He respected the dignity inherent in every life - a dignity that does not stop at borders and cannot be erased by dictators. There was something deep inside him that made him stand up for the little guy – to speak for forgotten people in forgotten places. One friend from his Naval Academy days recalled how John – while a lowly plebe – reacted to seeing an upperclassman verbally abuse a steward. Whatever the cause, it was this combination of courage and decency that defined John’s calling – and so closely paralleled the calling of his country. It is this combination of courage and decency that makes the American military something new in history – an unrivaled power for good.

Source: New York Times September 01, 2018 16:41 UTC