"Surrender? I have not yet begun to fight," were the words of John Paul Jones when asked to surrender the ship Bonhomme Richard. In a sense John Paul Jones represents the spirit of the U.S. Navy. In 1775 the American Navy found itself up against the resilient Royal Navy, yet surprisingly enough had captured over 450 British ships by 1778. John Paul Jones was rewarded for his work by commanding the Ranger. Captain John Paul Jones raised the American flag on his ship and on Valentines Day of 1778 a French fleet offered a salute to this warship.

Take a look at the John Paul Jones Memorial Site in the middle of Kittery, Maine. The Ranger was actually built and launched just a short distance from this site.