This week, the United States Coast Guard turns 218. To celebrate, we will be posting quotes from Master Chief Ben Randall (Kevin Costner’s character in The Guardian).

“There will come a time when you might have to decide who lives and dies out there. It’s a terrible responsibility but it’s one you will have to make as a rescue swimmer.

The bigger reality is, it’s also something you are going to have to live with as a human being.”