The U.S. military is making America proud, the Chief of Naval Operations told an audience of naval cadets and midshipmen Friday at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Adm. Vern Clark said the mission of the Navy is to be prepared for service at any corner of the globe, and since Sept. 11, the Navy has done just that, he said.

"Our people are ready, and the military is doing a wonderful job."

The room grew quiet as Clark recalled being in his Pentagon office on the morning of Sept. 11.

He usually kept a television on with the volume turned low, but on that morning, it was turned off.

When Clark got news that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers, he thought it was an accident. But when the second plane crashed, Clark said he knew it was an act of terrorism.

Clark recalled what happened later that morning in Washington, D.C., to the 10-spoke Pentagon building.

A plane crashed into the command center at spoke four of the building. Clark's office was at spoke six.

The sensation of the hit was like the pressure of the guns going off on one of the destroyer ships, Clark said.

Forty-two people died at the Pentagon and 10 Navy personnel died in the plane crashes.

"I'm getting too much practice going to memorial services," Clark said.

The war on terrorism is a battle that must be persistently fought, he added.

"Our way of life has an influence on this world that they don't want to see," Clark said.

As the 27th Chief of Naval Operations, Clark is responsible for preparing and maintaining the readiness of the United States Navy.

The CNO is a four-star admiral and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Clark is also the principal naval adviser to President Bush and to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of war. Clark has been the CNO for 21 months.

Clark, who stood in front of the podium as he spoke, took several steps toward the Navy recruiters as he praised them for a job well done.

"We're after young people, giving them a chance to make a difference," he said.

The retaining of personnel, the battle for people, is important to the operation of the military, he said.

Clark also praised the work of the Applied Research Laboratory and the Penn State Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Clark recalled joining the Navy in 1968, saying he never imagined he would accomplish so much.

Clark has been honored with such awards as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Navy Commendation Medal.

While he was visiting Penn State, Clark also toured the ARL and attended a luncheon hosted by the NROTC. In attendance were members of the United States Navy League, Midshipmen and other NROTC staff members, Penn State faculty and staff, local Navy recruiters and employees of the Penn State ARL.

Harrisburg high school students aspiring to be in the Navy were also present.