Fellow Americans:
Yesterday was the 55th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s famed “Duty, Honor, Country” speech that he delivered to the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, on May 12, 1962.
This is considered one of the great speeches in American history.
Even if you have read it before, please take time again to listen to the audio and follow along with the text (link below), as it is timely considering our U.S. Military is currently engaged in serious national defense of our country …. throughout the world.
I first read the speech in 1966 while assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Hawaii, where Major General Carl Darnell, Jr., was the Commanding General. He was a West Point Graduate and the speech was mandatory reading for all assigned to the Command Office.
The speech moved me deeply then and I remain deeply moved every time I read it. It wasn’t till a decade ago that I heard the audio of the speech and this makes it even more powerful.
Not only is the title subject matter extraordinary, but the General’s command of the English language, his tone, tenor and cadence in presenting the speech are unparalleled.
Even more remarkable, the General was 82 when he delivered the speech, and he gave it without any notes.
The revered Five-Star U.S. Army General and recipient of the Medal of Honor passed away two years later.
We recently witnessed the President of the United States firing the Director of the FBI. Sixty five years ago during the Korean War, President Truman fired General MacArthur and relieved him of his duty in honorably serving our country.
One can only imagine that had the General been allowed to carry forth his Military plans back then, it is quite unlikely we would now be facing a dangerous Military standoff with North Korea’s ruthless, war-mongering dictator.
Please take time to listen and read the General’s timeless speech: “Duty, Honor, Country” -- General Douglas MacArthur:
PS: While the creed “Duty, Honor, Country” is linked specifically to the U.S. Military Academy, these three words essentially reduce and represent the selfless job description of each-and-every person who wears our Nation’s Uniform, regardless of their respective Branch in the U.S. Armed Forces.
God Bless America!
Robert L. Rosebrock——Bio and Archives
Robert Rosebrock is a U.S. Army Veteran, Vietnam-era and Director of the Old Veterans Guard. He can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Fellow Americans:
Yesterday was the 55th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s famed “Duty, Honor, Country” speech that he delivered to the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, on May 12, 1962.
This is considered one of the great speeches in American history.
Even if you have read it before, please take time again to listen to the audio and follow along with the text (link below), as it is timely considering our U.S. Military is currently engaged in serious national defense of our country …. throughout the world.
