Where Do We Get Such Men?

Was it Duty? Honor? Country? What inspired them to slog their way ashore at Dog Red Beachon June 6, 1944?

Here are some great words of wisdom from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, one of the true heroes of the 20th century. Here he is, near the end of his long life, speaking at his alma mater, West Point, on May 12, 1962:

The shadows are lengthening for me. The twilight is here. My days of old have vanished - tone and tints. They have gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were. Their memory is one of wondrous beauty, watered by tears and coaxed and caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I listen then, but with thirsty ear, for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille, of far drums beating the long roll.

In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield. But in the evening of my memory I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes: Duty, Honor, Country.

Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.

And no doubt of the men who fought for Mac, and with him, across two world wars, plus Korea.