My Rifle (The Creed of a United States Marine)

Maj Gen WH Rupertus

 This is my rifle.

 There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

  My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.

  I must master it as I must master my life.

 My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

  I must fire my rifle true.

  I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.

  I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...

  My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire,

  the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.

 We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...

 My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

  Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

  I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories,
  its sights, and its barrel.

 I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.

  I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.

  We will become part of each other. We will...

  Before God I swear this creed.

  My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.

  We are the masters of our enemy.

  We are the saviors of my life.

 So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.

Commentary

(USMC)

The Marine Credo is the stuff of legend - a legend that is woven into into assorted books and war movies (Sands of Iwo Jima, The Thin Red Line).

I was reminded of this poem when I saw Stanley Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket”, though that was another war, Vietnam instead of Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal.

This was written following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Maj Gen Rupertus was with the marines through some of the toughest fighting in world war II.

I’m pretty sure the good general was deadly serious about this when he wrote it, as serious as David when he wrote ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ (below). In fact, I have a feeling Gen. Rupertus had that in mind when he wrote this one.

However, I can poke fun at at least some part of it - like the last line “… no enemy, but Peace”. So peace is a Marine’s final enemy, I take it? :)

-srs

~Psalms 23:1-6~

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The Wondering Minstrels, poem #1110 · 16 November 2002

Guest poem submitted by Suresh Ramasubramanian

Fair use

Show 15 commentsHide comments

From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.

Suresh Ramasubramanian · 17 November 2002

“Jerry Rao” writes:

i don’t like this vesrion…i prefer the king james version……..yea

Yea, though I dug this out of some random baptist site on the ‘net - and did a hurried cut and paste, I do admit that you are right :)

suresh

Jerry Rao · 17 November 2002

in the church of england version of the lord’s prayer there is one more line…….”for Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever”……yours is the rc version…..i went to both rc and protestant missionary schools…hence my knowledge….

cheers
jerry rao

Jerry Rao · 17 November 2002

i don’t like this vesrion…i prefer the king james version……..yea though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death………..”yea” is so much more resounding tha “even though”…“mine enemies” is far better than “my enemies”…etc.

but …..a truly grat poem…..king david was a great poet…for all ages

jerry

rhondagy · 17 November 2002

i took this as saying this is how it[life, time] shall be until there is no enemy, rather in place of the enemy is peace.

rhonda

sarahlee · 1 April 2003

Salam, Hello, Khoob Hashti, etc., Thank you for publishing on the computer this Creed of my branch of the US Military.

I think it is important to say that even when I do not agree with administration, I do have solid ground for protecting my country, my loved ones, and the freedom of many nations.

I also have an open heart to receive the fact that those who fight against me are also doing so, in some cases, from misguided administration.

All In all, soldiers will be soldiers, and we just do our jobs.

Ricardo Dirani · 4 July 2003

Ah, comeon, even I an ESL got the point that the “but peace” means he is going to destroy everything but peace :).

I didn’t know it was something oficial, I thought Kubrick had made it up to show how the drill
instructor was psycho. And I love it :)

I think lack of repeating it every morning ruined my army experience. Seeing it again makes me think seriously in trying to get back.

Ricardo Dirani

CNJ10 · 10 March 2004

anyone notice how extremely phallic this all is?

Jarhead John · 11 July 2004

I am motivated, and my rifles are as well.

To CNJ10 who posted “anyone notice how extremely phallic this all is? “

The answer is no you commie asshole, only you did. This is because you are perverted and think about guzzling cock, all the time. Damn to hell you and all the commie fags that post other wise.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

Jarhead John

Jarhead John · 11 July 2004

Praise the Lord and Pass the ammunition !

To CNJ10 who posted “anyone notice how extremely phallic this all is? “

The answer is no you commie asshole, only you did. This is because you are perverted and think about guzzling cock, all the time.

larissa English · 17 October 2004

kill,kill,kill.Born to kill.

mary_16 · 12 December 2004

To “jarhead john”
What time period are you from? Did you just use “commie” as an insult? Get your head out of your ass you homophobic psycho. We’re commenting on poetry, not training to be mindless attack dogs.

Getting back to the poem, nearly everything can be looked at as a phallic symbol, but I don’t think it is a very relevant comparison in this case. Especially noting the lines,

“I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will…”

Which don’t really have any phallic connotation that I can see. And do you think this poem is more focused on righteous views or survival?

Isaiah V. Brown · 29 December 2004

As a former mustang Officer of Marines (I was formerly enlisted U.S. Navy), I as well as other former members of the U.S. Armed Services joined our respective Services and fulfilled our Military obligation to our country, to defend all persons responding to this poem’s Right to say/write whatever they wish to about Major Genereal Rupertus’ Poem. With all due respect unless you earned the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and/or have served in some other Branch of the Armed Services; all your comments are shallow, superficial utterings from persons who know little or nothing about the subject upon which they have chosen to pontificate. Additionally, there is another poem which is symbiotically linked to “My Rifle (The Creed of a United States Marine)”; that peom is “For those who fight for it, Freedom has a flavor the Protected the protected shall never Know”.

Semper Fidelis “ For those who fight for it, Freedom has a Flavor the Protected shall never”“For those who have fought for freedom, freedom has a special flavor the protected with never know.” For those who have fought for freedom, freedom has a special flavor the protected with never know.”

Armando.Domingues · 4 July 2005

I’m looking to use this poem with some variation to accomodate the “gamer”. By gamer I refere to computer gamers looking to purchase one of my “build to order” computers designed for gamers. I ahve attatched a rough draft of how I would like the modification to go but obviosly I will need approval.The name of the company uses the word beast in the title but I cant give it to you yet as the final desision on that is yet to be made.

This is my Beast.
There are many like it, but this one is MINE. My beast is my best friend. It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
My beast without me is useless. Without my beast, I am useless. I must raid better than my enemy who is trying to defeat me. I must frag him before he frags me. We will… My beast and myself know that what counts when raiding is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our bursts, nor the kills we score. We know it is the wins that count. We will win… My beast is human, even as I, because it is my life. I will learn it as my brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths and its abilities, as it learns me. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my beast clean and ready, as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will… Before God I swear this creed.
My beast and myself are the defenders of my glory. We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my honor.
So be it, until there is no enemy, but us.

Dan Darden · 6 February 2007

Ok guys,

Clearly the author is stating that Peace should be what remains after every enemy is destroyed, not that Peace is the enemy. If you can’t figure that out you should probably go take a freshman Comp class, and if you take that class and still can’t figure that out, then go take it AGAIN.

I can’t believe that you guys got that from the last line.

Ugh.

-D.

K Siff · 15 November 2007

@Armando.Domingues

christ, is nothing sacred?
why anyone would denigrate these lines by using them to sell computers to overweight, escapist suburban kids is simply beyond me.