Never Give up, Never Surrender

History tells us that on September 23, 1779, Captain John Paul Jones was at the helm of the Bonhomme Richard when he engaged ships from the British Navy. We know he was out gunned and outnumbered; his ship was ablaze and sinking. As I read the stories of the accounts of that day, I picture this grand battle in my head. I wasn’t there but this is how I feel it went down.

I believe that on several occasions throughout John Paul Jones’ life, he had been reminded how grand and powerful the British Navy was. No one needed to remind him that he served a Navy that had yet to really prove themselves to the world. Knowing this type of man, I believe he thought on this often as he sailed across the seas. When the Battle of Flamborough Head began, I believe he knew he was out gunned and outnumbered. As the battle raged on, I am sure he was aware that his ship was on fire, sinking, and that his crew was exhausted from the battle.

In my mind, I imagine a great confusion that must have taken over these men while these ships dueled at such close proximity. How easy it must have been to lose your bearings in the midst of the smoke, cannon fire, and gunfire. I picture that the young officer who yelled to the British ‘we surrender,’ at that moment couldn’t find his Captain. History states that the officer believed Captain Jones to be dead. I envision the Captain being knocked to the deck of the ship. As he looked around at his men, he noticed them to be showing signs of grave exhaustion and hints of surrendering. Then he heard the call by his own officer that they were preparing to surrender. Still on the ground, I envision the Captain shaking his head and saying ‘oh hell no’ as he hears the British Captain yell back “Are you serious, do you intend to strike?”

Of course, I wasn’t there, but I picture Captain John Paul Jones jumping to his feet almost God like. I see him almost angelically floating to the side of the ship, jumping up on a rail, one hand holding tightly to a rope and the other hand pointing across to the British Captain. I see Captain Jones’ men standing in shock as if they have just witnessed the divine resurrection itself. With the smoke and fire to his back, I imagine the call from the British Captain came across again, “Do you surrender?” And over the cheers of the British sailors who are taunting “surrender, surrender,” I imagine a snide laugh as Captain John Paul Jones says "Surrender hell, I have not yet begun to fight!" And as the British look on in shock he follows up with this, "I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike."

So many times in our lives, we will be challenged by a force that is greater than we are. We will be outnumbered and outgunned; our ship will be on fire and sinking. In those moments, we will have friends that will feel that we have had enough and they will scream out we surrender. And you will hear your enemies taunting you with the words, “surrender, surrender.” In that moment you and only you can decide if enough is enough. Will you stay on the ground to accept surrender or will you find the last bit of energy you have left to jump to your feet and yell "Surrender hell, I have not yet begun to fight! I may be going down, but by God I am going down fighting?”