Courage

I was raised in a military family and spent most of my adult life in the U.S. Navy.  My first impressions of virtue of Courage were from old WWII and Vietnam movies.  My mind was filled with images of incredible Bravery of men charging machine gun nests, or standing firm on the bridge of battleships under heavy enemy fire.  In every instance willing to die for a cause, or a belief, or even the man next to them.

These were acts of physical Courage.

When I entered the Naval Academy I was fully and heavily indoctrinated in the concept of Courage under Fire.  Physical courage was certainly on the agenda and a primary aim of the indoctrination.  However, from day one at the Academy we began indoctrination into Moral Courage, or the willingness to stand firm in the face of non-physical threats. 

While the details of this indoctrination are beyond the scope of this short essay, the lesson was clear:  Courage (physical, moral or otherwise) was rewarded and cowardice was punished at every turn.

Threats may come in many forms:  physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, etc. 

In essence, I believe Courage is simply possessing the fortitude to stand firm in the face of a threat and to do what is Right.