MANAMA, Bahrain — After frequently referring to himself as “Ya Boi” and “Sniper Coastie" on Facebook, friends of a 23-year-old Coast Guardsman deployed to Bahrain are pretty sure he's a total war hero, sources confirmed today.

“You wouldn’t believe the day I had — let’s just say I keep defending our native soil, holding down the fort, and making sure those who are out to harm us don’t get even close to our homeland,” Boatswains Mate Third Class Mike Bevins wrote in his most recent post.

Comments from family include “So brave!” from his Aunt Margie and “Semper Paratus my little hero!” followed by seven heart emojis from his mother.