What's your favorite Military Service/Retirement quote?

Maj Lacy C. — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:11:55 -0400

I'm officiating in a retirement ceremony next week and I'm looking for a good quote to share. What's your favorite Military Service/retirement appropriate quote? Anyone got a good one?

Response by SPC David Wyckoff made Mar 10 at 2014 11:23 AM

SPC David Wyckoff — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:23:16 -0400

How busy you will be during retirement depends on how many projects you began and haven't gotten around to completing prior to retiring.

I like this one and it's reflective of someone that has started and stopped personal projects because of deployments or training.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Mar 10 at 2014 2:57 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:57:33 -0400

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and it forever."  ~ Albert Pike "What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."  ~ Pericles "And like the old Soldier in that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old Soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the sight to see that duty."  ~ Douglas MacArthur

Response by Cpl Robert Clark made Mar 11 at 2014 9:34 AM

Cpl Robert Clark — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 09:34:16 -0400

Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out!

~Anonymous T-Shirt

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Mar 26 at 2014 3:26 PM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:26:30 -0400

"... a leader...is quality of character, of soul. It is a matter of integrity and authenticity, of commitment both to a mission and to a caring for everyone on the team, regardless of rank." Rev. Sam Lloyd III, Dean of Whashington Natl. Cathedral..

Response by SPC Geoffrey Jenkins made Apr 28 at 2014 2:06 PM

SPC Geoffrey Jenkins — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:06:18 -0400

Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain with death — the seas bear only commerce — men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world lies quietly at peace. The holy mission has been completed. And in reporting this to you, the people, I speak for the thousands of silent lips, forever stilled among the jungles and the beaches and in the deep waters of the Pacific which marked the way.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 4 at 2014 8:42 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sun, 04 May 2014 20:42:12 -0400

It is the soldier, above all others, that prays for peace. For it is he that must bear the wounds and scars of war. - Douglas MacArthur

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2014 8:45 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 May 2014 20:45:38 -0400

Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?" Then this man, Isaiah, replied: "HERE AM I! SEND ME." - Isaiah 6:8

A motto that some special ops units have adopted. This saying indicates two things: One, that the man was called of God to prophesy these things. Two, that he was ready and willing to serve in this capacity. Speaks to a persons volunteer service to his country.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 4 at 2014 9:17 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 04 May 2014 21:17:00 -0400

Probably what I did at my retirement. My day, My Show, I did a no response communications check at the end. "Anyone on this Network, Arkansas, Radio Check, Over", "Anyone on this Network Arkansas, Radio Check, Over," Anyone on this Network, Arkansas Nothing Heard, Out!" At which point the Petty Officer of the Watch and Messenger gave me two bells and piped me ashore for the last time. I know I'm a Drama Queen!

Response by CPL Paul Burke made May 30 at 2014 2:39 AM

CPL Paul Burke — Fri, 30 May 2014 02:39:25 -0400

cant see it from my house

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 5 at 2014 1:58 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:58:10 -0400

Some of our senior officers had this penchant for flatulence as comic relief in the TOC on FXs. It was a running contest between our XO and Deputy Bde Cdr- 2 of the greatest officers and mentors I had the privilege to serve under. Our Bde Cdr, as many before him was not MP but since this was the only GO command in the state other than Adjutant General (which he severs as now), everyone vied for this coveted command) Anyway he would walk in the TOC in and after one hint of aroma would demand,

"Who just dropped A$$ in the TOC??"

This happened several states CONUS and OCUNUS in Japan, Germany, Kuwait and Iraq.

Response by MSgt Ediberto L. made Jun 13 at 2014 8:07 PM

MSgt Ediberto L. — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 20:07:40 -0400

Well..I realize this is no quote but what came to mind was Gen.MacArthur's farewell speech after having been relieved of command/fired by President Truman. Great speach! He did quote, however, an old ballad from West Point " old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

I've attached the link from YouTube from his address to congress and also pasted the closing statement in his speech that I felt really was a heart felt farewell. Really powerful speech.

"I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.

Good Bye."

http://youtu.be/Tuagi9kZe8A

General Douglas MacArthur Farewell Speech

General Douglas MacArthur delivers his Farewell Speech to Congress. Excerpt taken from Great Speeches Vol. 1 from Educational Video Group, Inc. available at ...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2016 7:54 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 07:54:59 -0400

Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.
Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985

Response by Cpl Robert Clark made Apr 28 at 2016 12:14 PM

Cpl Robert Clark — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 12:14:05 -0400

"Kill 'em all!" -Metallica

Response by PO2 Paul Gerg made Aug 1 at 2019 8:25 AM

PO2 Paul Gerg — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 08:25:06 -0400

We had an older Chief PO who always growled "It used to be iron men in wooden ships, now its wooden men in iron ships"

Response by CPO Heidi Cermak made Oct 26 at 2019 5:48 PM

CPO Heidi Cermak — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 17:48:26 -0400

THe navy goat locker says: COnsider yourself on a new type of duty- independent duty

Response by SFC Michael W. made Oct 8 at 2020 12:30 AM

SFC Michael W. — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 00:30:56 -0400

My quote for retirement was this..."I'm not retiring, I'm STILL bounding overwatch your six..."