On this Warrior Wednesday with Chad Ray, Navy veteran Viron Smith shares the story that took him from small-town Winfield, Louisiana to a life of service—and a career that literally put him in charge of saving lives. Viron talks about leaving college football behind, joining the Navy at 19, and reporting to an aircraft carrier—USS George Washington—as an undesignated fireman assigned to damage control, the Navy’s frontline firefighters and “keep-the-ship-alive” team. He recounts a jaw-dropping early-career moment: being selected (without volunteering) to ride a helicopter to a sinking civilian vessel, getting lowered onto the deck alone, and running the dewatering pump that helped bring the ship safely to port. Byron also reflects on traveling the world, later shifting into substance abuse counseling to help active-duty members rebuild their lives, and how the Navy helped fund his education all the way to doctoral work. A powerful reminder: you never know what you’re capable of until you step up.