Jones himself was wounded and not afraid to engage in the violent necessities of war. In an earlier wartime episode, while in command of Ranger in April 1778, Jones devised a plan to kidnap the Earl of Selkirk in order to exchange him for captured American sailors. Jones took his boat crews ashore. The Earl was absent but Jones men insisted on looting the mansion for their efforts. Jones desired to leave immediately, but agreed to let them keep a carefully inventoried set of the family silver.
Civility demands adherence to the strictest standards of behavior at all times.
From these we earn respect and accept accountability. There is no room for weakness in such a standard. Accountability can be as tough as combat and combat does not obviate civil behavior. Society can afford to entrust such awesome responsibility and capability only to its most civilized and enlightened members. There are hundreds of USNA grads serving as forward-deployed diplomats around the globe every day.