It would be hard to find a young man in Bermuda who doesn?t quake in his shoes at the sound of Major Herman Eve?s voice.

But contrary to what you might have heard, Maj. Eve, who celebrated his 55th birthday last week, is one of the warmest, most patient and humblest men you?ll ever meet.

After 35 years in the Bermuda Regiment, Maj. Eve is ready to hang up his hat, or is it a beret?

He resigned on Thursday as one of the longest serving officers after joining as a young, stubborn 20-year-old.

At that stage being in the Regiment for the next 35 years was the last thing on his mind.

?When I walked into the Regiment, at that time, I had long hair and refused to get it cut,? Maj. Eve said. ?They locked me up for three days and when I came out I just realised it didn?t make any sense, got my hair cut, served those two weeks and was the best recruit.?

He said this change in attitude helped him enjoy his time at the Regiment so much that he stayed on part-time for ten years.

?After ten years they asked me to join full-time, which I did in 1980 as Company Sergeant Major of training company,? he said.

Major Eve said he had to attend many courses both here and abroad in order to reach that rank.

On the more personal side, something a lot of people might not know is that Maj. Eve grew up in an orphanage.

?I had a need and a want to give to the community because so many people gave to me and the army was a good way for me to do this,? he said.

But it didn?t stop there. For almost 30 years Maj. Eve was also an umpire to various softball teams on the Island.

?I spent the same length of time as the coach to North Village softball team and also spent 25 years involved in netball, coaching North Village girls team,? he said.

The final team he coached was the Panthers Netball Team, but he was also a national coach for a few years.

Maj. Eve loves sport and started playing cricket for North Village in his late 20s and continued for many years before bidding farewell to Cleveland County. ?I can still play!? he boasts with a smile.

He is also a dedicated father to four children of whom he is incredibly proud.

Two of his daughters, Maxann and Jennifer, are lawyers while a third, Sierra, is leaving school to study law. His son, Herman Eve Jr. works for Correctional Services.

Maj. Eve said he also wanted to study law, but because he grew up in an orphanage and there wasn?t any money for that.

So, he decided early on his children had to be educated so that they could look out for themselves.

?I basically never achieved anything for myself, it was all for them,? he said.

Over the years, Maj. Eve has also gained the respect of many men who have served under him.

?I took my job very seriously and if we were called up, whatever we were tasked to do, we did it. The one thing I tried to be was firm, but fair,? he said.

He said he always, no matter what the problem was, took time out of his day to listen to the soldier and whatever problem he had.

?I always thought, having come out of an orphanage, that I understood people and understood behaviour and body language and was quick to pick up when something wasn?t right and I dealt with it,? he said. ?I never let something slide by. I was honest in anything I tried to say.?

The highlight of his career was being the only Bermudian to have drawn his sword during a passing out parade from one colonel to the next in the 80s, he added.

?The trooping of the colours and presentation of the new colours to the Bermuda Regiment and being the only Bermudian RSM to ever have drawn my sword, that was a mark in history and the highlight of my career,? he said.

Maj. Eve is also the only man in the Bermuda Regiment to have done every job ? except Commanding Officer.

?It was never my goal to be Commanding Officer. I?ve reached far beyond what I ever thought,? he said.

Would he recommend the Bermuda Regiment to anyone as an occupation? Yes, but individuals must be very disciplined and very few make the cut.

Bermuda Regiment?s Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Eddie Lamb said Maj. Eve was an outstanding servant of his country with the highest level of integrity.

?Maj. Eve proves what can be done with hard work,? he said.

Lt. Col. Lamb said it was never easy loosing someone like Maj. Eve, but he had made many friends while serving the Regiment, and he considered himself lucky enough to be included within those ranks.

Maj. Eve plans to travel now that he finally has the time, but believe it or not will be job-hunting when he gets back to Bermuda.

It would seem impossible to tie down someone like the Major who has spent the last 35 years serving so many and wants to continue doing just that for the rest of his life.