Ranger Creed

My grand son sent me this. I have a framed copy on the wall of my office.

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.
Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier.
Never shall I fail my comrades I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some.
Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.
Rangers Lead The Way!!![b:0e28933494]r[u:0e28933494][/u:0e28933494][/b:0e28933494][b[/b]

More elite than who? Or what?

The Marine Corps doesn't have elite groups. The entire Corps IS the elite group. Every Marine is trained to the same level.

Couldn't resist it. I haven't caught any incoming around here for a while.

Goose I have been with a heck of a lot of Marines. I would fight beside them any day. Both they and the Rangers are GOOD MEN!!!!

What I feel when I read this is not that a Ranger is to act elite over others but is to respect the "Rangers" enough to not dis-honor the others so the unit is elete.

I can well remember thinking about the men that started the long tradition of what the term Ranger means. The ones that really brought home to me the meaning was the ones in the 1st Ranger Battalion in WWII. Out of 500 volunteers who formed the battalion only 87 where alive by the end of the war. That is an 82% casualty rate. They are the ones that we should be honoring in the great land.

We honor instead some idiot that can throw a ball,shoot a basket or run a foot ball. None of them would have the right to do any of it without those who have really gave it all for this country. It makes me just about cry to see the people that teenagers look up to now.

God Bless all that serve this great country!!!!

You have my resepct, brother.
Led

The most important one is: "Don't forget nothin'". That last one "Rangers Lead The Way" was coined on Omaha beach by big Norm "Dutch" Cota, 29th Div ADC. Meeting Max Schneider, commander of the 5th ranger Bn, Cota yelled: "What outfit is this?" Someone yelled "5th Rangers!" Cota replied: "Well God Damm it then, Rangers, lead the way". The rest, as they say, is history. Some of those items in the Ranger Creed were due to the insistance of Abe Abrams that the force not be populated with brigands when a Ranger Bn was authorized again. If that became the case, he told them he would disband the whole outfit.

Hope you didn't take it wrong, 'cause I meant no offense. Anyone who wears the uniform of our country has my utmost respect.

I remember reading about the Marine Raiders of WWII. After the war, something like 4% ever made it back to a normal, productive civilian life. The ones that survived had trained and operated to a point where they simply couldn't "untrain" and come back to civilization.

May God always bless our soldiers, each and every last one of them.

From Patton's address of the 3rd Division just prior to Operation Overlord...

"...All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters, either. Every single man in this Army plays a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain. What if every truck driver suddenly decided that he didn't like the whine of those shells overhead, turned yellow, and jumped headlong into a ditch..."

I still read that address from time to time. It's very inspiring.

Mark
Pattons Address To The 3rd Division Prior To Operation Overlord