:00:14,190 --> 00:00:16,530 located in Charlestown, Massachusetts, 9 00:00:16,530 --> 00:00:20,710 in order to share with you that much of a deeper experience 10 00:00:20,710 --> 00:00:24,090 concerning the history of the USS Constitution 11 00:00:24,090 --> 00:00:27,770 and relating to not only honor, courage and commitment, 12 00:00:27,770 --> 00:00:29,940 but also the CNO's four core attributes, 13 00:00:29,940 --> 00:00:33,950 accountability, initiative, toughness, and integrity. 14 00:00:33,950 --> 00:00:36,520 First, we'll be starting right over here 15 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,240 in the room dedicated to the armaments 16 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,530 of the vessel of war called the USS Constitution, 17 00:00:42,530 --> 00:00:43,830 America's Ship of State. 18 00:00:43,830 --> 00:00:45,083 Follow me right this way. 19 00:00:47,690 --> 00:00:49,480 First we'll stop right here 20 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:54,313 in front of this rather picturesque picture of the ship. 21 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:56,590 Now, why do we stop here? 22 00:00:56,590 --> 00:00:59,000 It is because right now we're smack dab 23 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,750 in the middle of what I would say 24 00:01:00,750 --> 00:01:04,350 is quite the intense conflict. 25 00:01:04,350 --> 00:01:07,890 I believe this is depicting the Great Escape. 26 00:01:07,890 --> 00:01:08,990 Let's see. 27 00:01:08,990 --> 00:01:10,420 Exactly, indeed it is. 28 00:01:10,420 --> 00:01:14,980 USS Constitution escaping from the British, July 1812. 29 00:01:14,980 --> 00:01:18,850 Now, during this encounter with the British, 30 00:01:18,850 --> 00:01:22,000 there was not much back and forth armament-wise, 31 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,700 but it led to one of the greatest, 32 00:01:24,700 --> 00:01:28,070 most pivotal battles during the War of 1812. 33 00:01:28,070 --> 00:01:31,690 After this escape, which we escaped from five British ships, 34 00:01:31,690 --> 00:01:34,410 the Belvidera, the Aeolus, the Guerriere, the Shannon, 35 00:01:34,410 --> 00:01:38,260 and the HMS Africa off the coast of Egg Harbor, New Jersey. 36 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:40,560 We went on one month later, 37 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,580 this ended on July 19th, 1812, 38 00:01:44,580 --> 00:01:48,780 August 19th, 1812, which we will be discussing shortly, 39 00:01:48,780 --> 00:01:50,890 is when we encountered the HMS Guerriere 40 00:01:50,890 --> 00:01:53,230 off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. 41 00:01:53,230 --> 00:01:55,760 That is when we got our nickname Ironsides. 42 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,020 But as I mentioned earlier, 43 00:01:57,020 --> 00:02:02,020 we have to some way find connections to not just the story, 44 00:02:02,380 --> 00:02:07,380 but also the attributes and the core pillars of a sailor 45 00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:11,360 and connect those pieces so that we can learn from them, 46 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,180 how to become not only better sailors, 47 00:02:13,180 --> 00:02:16,070 but also better people, better leaders 48 00:02:16,070 --> 00:02:18,050 for my chief selects out there. 49 00:02:18,050 --> 00:02:20,950 So I'd like you to just see very briefly 50 00:02:20,950 --> 00:02:23,010 how this room would normally look. 51 00:02:23,010 --> 00:02:26,530 Currently it is broken down to the bare minimums 52 00:02:26,530 --> 00:02:31,530 as per minimal contact with COVID-19 going on right now. 53 00:02:31,630 --> 00:02:34,307 And as you might see, I currently do not have my mask on, 54 00:02:34,307 --> 00:02:36,080 and that is because I'm maintaining 55 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,210 a safe distance from our cameraman. 56 00:02:38,210 --> 00:02:43,120 And when I'm not doing this or basically recording, 57 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,770 I have my mask on at all times, as per regulations. 58 00:02:45,770 --> 00:02:49,460 So in this room, we would be talking briefly 59 00:02:49,460 --> 00:02:51,050 about the armaments of the ship, 60 00:02:51,050 --> 00:02:54,250 including, but not limited to the 32-pound short gun 61 00:02:54,250 --> 00:02:57,670 or carronades, which would be on the top deck of the ship 62 00:02:57,670 --> 00:03:01,490 versus the 24-pound long guns right over there, 63 00:03:01,490 --> 00:03:04,550 which would be on the gun deck of the ship 64 00:03:04,550 --> 00:03:06,180 or the white gun stripe. 65 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:08,310 Now in here, we would not be discussing 66 00:03:08,310 --> 00:03:11,310 those armaments at length or in detail, 67 00:03:11,310 --> 00:03:13,300 and that is because during the Heritage Weeks 68 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:16,010 you would have a specific station dedicated 69 00:03:16,010 --> 00:03:18,000 not only to teach you about the details 70 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,570 of what the Ironman is and what it does, 71 00:03:20,570 --> 00:03:23,300 but you would also learn, be shown 72 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:27,110 and actually go through the reloading process 73 00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:31,370 and the firing process of how to use those armaments. 74 00:03:31,370 --> 00:03:32,940 So that pretty much wraps up 75 00:03:32,940 --> 00:03:35,180 what we would be taking care of in this room. 76 00:03:35,180 --> 00:03:37,720 So let's go out into the P-way 77 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,853 and then down that way to figure out what comes next. 78 00:03:42,810 --> 00:03:43,743 All right. 79 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,150 So as you can see very briefly, 80 00:03:47,150 --> 00:03:51,180 this museum is basically chock full, 81 00:03:51,180 --> 00:03:55,460 literally, of pieces, items, information, 82 00:03:55,460 --> 00:03:58,230 all relating to the USS Constitution 83 00:03:58,230 --> 00:04:00,230 and what she stands for. 84 00:04:00,230 --> 00:04:02,410 Not only the victory she's won, 85 00:04:02,410 --> 00:04:04,510 but also the conflict she's been through, 86 00:04:04,510 --> 00:04:06,510 the difficulties she's surmounted, 87 00:04:06,510 --> 00:04:08,400 not only in her launching, 88 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,760 but also in the battles she's gone through. 89 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,120 But before we actually get to battles, 90 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,870 typically we stop right here to gain a deeper understanding 91 00:04:17,870 --> 00:04:20,080 of not just what the Constitution is, 92 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,010 but what it's made of as well. 93 00:04:23,010 --> 00:04:24,510 And right here, you can see 94 00:04:24,510 --> 00:04:29,340 a very convenient display of live oak wood, 95 00:04:29,340 --> 00:04:33,700 oak wood or white oak wood and Douglas fir wood. 96 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:35,700 Now, why are these three specific 97 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:37,450 kinds of woods so important? 98 00:04:37,450 --> 00:04:39,680 It is because the deck of the USS Constitution 99 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,510 is mostly comprised of Douglas fir. 100 00:04:42,510 --> 00:04:45,590 And the bulkheads or the walls of the ship 101 00:04:45,590 --> 00:04:47,240 are comprised of a combination 102 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,213 of these two final pieces of wood. 103 00:04:50,140 --> 00:04:52,670 We have oak here and we have live oak. 104 00:04:52,670 --> 00:04:54,560 Typically we would use white oak. 105 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,820 You see, you would see the horizontal paneling 106 00:04:58,820 --> 00:05:00,910 or the boards of the ship 107 00:05:00,910 --> 00:05:03,170 essentially would be made of white oak 108 00:05:03,170 --> 00:05:05,030 on the outside and the inside. 109 00:05:05,030 --> 00:05:09,110 But then on the inside, the secret to our nine vulnerability 110 00:05:09,110 --> 00:05:12,310 would be the live oak vertically placed. 111 00:05:12,310 --> 00:05:15,070 And those would be basically the ribs of the ship 112 00:05:15,070 --> 00:05:18,110 going down to the keel of the ship, which is the backbone. 113 00:05:18,110 --> 00:05:20,680 And we'll be learning further down deep 114 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,390 essentially why that is so important. 115 00:05:23,390 --> 00:05:25,660 So please follow me this way and we'll stop 116 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:28,853 right in front of this model of the USS Constitution. 117 00:05:32,170 --> 00:05:35,100 Now it's at this point that as chief selects 118 00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:37,383 during Chief Heritage Weeks, 119 00:05:37,383 --> 00:05:40,500 you all would be pretty much spread out right here, 120 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:43,120 positioned from this end to that end. 121 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,173 And I'd be standing rather suspiciously here, 122 00:05:47,180 --> 00:05:49,710 pointing to this ship or motioning to the ship, 123 00:05:49,710 --> 00:05:53,780 essentially asking the room what you thought of 124 00:05:53,780 --> 00:05:56,720 when you saw the USS Constitution. 125 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,850 So as you're watching virtually right now, 126 00:05:58,850 --> 00:06:00,690 I'd like you to think to yourself, 127 00:06:00,690 --> 00:06:04,550 what do you think of when you see this ship? 128 00:06:04,550 --> 00:06:06,330 I'm going to shout out some of the things 129 00:06:06,330 --> 00:06:07,890 that I heard from the chief selects 130 00:06:07,890 --> 00:06:09,470 from the previous two years 131 00:06:09,470 --> 00:06:12,960 that I've experienced Chief Heritage Weeks myself. 132 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,200 Some of them said freedom. 133 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,030 Some of them said power. 134 00:06:17,030 --> 00:06:18,970 Some of them said strength. 135 00:06:18,970 --> 00:06:20,930 Some of them said security. 136 00:06:20,930 --> 00:06:23,420 Some of them said America. 137 00:06:23,420 --> 00:06:25,170 And I would agree with all of them. 138 00:06:26,020 --> 00:06:30,083 But I would go on to add that right here, 139 00:06:31,020 --> 00:06:34,733 I see the infinity of human potential. 140 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:37,843 And here's how that makes sense. 141 00:06:38,690 --> 00:06:39,810 As you're about to hear, 142 00:06:39,810 --> 00:06:42,350 once we go throughout the battles that she's been through, 143 00:06:42,350 --> 00:06:43,950 mainly three battles, 144 00:06:43,950 --> 00:06:46,680 we will be highlighting the battle versus the HMS Guerriere, 145 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,670 the battle versus the HMS Java, and then lastly, 146 00:06:49,670 --> 00:06:53,483 the battle versus the HMS Cyane and Levant respectively. 147 00:06:54,350 --> 00:06:57,633 But why do I call this infinite human potential? 148 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,940 It is because, despite the fact 149 00:07:00,940 --> 00:07:03,330 that it took us three miserable launch attempts 150 00:07:03,330 --> 00:07:05,530 to get this ship into the water, 151 00:07:05,530 --> 00:07:10,530 we went on to being a 33 and 0 undefeated beast of the seas. 152 00:07:11,550 --> 00:07:13,280 We've never lost a fight. 153 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,643 She has never lost a fight. 154 00:07:17,530 --> 00:07:20,250 Now we did run away once, 155 00:07:20,250 --> 00:07:22,470 but we're not gonna talk about that today. 156 00:07:22,470 --> 00:07:24,720 That was the Great Escape and that was in the past. 157 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,340 We don't stay there. 158 00:07:26,340 --> 00:07:29,170 We learned from it and we're better for it. 159 00:07:29,170 --> 00:07:31,940 But back to my earlier point, 160 00:07:31,940 --> 00:07:35,840 we went from difficulty to difficulty to difficulty, 161 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:40,180 and we kept chugging along, which gave us the ability 162 00:07:40,180 --> 00:07:44,000 or the opportunity to become undefeated. 163 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:45,490 And I kept making the point that 164 00:07:45,490 --> 00:07:48,220 the title of undefeated is such a fickle one. 165 00:07:48,220 --> 00:07:49,220 It's such a fickle word. 166 00:07:49,220 --> 00:07:50,553 It's vulnerable. 167 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:55,350 It's both weak and powerful at the same time. 168 00:07:55,350 --> 00:07:58,180 Powerful in that it strikes fear in those 169 00:07:58,180 --> 00:08:00,390 that have to face you next, 170 00:08:00,390 --> 00:08:02,580 but also weak in that all it takes 171 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:04,450 is one slip of one mistake, 172 00:08:04,450 --> 00:08:07,570 one moment of complacency or negligence 173 00:08:07,570 --> 00:08:09,393 for you to lose it all. 174 00:08:10,380 --> 00:08:15,380 And how is that not quite like leadership or trust? 175 00:08:17,490 --> 00:08:19,250 Whether it's trust from those above you 176 00:08:19,250 --> 00:08:20,820 or trust from those below you 177 00:08:20,820 --> 00:08:24,100 or trust from those adjacent to you. 178 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:28,950 As a leader, there is so much pressure on your shoulders. 179 00:08:28,950 --> 00:08:31,830 The phrase, the burden of leadership 180 00:08:31,830 --> 00:08:34,010 is such a common thing to hear, 181 00:08:34,010 --> 00:08:37,880 especially becoming an E7, a chief. 182 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,710 The phrase, ask the chief, did not come about 183 00:08:40,710 --> 00:08:45,120 because they were so unreliable or they had weak shoulders. 184 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:46,550 It is because some of them, 185 00:08:46,550 --> 00:08:48,940 just like the sailors, Marines and officers 186 00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:51,930 back in the USS Constitution's fighting days, 187 00:08:51,930 --> 00:08:55,760 they had to basically channel the energies 188 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:56,593 that they were feeling. 189 00:08:56,593 --> 00:08:58,320 They had to channel their fears. 190 00:08:58,320 --> 00:08:59,900 They had to channel their anxieties, 191 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:01,840 their stress, their doubts, 192 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,240 channel that into the strength that they use 193 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,670 to leave behind such an immortal legacy as this. 194 00:09:08,670 --> 00:09:11,030 That is what makes a leader. 195 00:09:11,030 --> 00:09:15,410 They are not impervious to feeling hurt. 196 00:09:15,410 --> 00:09:19,360 They are not impervious to feeling stressed 197 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,230 or feeling broken. 198 00:09:21,230 --> 00:09:22,810 The difference between them 199 00:09:22,810 --> 00:09:25,750 and those that aren't able to lead properly 200 00:09:25,750 --> 00:09:28,860 is what they do with what life gives them. 201 00:09:28,860 --> 00:09:31,130 So let me show you what the Constitution did 202 00:09:31,130 --> 00:09:33,053 with what life gave it. 203 00:09:33,900 --> 00:09:36,130 Right now, we are about to discuss 204 00:09:36,130 --> 00:09:38,710 one of the most pivotal battles 205 00:09:38,710 --> 00:09:41,310 that occurred during the War of 1812. 206 00:09:41,310 --> 00:09:46,310 I'm talking about August 19th, 1812 specifically, 207 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:51,720 the battle of the USS Constitution versus the HMS Guerriere. 208 00:09:52,180 --> 00:09:53,650 And I want to take just a brief pause 209 00:09:53,650 --> 00:09:55,620 from our storytelling to give a shout out 210 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:57,330 to the USS Constitution Museum, 211 00:09:57,330 --> 00:10:00,320 because just take a look at this. 212 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,260 This is absolutely beautiful. 213 00:10:03,260 --> 00:10:07,230 As far as hearing the stories or seeing it in a book, 214 00:10:07,230 --> 00:10:09,620 it completely shifts the game 215 00:10:09,620 --> 00:10:12,150 when you're able to see something or feel something 216 00:10:12,150 --> 00:10:15,310 as tangible as the indents of cannonballs 217 00:10:15,310 --> 00:10:17,063 in the sides of a ship. 218 00:10:17,970 --> 00:10:21,160 Such beautiful displays and such wealths of knowledge 219 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:22,810 is to be commended, in my opinion. 220 00:10:22,810 --> 00:10:24,100 So I encourage you, 221 00:10:24,100 --> 00:10:27,510 if you are curious about the more in-depth information 222 00:10:27,510 --> 00:10:30,230 about the USS Constitution, feel free to check out 223 00:10:30,230 --> 00:10:32,120 not only the Constitution's Facebook page, 224 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,170 but the Constitution Museum's website as well. 225 00:10:35,170 --> 00:10:38,540 They are loaded with information about the ship. 226 00:10:38,540 --> 00:10:40,830 They're the ones that actually, thankfully, 227 00:10:40,830 --> 00:10:45,830 endow us with the information that we share now with you. 228 00:10:46,170 --> 00:10:48,410 So now back to our narrative. 229 00:10:48,410 --> 00:10:51,843 The USS Constitution had to face down 230 00:10:51,843 --> 00:10:53,083 with the HMS Guerriere. 231 00:10:54,610 --> 00:10:57,500 And once again, the date was August 19th, 1812. 232 00:10:57,500 --> 00:10:59,410 Let me set the stage for you. 233 00:10:59,410 --> 00:11:01,360 We see them, they see us 234 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,140 off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. 235 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:04,640 And like I said much earlier, 236 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,950 this was after the Great Escape, 237 00:11:06,950 --> 00:11:10,140 or what the British might refer to as the Great Chase. 238 00:11:10,140 --> 00:11:13,050 So we escaped from those five ships, got back to Boston, 239 00:11:13,050 --> 00:11:15,150 and like I mentioned earlier, again, 240 00:11:15,150 --> 00:11:18,370 one of those five ships was the HMS Guerriere. 241 00:11:18,370 --> 00:11:19,680 And so we got back to Boston, 242 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:22,560 not to the warmth and welcome of our loved ones 243 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:24,380 and our friends and families, 244 00:11:24,380 --> 00:11:26,990 but to the scorn of our people. 245 00:11:26,990 --> 00:11:29,070 Boston was not happy. 246 00:11:29,070 --> 00:11:30,540 No one was happy. 247 00:11:30,540 --> 00:11:34,240 The scuttlebutt or the rumors going around was that 248 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,770 the USS Constitution just ran away from the British. 249 00:11:36,770 --> 00:11:39,760 Not that we were out-manned and out-gunned 250 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,730 and had no chance to win. 251 00:11:42,730 --> 00:11:46,900 It was simply that the Navy cowered in front of the British, 252 00:11:46,900 --> 00:11:48,310 sullying our reputation. 253 00:11:48,310 --> 00:11:50,810 Captain Isaac Hull, our commanding officer at the time, 254 00:11:50,810 --> 00:11:53,040 did not want this to be the end of our story. 255 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,230 So he resupplied and booked it north 256 00:11:55,230 --> 00:11:57,673 to chase after that British ship. 257 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:01,810 And I'd like to pause right there for a few seconds 258 00:12:01,810 --> 00:12:04,440 because it's a great chance to ask you, 259 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,350 what do you do when you hear things said about you 260 00:12:07,350 --> 00:12:11,543 that are in no way a representation of your true character? 261 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,270 Do you go around knocking on doors, 262 00:12:14,270 --> 00:12:16,310 trying to have arguments with people, 263 00:12:16,310 --> 00:12:20,670 finding out who's the loudest and thus who's the rightest? 264 00:12:20,670 --> 00:12:25,070 Or do you quiet down, do you get to work, 265 00:12:25,070 --> 00:12:27,283 and you prove them wrong with your actions? 266 00:12:28,460 --> 00:12:30,110 Here's what the Constitution did. 267 00:12:30,110 --> 00:12:31,010 We went out. 268 00:12:31,010 --> 00:12:32,420 We encountered that ship. 269 00:12:32,420 --> 00:12:36,440 We threw up our American flag so as to identify ourselves. 270 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,093 They threw up their British flags and it was go time. 271 00:12:40,093 --> 00:12:43,253 1,000 yards out though, boom, boom, boom. 272 00:12:45,610 --> 00:12:48,200 Splish, splish, splish. 273 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:49,100 They're hitting the water. 274 00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:50,550 They're not hitting us quite yet, 275 00:12:50,550 --> 00:12:52,300 but you can imagine that the men 276 00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:53,630 have already been to quarters. 277 00:12:53,630 --> 00:12:54,940 They are at their guns. 278 00:12:54,940 --> 00:12:58,000 The decks are lined with sand and with water. 279 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,640 Now, why sand and water? 280 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,650 Well water to counteract the sparks 281 00:13:01,650 --> 00:13:02,900 coming from our own guns 282 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,370 so as not to set our own ships on fire 283 00:13:05,370 --> 00:13:08,430 because we're not about that in the Navy, 284 00:13:08,430 --> 00:13:10,890 or at least we try not to be. 285 00:13:10,890 --> 00:13:11,920 And why the sand? 286 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,180 Well, to counteract the slipperiness of the water. 287 00:13:14,180 --> 00:13:17,830 But also for my younger crowds out there, 288 00:13:17,830 --> 00:13:20,620 in war, in battle, sometimes people get hurt 289 00:13:20,620 --> 00:13:23,990 and thus when your life juices escape your mortal coil, 290 00:13:23,990 --> 00:13:27,288 that creates a slipping hazard on slick wood. 291 00:13:27,288 --> 00:13:29,540 So that's what the sand is there for. 292 00:13:29,540 --> 00:13:31,320 And of course, we're making our approach. 293 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:32,680 Again and again and again, 294 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:35,200 the enemy is unloading in our direction. 295 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,190 They are doing what are called rolling broadsides. 296 00:13:38,190 --> 00:13:39,810 Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. 297 00:13:39,810 --> 00:13:41,680 All your guns fire in succession 298 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:43,370 on a specific side of your ship. 299 00:13:43,370 --> 00:13:47,410 800 yards, 700 yards, 600 yards. 300 00:13:47,410 --> 00:13:49,930 The same thing repeating again and again. 301 00:13:49,930 --> 00:13:51,370 The only thing that is changing 302 00:13:51,370 --> 00:13:55,190 is that the shots are getting louder. 303 00:13:55,190 --> 00:13:59,300 So imagine being a sailor in these very compartments. 304 00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:01,090 You're standing at your station, 305 00:14:01,090 --> 00:14:03,793 waiting for your gun captain to say fire, 306 00:14:04,670 --> 00:14:05,860 but he doesn't quite yet 307 00:14:05,860 --> 00:14:08,920 because our commanding officer has now given the order 308 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:10,920 to hold fire until we get close enough 309 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,900 to do maximum damage the first time. 310 00:14:13,900 --> 00:14:16,700 Imagine what they're thinking of right then and there. 311 00:14:16,700 --> 00:14:20,460 Imagine how much tenacity it took for them 312 00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:22,630 to follow the captain's orders, 313 00:14:22,630 --> 00:14:25,313 for them to trust the officer above them. 314 00:14:27,180 --> 00:14:28,600 Imagine. 315 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,330 So we are getting closer and closer, 316 00:14:31,330 --> 00:14:33,700 and now the shots are getting, 317 00:14:33,700 --> 00:14:36,300 once again, louder and louder. 318 00:14:36,300 --> 00:14:38,190 So between 600 and 400 yards, 319 00:14:38,190 --> 00:14:40,220 something equally as miraculous 320 00:14:40,220 --> 00:14:43,610 as it is bone chillingly terrifying happens. 321 00:14:43,610 --> 00:14:47,213 Between 600 and 400 yards, boom, boom, boom. 322 00:14:49,793 --> 00:14:52,660 Splish, splish, thump. 323 00:14:52,660 --> 00:14:54,750 So now if you're following my audio cues, 324 00:14:54,750 --> 00:14:58,140 we're getting hit, which is not a good thing. 325 00:14:58,140 --> 00:15:00,800 So once again, the ship is not only just rocking 326 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,600 because of the waves and the wind and the ocean 327 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:04,930 or the ripples of the shots 328 00:15:04,930 --> 00:15:06,480 landing closer and closer to our ship. 329 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,190 But now it's rocking ever more so violently 330 00:15:09,190 --> 00:15:14,100 because the shots are now impacting the sides of our ship. 331 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:16,480 And it's at this point that the ship's carpenter 332 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,730 and his crew, the people in charge of making sure 333 00:15:18,730 --> 00:15:20,760 that the water stays where it belongs. 334 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,110 And a real quick tidbit for you, 335 00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:26,960 this is a classified Navy, Naval information, 336 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,200 so I hope that I can trust you 337 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:30,660 not to share it with everyone, 338 00:15:30,660 --> 00:15:32,970 but as per Navy regulation, 339 00:15:32,970 --> 00:15:37,150 ocean water is meant to stay on the outside of the ship. 340 00:15:37,150 --> 00:15:39,830 So they were checking for that. 341 00:15:39,830 --> 00:15:42,000 They ran throughout the ship, checking for leaks. 342 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,210 And that's when a sailor went up to the top deck, 343 00:15:44,210 --> 00:15:45,300 peered over the edge, 344 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,720 amidst all the whizzing shots going by him 345 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,330 in the chaos of orders being barked left and right. 346 00:15:51,330 --> 00:15:53,470 And what he saw, ladies and gentlemen, 347 00:15:53,470 --> 00:15:56,130 left his eyes widened in amazement 348 00:15:56,130 --> 00:15:58,200 and practically all the breath had left 349 00:15:58,200 --> 00:15:59,960 his weary sailor lungs, 350 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:02,300 but there was just enough breath left in there 351 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:04,380 for him to exclaim an immortal phrase 352 00:16:04,380 --> 00:16:07,090 that is with us till this day. 353 00:16:07,090 --> 00:16:08,890 Firstly, what he saw was that the shots 354 00:16:08,890 --> 00:16:10,460 were either impacting our hull 355 00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:14,390 and bouncing completely off or just getting stuck. 356 00:16:14,390 --> 00:16:17,053 Nothing was going through. 357 00:16:17,890 --> 00:16:19,297 That's when he exclaimed, 358 00:16:19,297 --> 00:16:21,997 "Huzzah! Her sides are made of." 359 00:16:23,290 --> 00:16:24,623 Exactly, iron. 360 00:16:26,510 --> 00:16:28,440 It's gonna be really awkward if he didn't say it, 361 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:29,440 so I hope you said it. 362 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:30,940 Thank you (laughs). 363 00:16:30,940 --> 00:16:33,760 So that being said, that's how we got the name Ironsides, 364 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,760 but we had not earned it yet 365 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:40,680 because our enemy was still standing or floating. 366 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,430 So throughout several turns of events, essentially, 367 00:16:44,430 --> 00:16:47,270 we got closer and closer and finally, 368 00:16:47,270 --> 00:16:51,330 100 yards, 75 yards, 50 yards, 30. 369 00:16:51,330 --> 00:16:52,940 That's not enough. 370 00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:57,913 We got to 25 uncomfortably close yards apart. 371 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,450 We could see them in 4K. 372 00:17:02,450 --> 00:17:06,410 They could see us in 1080p. 373 00:17:06,410 --> 00:17:08,740 I apologize in advance. 374 00:17:08,740 --> 00:17:11,097 And that's when Captain Isaac Hull gave the order, 375 00:17:11,097 --> 00:17:12,390 "Pour into her, boys!" 376 00:17:12,390 --> 00:17:13,470 And in a moment's notice, 377 00:17:13,470 --> 00:17:17,220 like a flash of patriotic lightning, 378 00:17:17,220 --> 00:17:19,270 I can already hear the eagles cawing, 379 00:17:19,270 --> 00:17:21,040 we released a broad side of our own. 380 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:22,490 Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. 381 00:17:24,740 --> 00:17:25,703 Silence. 382 00:17:26,540 --> 00:17:27,970 Not because nothing was going on, 383 00:17:27,970 --> 00:17:29,660 but because you just find it really loud gun. 384 00:17:29,660 --> 00:17:31,230 Your ears are ringing. 385 00:17:31,230 --> 00:17:33,290 You probably can't hear anything. 386 00:17:33,290 --> 00:17:36,520 Amidst all the teary eyes from the burning of the gun smoke 387 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:41,450 and the ringing ears from the loud bang that just rang true, 388 00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:44,117 we heard a very loud but distinct (creeking and exploding). 389 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:49,193 Oh my God. 390 00:17:50,230 --> 00:17:52,050 And once the dust cleared, 391 00:17:52,050 --> 00:17:55,610 we discovered that to have been the enemy ship. 392 00:17:55,610 --> 00:17:58,920 So their mizzen or aftmost or rearmost mast 393 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,300 had broken off the starboard or right side of the enemy ship 394 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:05,620 with the sails in the water, paralyzing their movements. 395 00:18:05,620 --> 00:18:07,380 That's when we tried to cross the T, 396 00:18:07,380 --> 00:18:09,620 bringing our ship forward of the enemy ship 397 00:18:09,620 --> 00:18:11,400 so that we could fire down the length 398 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,470 as opposed to down the width. 399 00:18:13,470 --> 00:18:16,760 Sadly though, we collided with each other. 400 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:17,860 And this is where we suffered 401 00:18:17,860 --> 00:18:19,820 one of the heavier casualties of that fight, 402 00:18:19,820 --> 00:18:23,430 because William S. Bush, the captain of the boarding party, 403 00:18:23,430 --> 00:18:25,360 the first lieutenant of the Marines, 404 00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:27,180 he climbed onto the taffrailing 405 00:18:27,180 --> 00:18:30,220 or the rear railing of our ship, which was now connected 406 00:18:30,220 --> 00:18:32,423 to the forward railing of the enemy ship. 407 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,770 And I'd like you to just simply imagine 408 00:18:35,770 --> 00:18:37,530 one of those moments, kind of like in movies, 409 00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:39,770 where everything starts to get blurry. 410 00:18:39,770 --> 00:18:42,010 Everything slows down. 411 00:18:42,010 --> 00:18:44,920 You can see him kind of struggle to get up on the railing, 412 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:46,970 almost fall, but catch himself, 413 00:18:46,970 --> 00:18:50,050 reach for his sword, slowly take it out 414 00:18:50,050 --> 00:18:51,647 and pose to Captain Isaac Hull, 415 00:18:51,647 --> 00:18:53,677 "Shall I board her, sir?" 416 00:18:55,010 --> 00:18:56,820 And equally, just as slowly, 417 00:18:56,820 --> 00:19:00,270 you can see someone from behind him raise their rifle. 418 00:19:00,270 --> 00:19:03,330 And before Captain Isaac Hull could even say anything, 419 00:19:03,330 --> 00:19:07,800 William S. Bush was shot and killed by an enemy Marine. 420 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:09,033 He died on the spot. 421 00:19:10,010 --> 00:19:12,370 Captain Isaac Hull, not wanting any further casualties 422 00:19:12,370 --> 00:19:14,760 of the sort, he gave every order he could 423 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,900 for us to pull away and finish the job. 424 00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:20,470 This caused their foremast to get brought down 425 00:19:20,470 --> 00:19:23,360 as we were pulling away, thus leaving them mastless 426 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:26,240 after their main mast soon followed. 427 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,360 That is how we won the day. 428 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:31,900 That is how we got the, earned the nickname Ironsides, 429 00:19:31,900 --> 00:19:34,190 the moment that they actually surrendered. 430 00:19:34,190 --> 00:19:35,610 Back then you would have to surrender 431 00:19:35,610 --> 00:19:39,370 by raising a white flag or lowering your own country's flag 432 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:44,330 down from the mast that they didn't have. 433 00:19:44,330 --> 00:19:47,610 So they had to perform what is called a leeward shot. 434 00:19:47,610 --> 00:19:48,740 That's when your enemy is this way, 435 00:19:48,740 --> 00:19:53,150 you fire shot that way, essentially saying I surrender. 436 00:19:53,150 --> 00:19:55,350 And so from the moment that shot, 437 00:19:55,350 --> 00:19:59,930 from the instance that shot echoed across the skies 438 00:19:59,930 --> 00:20:01,340 and through the clouds, 439 00:20:01,340 --> 00:20:05,810 we officially earned the nickname Ironsides. 440 00:20:05,810 --> 00:20:08,190 And I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you 441 00:20:08,190 --> 00:20:12,610 that this story is chock full of accountability, 442 00:20:12,610 --> 00:20:17,350 initiative, toughness, and integrity. 443 00:20:17,350 --> 00:20:18,620 Because it took integrity 444 00:20:18,620 --> 00:20:22,287 for those directly next to the captain to not say, 445 00:20:22,287 --> 00:20:25,440 "Sir, respectfully, are you crazy?" 446 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,620 Or it took accountability for them 447 00:20:27,620 --> 00:20:30,910 to make sure that they honored the oath that they took 448 00:20:30,910 --> 00:20:32,970 when they joined the Navy 449 00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:35,240 to not mutiny against the commanding officer 450 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,390 that potentially could have gotten them all killed. 451 00:20:38,390 --> 00:20:41,990 It took initiative for the commanding officer 452 00:20:41,990 --> 00:20:45,010 to even think of such a strategy. 453 00:20:45,010 --> 00:20:48,440 It took toughness from everyone on board 454 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:53,033 to stick to their guns, proverbially and literally. 455 00:20:53,940 --> 00:20:58,270 It took honor, courage and commitment to the cause, 456 00:20:58,270 --> 00:21:01,420 to the mission for them to not abandon their post 457 00:21:01,420 --> 00:21:03,453 in the face of a daunting enemy. 458 00:21:04,620 --> 00:21:08,910 Because I can guarantee you that they had no guarantees 459 00:21:08,910 --> 00:21:11,260 when they were inside of these gunports 460 00:21:11,260 --> 00:21:15,200 waiting for the enemy to attack, 461 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,810 knowing that they could not retaliate quite yet. 462 00:21:17,810 --> 00:21:21,110 You never had any guarantees that the next shot you heard 463 00:21:21,110 --> 00:21:24,123 would be the last shot you heard. 464 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,320 And of course, as intense as this is, 465 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,163 our story doesn't end there. 466 00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:33,670 We will conclude everything very nicely 467 00:21:33,670 --> 00:21:36,170 once we finish talking about the Cyane and Levant, 468 00:21:36,170 --> 00:21:39,393 but right now it is time for the Java to shine. 469 00:21:41,980 --> 00:21:43,520 With the HMS Guerriere, 470 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,010 our commanding officer was Captain Isaac Hull, 471 00:21:46,010 --> 00:21:50,260 but with the HMS Java incident, our commanding officer 472 00:21:50,260 --> 00:21:53,430 was none other than William Bainbridge. 473 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:54,820 Now, what I'd like to tell you 474 00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:56,950 about Captain William Bainbridge 475 00:21:56,950 --> 00:22:01,050 was that he had a reputation at the time in the Navy 476 00:22:01,050 --> 00:22:05,950 for not necessarily being the most capable officer 477 00:22:05,950 --> 00:22:09,560 or the nicest officer. 478 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:13,800 Essentially, he had a reputation for kind of messing up, 479 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,330 and thus he was going into this fight 480 00:22:16,330 --> 00:22:17,910 with something to prove. 481 00:22:17,910 --> 00:22:20,930 And I believe once you hear how it went, 482 00:22:20,930 --> 00:22:23,003 he was pretty successful. 483 00:22:23,930 --> 00:22:27,980 And so why do we have this broken wheel 484 00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:29,630 right here as a display? 485 00:22:29,630 --> 00:22:32,470 Well, that is because this battle was the one 486 00:22:32,470 --> 00:22:34,510 in which the USS Constitution suffered 487 00:22:34,510 --> 00:22:37,043 arguably the most damage in her career. 488 00:22:37,930 --> 00:22:38,777 Why is that? 489 00:22:38,777 --> 00:22:43,777 And that is because on December 29th, 1812, sorry. 490 00:22:44,780 --> 00:22:48,610 1812, we encountered the HMS Java off the coast of Brazil 491 00:22:49,530 --> 00:22:51,910 and we immediately went into battle. 492 00:22:51,910 --> 00:22:54,550 Now I don't have as many details for you 493 00:22:54,550 --> 00:22:56,300 as I did for the HMS Guerriere, 494 00:22:56,300 --> 00:22:59,050 but let's talk about the main tidbits. 495 00:22:59,050 --> 00:23:02,760 During that fight, each ship is just going at each other, 496 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,450 firing broadside after broadside. 497 00:23:05,450 --> 00:23:08,610 But finally, I'd like you to keep this in mind, 498 00:23:08,610 --> 00:23:11,470 with the commanding officer at the quarterdeck of the ship 499 00:23:11,470 --> 00:23:13,280 where he's supposed to be, 500 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:17,540 giving his men the orders needed for us to win the day, 501 00:23:17,540 --> 00:23:21,303 a shot flew across the quarterdeck, 502 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:24,460 broke off the wheel, 503 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:27,060 injured our commanding officer in his legs. 504 00:23:27,060 --> 00:23:29,260 He couldn't even stand properly. 505 00:23:29,260 --> 00:23:32,500 And yet with his first lieutenant, 506 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:34,560 his XO telling him to go down below 507 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:39,140 to get attention from their medical officer on board, 508 00:23:39,140 --> 00:23:42,310 he decided, no, I'm staying here. 509 00:23:42,310 --> 00:23:43,550 My men need to see me. 510 00:23:43,550 --> 00:23:45,320 They need to hear me. 511 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:46,790 They need to know that their commanding officer 512 00:23:46,790 --> 00:23:51,300 is not giving up so that they don't end up giving up either. 513 00:23:51,300 --> 00:23:54,330 So that being the case, he had men hold him up. 514 00:23:54,330 --> 00:23:56,050 And of course, with our wheel gone, 515 00:23:56,050 --> 00:23:57,630 we had issues with steering. 516 00:23:57,630 --> 00:24:01,040 So we had to basically go down into the tiller room 517 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:05,090 and have men, sailors and Marines, play a game of telephone. 518 00:24:05,090 --> 00:24:08,720 Except in this case, it was life and death 519 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,570 if you got it wrong, so we certainly had to get it right. 520 00:24:12,570 --> 00:24:14,930 Channeling the commanding officer's orders 521 00:24:14,930 --> 00:24:16,580 all the way down to the tiller room 522 00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:19,400 so that we could properly steer the ship. 523 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:20,690 And for those of you not familiar 524 00:24:20,690 --> 00:24:23,480 with the constitution of the Constitution. 525 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:24,820 I couldn't resist, I'm sorry. 526 00:24:24,820 --> 00:24:27,680 The constitution of a Naval warship. 527 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,870 The helm is a three-part system. 528 00:24:29,870 --> 00:24:32,610 It is comprised of the wheel with lines 529 00:24:32,610 --> 00:24:35,790 or rope tied around here, going down the deck, 530 00:24:35,790 --> 00:24:39,050 connected to the tiller, which is a large rod, 531 00:24:39,050 --> 00:24:42,890 which is thus, or then connected to the rudder. 532 00:24:42,890 --> 00:24:43,910 And that is the helm. 533 00:24:43,910 --> 00:24:47,410 So rudder, tiller, wheel, like so. 534 00:24:47,410 --> 00:24:50,100 Without the wheel, now the only way to steer 535 00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:51,200 is through the tiller. 536 00:24:52,230 --> 00:24:54,920 And so we basically, with all those damages 537 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,310 done to our ship, had to finish the fight. 538 00:24:57,310 --> 00:24:59,830 And we did with a victory, 539 00:24:59,830 --> 00:25:04,340 because one of our Marines shot their commanding officer 540 00:25:04,340 --> 00:25:05,803 and mortally wounded him. 541 00:25:07,030 --> 00:25:09,250 So that being said, their second in command, 542 00:25:09,250 --> 00:25:12,010 their first lieutenant took over and surrendered their ship 543 00:25:12,010 --> 00:25:15,490 because he saw no other options at the time. 544 00:25:15,490 --> 00:25:16,510 And a fun fact for you, 545 00:25:16,510 --> 00:25:18,770 once they came on board as prisoners of war, 546 00:25:18,770 --> 00:25:22,200 he had to then later on explained to the British Tribunal 547 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,010 why he surrendered a British ship. 548 00:25:24,010 --> 00:25:27,910 And he said that had he known the Constitution 549 00:25:27,910 --> 00:25:30,410 or the state of the USS Constitution, 550 00:25:30,410 --> 00:25:32,660 he never would have surrendered. 551 00:25:32,660 --> 00:25:36,580 So take all of that information that I just presented to you 552 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,630 and compare it to your own life. 553 00:25:39,630 --> 00:25:42,290 Compare it to your own career. 554 00:25:42,290 --> 00:25:45,940 What do you do when life is attempting to beat you 555 00:25:45,940 --> 00:25:50,010 within an inch of yourself? 556 00:25:50,010 --> 00:25:52,500 Do you give up or do you keep fighting? 557 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,010 What do you do when the person fighting you 558 00:25:55,010 --> 00:25:56,770 or the person giving you a hard time 559 00:25:56,770 --> 00:26:00,073 seems like they're in better condition than you are? 560 00:26:01,220 --> 00:26:05,250 What do you do when the odds are against you? 561 00:26:05,250 --> 00:26:08,790 When it seems like nobody is there to support you? 562 00:26:08,790 --> 00:26:11,040 Do you buckle under the pressure 563 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:15,513 or do you dig your heels in and say, no, you surrender? 564 00:26:16,470 --> 00:26:17,923 Because that's what they did. 565 00:26:18,930 --> 00:26:20,390 They stayed honorable. 566 00:26:20,390 --> 00:26:23,660 They stayed committed to the mission, 567 00:26:23,660 --> 00:26:24,930 thus displaying courage. 568 00:26:24,930 --> 00:26:29,710 And I remind you, courage is not the absence of fear. 569 00:26:29,710 --> 00:26:32,053 It's the conquering of it. 570 00:26:33,030 --> 00:26:35,760 It's the transitional use of it. 571 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,650 You transform that energy, like I mentioned earlier, 572 00:26:38,650 --> 00:26:42,550 into something useful, into something tangible. 573 00:26:42,550 --> 00:26:46,620 Take those chains, smelt them down into basically 574 00:26:46,620 --> 00:26:48,830 something that you can turn into a sword 575 00:26:48,830 --> 00:26:51,760 to fight with, to defend yourself. 576 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:56,340 That is the hallmark of a true leader. 577 00:26:56,340 --> 00:26:58,500 And I'm not just talking to the chief selects now. 578 00:26:58,500 --> 00:27:02,063 This applies to all walks of life. 579 00:27:03,070 --> 00:27:06,330 So we just told you how we won a fight 580 00:27:06,330 --> 00:27:08,410 where we lost our wheel. 581 00:27:08,410 --> 00:27:09,380 Oh, and by the way, 582 00:27:09,380 --> 00:27:12,640 we took the enemy ship's wheel after we beat them up. 583 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:13,940 So that's pretty cool too. 584 00:27:14,910 --> 00:27:17,990 So let's talk about our final engagement 585 00:27:17,990 --> 00:27:22,793 in the form of the battle versus the HMS Cyane and Levant. 586 00:27:24,530 --> 00:27:27,363 Here we have, actually. 587 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:29,963 Okay, that is not him. 588 00:27:31,690 --> 00:27:35,160 Here we have a picture of Charles Stewart. 589 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:39,135 That was our commanding officer at the time. 590 00:27:39,135 --> 00:27:42,323 And this battle occurred on February 20th, 1815. 591 00:27:45,070 --> 00:27:49,180 Still within the scope of the War of 1812, 592 00:27:49,180 --> 00:27:52,440 but this occurred on 1815. 593 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,820 And here's another moment that I think is a great time 594 00:27:54,820 --> 00:27:57,520 to give a shout out to the USS Constitution Museum 595 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:01,420 because when they have displays like this 596 00:28:02,330 --> 00:28:04,910 that are so intuitive, so interactive, 597 00:28:04,910 --> 00:28:09,470 you don't need constant deep moments of reflection 598 00:28:09,470 --> 00:28:13,250 to try and picture how the ship won the fight because, 599 00:28:13,250 --> 00:28:16,623 why this display matters and is a game changer? 600 00:28:17,610 --> 00:28:21,280 Well, it's because we won the fight against two ships 601 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:26,280 by performing a super risky maneuver called back-winding. 602 00:28:26,330 --> 00:28:30,180 And that is when you adjust your sails at a certain angle 603 00:28:30,180 --> 00:28:34,580 allowing for the ship to have rear momentum 604 00:28:34,580 --> 00:28:38,540 or to simply just get put in reverse, 605 00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:41,060 for my Millennials out there. 606 00:28:41,060 --> 00:28:45,320 So that being said, I did mention this was risky. 607 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,040 I did mention this was dangerous. 608 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:49,830 How did we come about this choice? 609 00:28:49,830 --> 00:28:52,450 Well, when we engaged them in battle, 610 00:28:52,450 --> 00:28:54,653 and this was, in terms of geography, 611 00:28:55,910 --> 00:28:58,460 off the coast of the Madeira Islands near Portugal. 612 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,100 We encountered those two ships. 613 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:04,193 They were chasing us basically and we had to fight them. 614 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,240 They were smaller vessels, 615 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,250 but their total amount of guns exceeded our own. 616 00:29:11,250 --> 00:29:14,230 And their strategy was to sandwich the Constitution 617 00:29:14,230 --> 00:29:15,690 between the two British ships 618 00:29:15,690 --> 00:29:18,773 so that they could be hitting us from both sides. 619 00:29:19,780 --> 00:29:23,440 And I might ask you, have you ever felt like sometimes 620 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,580 life is hitting you from both sides? 621 00:29:26,580 --> 00:29:28,610 Maybe you are having difficulties at work 622 00:29:28,610 --> 00:29:31,180 and then you come back home expecting 623 00:29:31,180 --> 00:29:33,810 or hoping for some form of solace. 624 00:29:33,810 --> 00:29:37,510 And yet at home, you're also met with some difficulties, 625 00:29:37,510 --> 00:29:42,510 some difficult questions, some rough situations 626 00:29:43,210 --> 00:29:45,023 or maybe lack of support. 627 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:47,503 What do you do? 628 00:29:48,470 --> 00:29:52,580 Do you keep letting yourself get bombarded again and again 629 00:29:52,580 --> 00:29:54,963 from both sides and do nothing? 630 00:29:55,890 --> 00:29:59,280 Or do you find some way, shape or form 631 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,263 to use the momentum of one against the other? 632 00:30:04,190 --> 00:30:07,770 And just like for us, sometimes that might require you 633 00:30:07,770 --> 00:30:10,270 to make some adjustments. 634 00:30:10,270 --> 00:30:12,470 That might require you to prioritize 635 00:30:12,470 --> 00:30:15,360 some other things than you have before. 636 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,560 Because as the saying goes, to get what you've never gotten 637 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,323 you must be willing to do what you've never done. 638 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,580 Basically, to accomplish what you've never accomplished, 639 00:30:26,580 --> 00:30:28,830 you have to be willing to become 640 00:30:28,830 --> 00:30:31,593 what you've never become before. 641 00:30:32,910 --> 00:30:34,450 I'm pretty sure you guys are getting 642 00:30:34,450 --> 00:30:36,180 where I'm going with this. 643 00:30:36,180 --> 00:30:40,320 This has never been done in battle. 644 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:41,750 Not by us. 645 00:30:41,750 --> 00:30:44,700 And so there were no absolutes, there were no guarantees, 646 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:47,083 and thus is life. 647 00:30:48,660 --> 00:30:51,550 I have found that rarely will you ever be put 648 00:30:51,550 --> 00:30:54,670 in a position of leadership or of mentorship 649 00:30:54,670 --> 00:30:59,410 or of supervision or basically of a managerial position 650 00:30:59,410 --> 00:31:02,000 to where you have to make difficult decisions 651 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,730 that you feel 100% sure of. 652 00:31:05,730 --> 00:31:07,940 And yet Charles Stewart made that call 653 00:31:07,940 --> 00:31:10,390 while they were attempting to maneuver around us 654 00:31:10,390 --> 00:31:15,310 and sandwich both of us, we damaged one, one of the ships. 655 00:31:15,310 --> 00:31:17,480 Basically, I believe it was the Levant first. 656 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,290 And then they had to break off to make repairs 657 00:31:20,290 --> 00:31:22,990 while we then used that smoke cloud 658 00:31:22,990 --> 00:31:26,050 to reverse back into position enough 659 00:31:26,050 --> 00:31:28,080 so that we could reach the Cyane 660 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:29,913 and then take her out separately. 661 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,220 So we turned what would have been a two-on-one 662 00:31:34,220 --> 00:31:38,163 into a, well, two separate accounts of one-on-one. 663 00:31:39,310 --> 00:31:40,740 Now I would encourage you, 664 00:31:40,740 --> 00:31:43,420 if you are interested in the deeper dive 665 00:31:43,420 --> 00:31:48,070 of how this battle went out or played out step-by-step, 666 00:31:48,070 --> 00:31:51,700 once again, please, please, please do yourself a favor, 667 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:54,180 check out the USS Constitution Museum website, 668 00:31:54,180 --> 00:31:56,960 because they are the ones 669 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:59,930 that give us what we share with you. 670 00:31:59,930 --> 00:32:03,570 And it is credible information, all gathered painstakingly 671 00:32:03,570 --> 00:32:06,050 throughout the years from ship logs, 672 00:32:06,050 --> 00:32:08,960 from special accounts in letters, whatever it is, 673 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,230 anything that is made to be authentic. 674 00:32:12,230 --> 00:32:14,050 And that is why historical information 675 00:32:14,050 --> 00:32:16,400 is constantly evolving throughout times, 676 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,010 because they are constantly researching more. 677 00:32:19,010 --> 00:32:22,780 They are constantly searching for more outlets or inlets, 678 00:32:22,780 --> 00:32:24,470 in this case, for historical knowledge. 679 00:32:24,470 --> 00:32:26,180 So they have proven themselves 680 00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:29,230 to be a credible source throughout the years. 681 00:32:29,230 --> 00:32:32,100 But back to our situation here, 682 00:32:32,100 --> 00:32:37,100 what would we focus on this during Chief Heritage Weeks? 683 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:39,900 Difficult decisions. 684 00:32:39,900 --> 00:32:42,290 That is something that as a chief 685 00:32:42,290 --> 00:32:44,350 you will have no shortage of. 686 00:32:44,350 --> 00:32:46,510 That is something that as a leader, 687 00:32:46,510 --> 00:32:48,880 whether you're in the United States Navy or not, 688 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,090 somebody in a leadership position, 689 00:32:51,090 --> 00:32:55,610 you will have no shortage of difficult decisions. 690 00:32:55,610 --> 00:32:59,340 To where normally it makes sense, 691 00:32:59,340 --> 00:33:01,530 and sometimes some would argue 692 00:33:01,530 --> 00:33:04,213 you're built to constantly be going forward. 693 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,820 And yet at times, life may call for you to make a decision. 694 00:33:09,820 --> 00:33:11,750 Will you keep forcing your way 695 00:33:11,750 --> 00:33:14,920 just because that's all you've ever known? 696 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:18,890 Or are you able to make adjustments for the situation? 697 00:33:18,890 --> 00:33:22,000 Are you able to be flexible? 698 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:26,440 Are you able to prioritize getting stuff done 699 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,123 over being comfortable? 700 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:32,740 Who are you and what do you stand for? 701 00:33:32,740 --> 00:33:36,240 Are you able to truly take honor, courage and commitment 702 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,930 and apply those holistically 703 00:33:38,930 --> 00:33:41,143 to each and everything that you do? 704 00:33:42,670 --> 00:33:46,790 Are you able to truly stand in front or ahead of those 705 00:33:46,790 --> 00:33:48,780 that you're supposed to be representing 706 00:33:49,910 --> 00:33:53,000 and say that you have accountability? 707 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:56,953 And show them what it means to use initiative. 708 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,560 Show them what it means to actually be tough. 709 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,763 Not necessarily be mean, be tough. 710 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:12,363 And show them what it means to have true integrity. 711 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:17,740 Sometimes being honest is probably the best way 712 00:34:17,740 --> 00:34:21,220 as opposed to faking a front of always having the answers 713 00:34:21,220 --> 00:34:23,300 or always knowing what to do. 714 00:34:23,300 --> 00:34:27,570 Sometimes it may be required of you to be honest 715 00:34:27,570 --> 00:34:31,200 and tell your superiors, I don't know. 716 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:32,320 I need guidance. 717 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,640 I need help so that I can properly lead those people 718 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:36,930 that I'm in charge of. 719 00:34:36,930 --> 00:34:40,580 Sometimes it takes going backwards a little bit 720 00:34:40,580 --> 00:34:43,213 to propel yourself forwards. 721 00:34:44,530 --> 00:34:48,680 And one thing that I, lastly, in conclusion, 722 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:50,890 one thing that I always mentioned 723 00:34:50,890 --> 00:34:54,880 to the chief select groups that came through this exhibit, 724 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:59,840 especially in this situation here is that a lot of times, 725 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:03,980 sadly, the perception of leadership is skewed. 726 00:35:03,980 --> 00:35:08,560 It's one-sided because as a leader, you're at the forefront. 727 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:13,560 So most of what people see is the praise side of everything. 728 00:35:14,140 --> 00:35:16,090 When the good is coming the way of the group, 729 00:35:16,090 --> 00:35:18,350 typically you're the first to get it. 730 00:35:18,350 --> 00:35:21,393 And it's your job to trickle those BZ's down the line. 731 00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:25,560 But then the flip side of that coin is that when the storms 732 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:27,370 and when the harsh winds come, 733 00:35:27,370 --> 00:35:31,820 it is expected of you to be the first to encounter it, 734 00:35:31,820 --> 00:35:35,860 and then make sure as little as possible 735 00:35:35,860 --> 00:35:37,980 trickles down to those under you 736 00:35:37,980 --> 00:35:40,163 or serving for you or with you. 737 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,550 So a lot of people have this misconception 738 00:35:44,550 --> 00:35:48,640 that leadership is all just about the power that you wield, 739 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:52,790 or the privileges that you have, or the perks that you get. 740 00:35:52,790 --> 00:35:54,720 And it is all too easily forgotten 741 00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:56,690 about the responsibilities that you have, 742 00:35:56,690 --> 00:36:01,283 the weight that you carry, sometimes alone. 743 00:36:02,290 --> 00:36:05,010 So I would encourage you to take the example 744 00:36:05,010 --> 00:36:07,290 of the USS Constitution, 745 00:36:07,290 --> 00:36:09,080 because it was not just one man. 746 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,060 It was not just one group of people. 747 00:36:11,060 --> 00:36:12,870 It was an entire family. 748 00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:16,270 It was several generations of sailors 749 00:36:16,270 --> 00:36:18,763 that accomplished what this ship stands for. 750 00:36:20,020 --> 00:36:21,460 And I'll add this on 751 00:36:21,460 --> 00:36:25,410 to make it that much more impactful for you, 752 00:36:25,410 --> 00:36:27,560 because according to all the information, the numbers, 753 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,340 the dates and statistics that me and my fellow crew members 754 00:36:30,340 --> 00:36:33,470 have been oh so graciously gifted or endowed with 755 00:36:33,470 --> 00:36:35,980 by the USS Constitution Museum, 756 00:36:35,980 --> 00:36:39,030 none of the sailors, Marines or officers 757 00:36:39,030 --> 00:36:41,140 that ever served onboard this mighty vessel 758 00:36:41,140 --> 00:36:43,870 were ever reported to have been born on Krypton 759 00:36:43,870 --> 00:36:46,400 or bitten by any radioactive spiders. 760 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,323 What I'm getting at is that they were humans. 761 00:36:50,550 --> 00:36:53,610 It doesn't mean they never made mistakes. 762 00:36:53,610 --> 00:36:56,140 It simply means that every single day 763 00:36:56,140 --> 00:36:57,640 as they rolled out of their hammocks 764 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:00,793 and put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you do, 765 00:37:02,030 --> 00:37:07,030 they had to answer this one single solitary question 766 00:37:07,210 --> 00:37:10,540 every single day. 767 00:37:10,540 --> 00:37:12,580 And before I tell you what that is, 768 00:37:12,580 --> 00:37:14,880 I remind you that, just like them, 769 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:17,430 because of the little ones that are depending on you 770 00:37:17,430 --> 00:37:18,670 or because of that dream 771 00:37:18,670 --> 00:37:21,560 that you are tirelessly chasing after, 772 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:25,630 that question does life also pose to you 773 00:37:25,630 --> 00:37:28,330 every single time that you open your eyes. 774 00:37:28,330 --> 00:37:32,773 And that question is, will you keep fighting? 775 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,400 With that, once again, my name is Jason Adele Petitfrere, 776 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,650 a logistics specialist third class petty officer 777 00:37:39,650 --> 00:37:42,720 onboard the USS Constitution, America's Ship of State, 778 00:37:42,720 --> 00:37:44,690 the oldest commissioned warship afloat 779 00:37:44,690 --> 00:37:46,190 in the entire world, 780 00:37:46,190 --> 00:37:50,290 coming at you not necessarily live anymore, 781 00:37:50,290 --> 00:37:52,810 but still from the USS Constitution Museum 782 00:37:52,810 --> 00:37:54,340 in Charlestown Navy Yard. 783 00:37:54,340 --> 00:37:56,390 Thank you very much for joining us today.