He didn’t cry, exactly. But his eyes grew moist. And Carlos Del Toro’s voice broke Wednesday when it came time for the secretary of the Navy to say goodbye to sailors bunched up on the deck of the USS Boxer in San Diego Bay.
Houthi rebels have been firing missiles at American warships in the Red Sea, including ships from San Diego. All of the attacks have been repelled. Del Toro considers all this to be an outrage.
“Our Navy has not been attacked in such a manner since World War II,” said Del Toro, whose tenure as secretary will end in early January, when Donald Trump becomes president. Seconds later, in a softer, teary voice, he added: “Know that to my dying day, I will carry all of you in my heart and in my prayers always. God bless you.”
It was a lump-in-the-throat moment that elicited cheers from sailors who had been enjoying an otherwise light and often funny farewell for Del Toro, who has presided over the Navy’s 900,000 active-duty and civilian personnel for the past 3 1/2 years.
He didn’t pause to discuss the Navy’s challenges, including keeping its ships is good order. The Boxer’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific got off to a bad start earlier this year due to ongoing mechanical problems.
Instead, Del Toro joyfully shared the spotlight with an unexpected guest, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was honored for his long support of the U.S. military.
The secretary couldn’t help but be aware of Schwarzenegger’s popularity. Many sailors were holding copies of the actor’s last book, “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life.” They hoped the 77-year-old would turn their way, which he did, blending into the crowd to sign autographs.
At one point, he stepped a way from the gaggle only to swivel his head back to the sailors and deliver his signature line from “The Terminator” — “I’ll be back!” Another cheer went up.
Like Del Toro, Schwarzenegger also took time Wednesday to talk about how he became an American citizen, and how it changed the course of his life. Del Toro was born in Cuba, Schwarzenegger in Austria.
Schwarzenegger started with a few slightly bawdy jokes, then grew serious.
“It is because of you that this country could flourish and become the greatest nation in the world,” he told the sailors.
“Nothing that I have ever accomplished in my life would have been possible without America,” he continued. “America gave me the chance to be a bodybuilding champion. America gave me the chance to be a movie star. America gave me the chance to make millions of dollars. America gave me the chance to run for governor of the great state of California.
“Everything is because of America.”
Del Toro then stepped forward, acknowledged that he’s in his final moments as secretary of the Navy, and spoke of what he’s seen — and what he admires.
“We know the challenges we face here in the Pacific, with regards to trying to deter China from invading Taiwan and to ensure that the sovereignty of all nations in the Pacific are respected the way that they should be,” he said.
“That’s what allied nations do. And I’m proud of the record we have built — you and I — across this past 3 1/2 years to strengthen the alliances and partnerships with our Asian allies and partners in the Pacific.”
