--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I commanded a naval gunboat patrolling…" description: "\"I commanded a naval gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta. Then when I came home after two tours of duty, I decided that the same sense of service demand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/john-f-kerry-996_decided_i-commanded-a-naval-gunboat-patrolling-t_3185490.png" --- # I commanded a naval gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta… ![“I commanded a naval gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta. Then when I came home after two tours of duty, I decided that the same sense of service demanded something more of me.” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/john-f-kerry-996_decided_i-commanded-a-naval-gunboat-patrolling-t_3185490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/john-f-kerry-996_decided_i-commanded-a-naval-gunboat-patrolling-t_3185490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/john-f-kerry-996_decided_i-commanded-a-naval-gunboat-patrolling-t_3185490.png) > “I commanded a naval gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta. Then when I came home after two tours of duty, I decided that the same sense of service demanded something more of me.” [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on military service and feels a continued duty to serve society in new ways. **In simple terms:** Service continues beyond the battlefield. Key Takeaway Seek ways to serve after military life. Themes service duty transition Mood reflective determined Type speech personal When to use this quote - post‑service career - community volunteering - political engagement Key Concepts civic responsibility personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What new purpose can you pursue? - How can you translate military skills to civilian impact? A Different Perspective Transition can be challenging without clear purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) ## Related quotes > [If you were to build a wall from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico, you would still have to back that wall up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/if-you-were-to-build-a-wall-from-the-pacific-to-the-gulf-of-mexico/) [John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/) > [The Coast Guard maintains a continual presence in the Florida Straits and the Caribbean Sea, particularly around Puerto Rico, in our maritime approaches. Patrolling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-coast-guard-maintains-a-continual-presence-in-the-florida-straits/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Absolutely, it's a Sunni area. So the key here, once Ramadi is taken that you have the Sunni tribal fighters, Sunni police in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bowman/absolutely-it-s-a-sunni-area-so-the-key-here-once-ramadi-is-taken/) [Tom Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bowman/) > [For an ordinary citizen, what is the common interaction you have with a police officer? When they pull you over for speeding, or when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/for-an-ordinary-citizen-what-is-the-common-interaction-you-have-with/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [By patrolling our borders, we can take a proactive stand against human trafficking, violence, terrorism, and illegal immigration from spiraling out of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-parson/by-patrolling-our-borders-we-can-take-a-proactive-stand-against-human/) [Mike Parson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-parson/) > [Recently, while I was in England, I saw a documentary on the BBC about the border between India and Pakistan at Wagah. When the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/recently-while-i-was-in-england-i-saw-a-documentary-on-the-bbc-about/) [Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/) > [“The man patrolling his prejudices never sleeps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-man-patrolling-his-prejudices-never-sleeps/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [It's not enough to celebrate the ideals that we're built on, liberty and justice and equality for all. Those just can't be words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-not-enough-to-celebrate-the-ideals-that-we-re-built-on-liberty/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Creating these messes that go from administration to administration and then you swoop in and clean them up - with that heroic Delta force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwidge-danticat/creating-these-messes-that-go-from-administration-to-administration/) [Edwidge Danticat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwidge-danticat/) > [When I was 15, if anything, I thought I was going to be a Delta bluesman, which is so ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/when-i-was-15-if-anything-i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-delta/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [Ill book a ticket on some garbage airline. I dont wanna name an actual airline so lets make one up, lets just call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/ill-book-a-ticket-on-some-garbage-airline-i-dont-wanna-name-an-actual/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I'm from the Mississippi delta originally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-milton/i-m-from-the-mississippi-delta-originally/) [Little Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-milton/) > [I feel like so much of what happened in the Delta over the decades since slavery was abolished seems much closer in the Delta,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-feel-like-so-much-of-what-happened-in-the-delta-over-the-decades/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [By the time I was in my teens, I was listening to Delta blues and jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hozier/by-the-time-i-was-in-my-teens-i-was-listening-to-delta-blues-and-jazz/) [Hozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hozier/) > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) ## More by John F. Kerry > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-m-an-internationalist-i-d-like-to-see-our-troops-dispersed-through/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There's an agreement that Syria should be a unified country, united; that it needs to be secular; that ISIL needs to be taken on;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-s-an-agreement-that-syria-should-be-a-unified-country-united/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [It's very hard to get other countries to give up their weapons when you're busy developing a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/it-s-very-hard-to-get-other-countries-to-give-up-their-weapons-when/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There is no bigger judgment for a president of the United States than how you take a nation to war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-is-no-bigger-judgment-for-a-president-of-the-united-states-than/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I have confidence in my campaign. 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Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/america-must-always-be-the-world-s-paramount-military-power-but-we/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific facts,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/we-should-not-allow-a-tiny-minority-of-shoddy-scientists-and-science/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Jesus did not help just the sick who could afford to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/jesus-did-not-help-just-the-sick-who-could-afford-to-pay-for-it/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity. And it should be a last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/war-should-be-not-a-war-of-choice-it-should-be-a-war-of-necessity-and/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) [Explore all 312 John F. Kerry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More Decided quotes > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. 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