rifraff:
I'm going to take a bit of exception to your FTN statement. Having spent 20 years in the USN, I can understand where that statement is coming from, but I don't know that the Navy is far different from any of the armed services. I also served with a Marine Infantry Regiment.
My family has had a long standing connection with the Navy. Between my father, myself, and my two brothers, we gave nearly 100 years of combined service. In addition, there has been a ship named (three times) after one of our family members (from way back).