永远不死
-迎峰度夏
2023年2月16日发(作者：广西东盟)麦克阿瑟告别演讲“老兵永不死”演讲全文
总统先生，演讲者，议会杰出的成员们：
我怀着深深的谦卑和无比的自豪感站在这演讲台上----谦卑是因为面对在我面前的那些伟
大美国过去的建设者们；自豪是因为想到国内立法争论所设计的代表人类最纯洁的自由。整
个人类的希望、抱负、信念都集中于此。我站在这里不为任何党派目的辩护，因为议题的根
本性超出了党派所能考虑的区域。如果能证明我们的路线稳妥且我们的前途有保障,那些问
题就应被放在最高位来解决.因此，我相信，你们会公正地把我所表达的当作一个美国同胞
的观点。
我演讲既不带人生暮年的怨恨也不带伤感之情，但心中只有一个目的：为我的祖国效劳。
虽然亚洲被认为是通往欧洲的大门，但说欧洲是通往亚洲的大门也没有错。且一方的广泛影
响不得不带动另一方。一些人声称我们的力量不足以同时保护两条线路，我们不能分散精力。
我认为没有比这更能表现出失败主义的了。如果潜在性的敌人能将他们的力量分为两条路
线，那对我们来说就要对他们的力量予以反击。共产主义者的威胁是一个全球性的问题。他
们在每个防区的成功进展直接预示着我们每隔一个防区将遭到破坏。我们不会为让亚洲的共
产主义投降而不能同时削弱我们的力量去遏止欧洲的发展而感到安慰。
说了太多的共知之理，我会简略我关于亚洲地区的讨论。在某人能客观地对那里存在的形
势作出评估之前，他必须了解一些关于亚洲的过去和他们沿着自己的路线发展至今的改革变
化。被所谓的殖民统治长期的剥削，便很难有机会建立社会的公正尺度，维护个人尊严，或
者实现一个高水平的生活，就像保卫我们在菲律宾自己崇高的政府，亚洲的人民抓住了他们
的时机在战争中摆脱了殖民统治的束缚并且看到了新时机的曙光，一种从未感受过的尊严和
一个国家自由后的自尊感。
集合地球一半的人数，有60%的自然资源被这些人迅速地加强成为一种新的力量，精神
上的和物质上的都被用来提升生活水平也是为适应对自己的不同文化环境的最新进展的谋
划。不管谁是否拘泥于殖民的概念，这是亚洲发展进步的方向且不会被终止。这是世界金融
尖端转变的必然结果，就像整个世界事物的中心正循环着回到它的起始点。
在这种形势之下，我们用基本发展的状况使自己国家和东方国家在政策上保持和谐而不是
一味追求不明现实的路线，因为殖民时代已经过去且亚洲人正为实现他们自由的命运而垂
延。他们当今寻求的是友好的指引、协议、和支持——而不是专横的引导——是平等尊严而
不是耻辱地屈从。他们战前的生活标准低得令人同情，现在又因战争所带来的破坏而变得更
加无限的低。世界的意识形态几乎不把亚洲考虑在内，不给予他们体谅。那儿的人民为之拼
命的只是为了能得到更多一点食物来填饱肚子，有稍好一点的衣物来遮背，盖结实些的屋顶
在他们的头上，和普通国民们渴望政治自由的意识。这些政治社会性的条件为国内安全给予
了间接的保障，不过要对慎重考虑过的现时方案建立背景来决定我们是否要避免不切实际的
意外事件。
能直系和快速地稳固住国内安全的是过去太平洋战争路线战略上的改变。先前的美国西面
战略部署是美国原本线路，附和着暴露的岛屿夏威夷、中途岛、关岛通向菲律宾。这种战线
证明了不是敌方前哨的力量而是我方暴露的弱点使敌人有机可乘太平洋地区是个令任何强
国都虎视眈眈谋求发展和扩张领土的地方。所有一切都被太平洋战争的胜利改变了，我们那
具有战略意义的边界才成为我们所拥有的整个太平洋，只要我们能够抓住它便能使其成为巨
大的护城河。千真万确，它充当的是所有美国乃至整个太平洋自由领土的护盾。我们控制亚
洲成弧形链状海岸线的岛屿从琉球到马尼拉都受我们和盟军控制。由这诸些岛屿我们能支配
从海参葳到新加坡亚洲港口的海洋和空中力量——有了海洋上的和空中的力量——如我所
说的——从海参葳到新加坡——保护并抵御太平洋上不友好的动机。
在亚洲任何凶狠的进攻都必须具备两股力量。无任何两种力量能在没有海洋和空中的掌控
权之下在推进道路上取得成功。有了海军、重要的空军和适度的陆军来保卫基地，任何对亚
洲大陆的以及我们和我们在太平洋上的朋友的蓄意攻击都必将逃不了失败的厄运。
在如此状况下，太平洋代表的不仅仅是预想中的侵略者的一种威胁。假定那里是个友好的
和平湖畔，我们的防御路线就十分自然而且可花费最小的军事代价来维持。想象没有任何袭
击，也用不着为突袭性的攻击而设置堡垒，只要适当维护，这将是抵制侵略的不可战胜的防
御。
在西太平洋上想拥有这种防御力因此要依赖各个部分，因为不友好的力量导致的任何线路
破裂都会遭来每个部分在有预谋的攻击下变得十分脆弱。
这是我仍在寻找的要接替我的军事领头者应当持有的军事评估。因为这个原因，我过去强
烈地推荐自己，成为一个至关重要的军事代理，没有稳固的经济基础台湾就只能在共产主义
的掌控下。这样一个世界有可能立刻就威胁到菲律宾和失败后的日本的自由，也会迫使我们
西方的防守边界退到加利福尼亚沿岸、奥勒岗和华盛顿。
要了解中国大陆所发生的变化，就必须知道50年来中国体制和文化的变化。中国，50年
前是完全没有团结意识，分裂成很多团体互相争斗。经过过去的五十年中国人开始有了武装
的概念和理想。如今他们组成了拥有胜任的参谋长和司令的优秀士兵团体。这就在亚洲诞生
了一股新的统治力量，为了实现自己的目标，他们与观念方法都成了具帝国主义的苏联结盟，
同时他们也带着扩张领土、增强实力的渴望趋向帝国主义。
他们都使用精力来扭曲我的职位。结果我被说成了是个好战分子。没有事物能够越加远离
真理。我明白现在活着的人当中几乎没多少能真正了解战争，没有比这更令我心情不悦的了。
因为对朋友和敌人带来的破坏已经致使一系列国际上的争论都毫无用处，我倡导这项废除令
很久了。事实上，在1945年9月2日，就跟在日本国在密苏里号战舰上投降后，我正式警
告如下：
“人类从一开始就寻求和平。不同的时代各式各样的方法都被用来设计国际性的进程，来
平息和解国与国之间的争论。有许多可行性的方法是被个别的公民发掘的，但是在一个巨大
的国际范围中，技术工人用单一的手段还从未成功过。军事的联盟，实力的平衡，国家的结
盟，轮流着失败，留下这唯一的路径来当作战争的严酷考验。战争带来的整个破坏现在产生
了二选一。我们只有最后的机会。如果我们我们不能设计出一些更好更公平的制度，大决战
将近在咫尺。问题是神奇的，它涉及到一种精神的再生和人类性格的改进，将与我们在科学、
艺术、文学及所有物质文化2000年来的发展近乎史无前例的同步进展。如果我们要保存肉
体就必须有精神作支撑。”
但是一旦战争逼迫着我们发生，那就没有选择的尽力使战争尽快结束。战争的目的是为了
胜利，而不是为了无休止的延长。战争中没有东西能代替胜利。有一些人因为各种原因要安
慰红色中国。他们无视历史的教训，因为历史无庸质疑地强调了抚慰只能招致更血性的战争。
就像敲诈勒索，它爆发于连续不断的新的需求，在威胁中，暴力成为了仅存的另外选择。“为
什么？”我的士兵问我，“难道要我们在战场上放弃对敌人的优势？”我无言以对。
有人会说：和中国携手进行一次全力以赴的战争来避免冲突的传播；另外，要避免苏联的
干涉。似乎没有一种解释是有效的，因为中国已经表明有了最大限度的影响力，且苏联不会
迎合我们的步伐。就如一条眼镜蛇，当新的敌人感到军事上的相互依存或者别的遍及世界的
潜在诱惑，他们就很可能会发动进攻。
事实使韩国的悲剧更为加深了，军事行动缩小了他们的国界。那个我们要拯救的国家、他
们要饱受整个海军和空军毁灭性的对抗，然而敌人的地盘却在如此的攻击和破坏之下全全得
到保护，这是受到谴责的。在世界上所有的国家中，韩国是仅存的唯一冒险反对共产主义的
国家。韩国人民巨大的勇气和刚毅拒绝描述。比起奴隶身份他们情愿选择了拼死。他们对我
留下的最后一句话是：“决不能逃离太平洋！”我只为你们留下了英勇善战的儿子们。他们在
那遇到了各种各样的考验，我会毫无保留地向你们汇报他们在每个方面都很出色。
我持久地尽我所能去保护他们光荣地结束这场野蛮的冲突，并且要花费最少的时间，付出
最小的牺牲。那些日趋增长的杀戮给我带来了极度的痛苦和忧虑。那些勇敢的人们永久地留
在我的脑海中以及我的祈祷文里。
我即将结束我52年的戎马生涯了。还在本世纪开始前当我加入陆军时，我孩提时代所有
的希望和梦想便实现了。自从我在西点广场上虔诚地宣誓以来，世界已几经倾覆，希望和梦
想也早已消失，但我仍记得那时最流行的一首军歌中的句子，它自豪地宣布：
“老兵永远不死，他们只是悄然隐去。”
像那首歌中的老兵一样，我作为一名在上帝的光辉下尽心尽职的老兵，现在结束我的军事
生涯，悄然隐去。
再见。
Oldsoldiersneverdie-----------DouglasMacArthur
ent,r,andDistinguishedMembersofthe
Congress:
Istandonthisrostrumwithasenseofdeephumilityandgreat
pride--humilityintheweightofthosegreatAmericanarchitects
ofourhistorywhohavestoodherebeforeme;prideinthereflection
thatthishomeoflegislativedebaterepresentshumanlibertyinthe
ecenteredthehopesandaspirations
standhereasadvocate
foranypartisancause,fortheissuesarefundamentalandreachquite
stberesolved
onthehighestplaneofnationalinterestifourcourseistoprove
,therefore,thatyouwill
domethejusticeofreceivingthatwhichIhavetosayassolely
expressingtheconsideredviewpointofafellowAmerican.
Iaddressyouwithneitherrancornorbitternessinthefading
twilightoflife,withbutonepurposeinmind:toservemycountry.
Theissuesareglobalandsointerlockedthattoconsidertheproblems
ofonesector,oblivioustothoseofanother,isbuttocourtdisaster
siaiscommonlyreferredtoastheGatewayto
Europe,itisnolesstruethatEuropeistheGatewaytoAsia,and
thebroadinfluenceoftheonecannotfailtohaveitsimpactupon
rethosewhoclaimourstrengthisinadequateto
protectonbothfronts,ink
entialenemycandivide
hisstrengthontwofronts,
cessfuladvanceinonesector
notappease
orotherwisesurrendertocommunisminAsiawithoutsimultaneously
underminingoureffortstohaltitsadvanceinEurope.
Beyondpointingoutthesegeneraltruisms,Ishallconfinemy
onemayobjectively
assessthesituationnowexistingthere,hemustcomprehendsomething
ofAsia'spastandtherevolutionarychangeswhichhavemarkedher
ploitedbytheso-calledcolonial
powers,withlittleopportunitytoachieveanydegreeofsocial
justice,individualdignity,orahigherstandardoflifesuchas
guidedourownnobleadministrationinthePhilippines,thepeoples
ofAsiafoundtheiropportunityinthewarjustpasttothrowoff
theshacklesofcolonialismandnowseethedawnofnewopportunity,
aheretoforeunfeltdignity,andtheself-respectofpolitical
freedom.
Musteringhalfoftheearth'spopulation,and60percentofits
naturalresourcesthesepeoplesarerapidlyconsolidatinganewforce,
bothmoralandmaterial,withwhichtoraisethelivingstandardand
erectadaptationsofthedesignofmodernprogresstotheirown
roneadherestotheconcept
ofcolonizationornot,thisisthedirectionofAsianprogressand
orollarytotheshiftoftheworld
economicfrontiersasthewholeepicenterofworldaffairsrotates
backtowardtheareawhenceitstarted.
Inthissituation,itbecomesvitalthatourowncountryorient
itspoliciesinconsonancewiththisbasicevolutionarycondition
ratherthanpursueacourseblindtotherealitythatthecolonial
eraisnowpastandtheAsianpeoplescovettherighttoshapetheir
eyseeknowisfriendlyguidance,
understanding,andsupport--notimperiousdirection--thedignity
re-warstandard
oflife,pitifullylow,isinfinitelylowernowinthedevastation
leftinwar'deologiesplaylittlepartinAsian
epeoplesstriveforis
theopportunityforalittlemorefoodintheirstomachs,alittle
betterclothingontheirbacks,alittlefirmerroofovertheirheads,
andtherealizationofthenormalnationalisturgeforpolitical
olitical-socialconditionshavebutanindirect
bearinguponourownnationalsecurity,butdoformabackdropto
contemporaryplanningwhichmustbethoughtfullyconsideredifwe
aretoavoidthepitfallsofunrealism.
Ofmoredirectandimmediatelybearinguponournationalsecurity
arethechangeswroughtinthestrategicpotentialofthePacific
heretothewestern
strategicfrontieroftheUnitedStateslayontheliterallineof
theAmericas,withanexposedislandsalientextendingoutthrough
Hawaii,Midway,lientprovednot
anoutpostofstrengthbutanavenueofweaknessalongwhichtheenemy
couldanddidattack.
ThePacificwasapotentialareaofadvanceforanypredatory
swas
ategicfrontierthenshifted
toembracetheentirePacificOcean,whichbecameavastmoatto
,itactsasaprotective
shieldforalloftheAmericasandallfreelandsofthePacificOcean
rolittotheshoresofAsiabyachainofislands
extendinginanarcfromtheAleutianstotheMariannasheldbyus
isislandchainwecandominatewithsea
andairpowereveryAsiaticportfromVladivostoktoSingapore--
withseaandairpowereveryport,asIsaid,fromVladivostokto
Singapore--andpreventanyhostilemovementintothePacific.
AnypredatoryattackfromAsiamustbeanamphibiouseffort.*
Noamphibiousforcecanbesuccessfulwithoutcontrolofthesealanes
val
andairsupremacyandmodestgroundelementstodefendbases,any
majorattackfromcontinentalAsiatowardusorourfriendsinthe
Pacificwouldbedoomedtofailure.
Undersuchconditions,thePacificnolongerrepresentsmenacing
mes,instead,
eofdefenseisa
naturaloneandcanbemaintainedwithaminimumofmilitaryeffort
sionsnoattackagainstanyone,nordoesit
providethebastionsessentialforoffensiveoperations,but
properlymaintained,wouldbeaninvincibledefenseagainst
dingofthisliteraldefenselineinthewestern
Pacificisentirelydependentuponholdingallsegmentsthereof;for
anymajorbreachofthatlinebyanunfriendlypowerwouldrender
vulnerabletodeterminedattackeveryothermajorsegment.
ThisisamilitaryestimateastowhichIhaveyettofinda
treason,Ihave
stronglyrecommendedinthepast,asamatterofmilitaryurgency,
thatundernocircumstancesmustFormosafallunderCommunistcontrol.
Suchaneventualitywouldatoncethreatenthefreedomofthe
PhilippinesandthelossofJapanandmightwellforceourwestern
frontierbacktothecoastofCalifornia,OregonandWashington.
TounderstandthechangeswhichnowappearupontheChinese
mainland,onemustunderstandthechangesinChinesecharacterand
,upto50yearsago,was
completelynon-homogenous,beingcompartmentedintogroupsdivided
-makingtendencywasalmostnon-existent,
astheystillfollowedthetenetsoftheConfucianidealofpacifist
urnofthecentury,undertheregimeofChangTso
Lin,effortstowardgreaterhomogeneityproducedthestartofa
sfurtherandmoresuccessfullydeveloped
undertheleadershipofChiangKai-Shek,buthasbeenbroughttoits
greatestfruitionunderthepresentregimetothepointthatithas
nowtakenonthecharacterofaunitednationalismofincreasingly
dominant,aggressivetendencies.
Throughthesepast50yearstheChinesepeoplehavethusbecome
w
constituteexcellentsoldiers,withcompetentstaffsandcommanders.
ThishasproducedanewanddominantpowerinAsia,which,forits
ownpurposes,isalliedwithSovietRussiabutwhichinitsown
conceptsandmethodshasbecomeaggressivelyimperialistic,witha
lustforexpansionandincreasedpowernormaltothistypeof
imperialism.
Thereislittleoftheideologicalconcepteitheronewayor
ndardoflivingissolowand
thecapitalaccumulationhasbeensothoroughlydissipatedbywar
thatthemassesaredesperateandeagertofollowanyleadershipwhich
seemstopromisethealleviationoflocalstringencies.
IhavefromthebeginningbelievedthattheChineseCommunists'
nterests
are,atpresent,lieve
thattheaggressivenessrecentlydisplayednotonlyinKoreabutalso
inIndo-ChinaandTibetandpointingpotentiallytowardtheSouth
reflectspredominantlythesamelustfortheexpansionofpowerwhich
hasanimatedeverywould-beconquerorsincethebeginningoftime.
TheJapanesepeople,sincethewar,haveundergonethegreatest
ommendablewill,
eagernesstolearn,andmarkedcapacitytounderstand,theyhave,
fromtheashesleftinwar'swake,erectedinJapananedifice
dedicatedtothesupremacyofindividuallibertyandpersonaldignity;
andintheensuingprocesstherehasbeencreatedatruly
representativegovernmentcommittedtotheadvanceofpolitical
morality,freedomofeconomicenterprise,andsocialjustice.
Politically,economically,andsociallyJapanisnowabreastof
manyfreenationsoftheearthandwillnotagainfailtheuniversal
maybecountedupontowieldaprofoundlybeneficial
influenceoverthecourseofeventsinAsiaisattestedbythe
magnificentmannerinwhichtheJapanesepeoplehavemettherecent
challengeofwar,unrest,andconfusionsurroundingthemfromthe
outsideandcheckedcommunismwithintheirownfrontierswithoutthe
llfourof
ouroccupationdivisionstotheKoreanbattlefrontwithoutthe
slightestqualmsastotheeffectoftheresultingpowervacuumupon
fnonationmore
serene,orderly,andindustrious,norinwhichhigherhopescanbe
entertainedforfutureconstructiveserviceintheadvanceofthe
humanrace.
Ofourformerward,thePhilippines,wecanlookforwardin
confidencethattheexistingunrestwillbecorrectedandastrong
andhealthynationwillgrowinthelongeraftermathofwar'sterrible
bepatientandunderstandingandneverfail
them--asinourhourofneed,tian
nation,thePhilippinesstandasamightybulwarkofChristianity
intheFarEast,anditscapacityforhighmoralleadershipinAsia
isunlimited.
OnFormosa,thegovernmentoftheRepublicofChinahashadthe
opportunitytorefutebyactionmuchofthemaliciousgossipwhich
sounderminedthestrengthofitsleadershipontheChinesemainland.
TheFormosanpeoplearereceivingajustandenlightened
administrationwithmajorityrepresentationontheorgansof
government,andpolitically,economically,andsociallytheyappear
tobeadvancingalongsoundandconstructivelines.
Withthisbriefinsightintothesurroundingareas,Inowturn
wasnotconsultedpriortothe
President'sdecisiontointerveneinsupportoftheRepublicofKorea,
thatdecisionfromamilitarystandpoint,provedasoundone,aswe
torywas
complete,andourobjectiveswithinreach,whenRedChinaintervened
withnumericallysuperiorgroundforces.
Thiscreatedanewwarandanentirelynewsituation,asituation
notcontemplatedwhenourforceswerecommittedagainsttheNorth
Koreaninvaders;asituationwhichcalledfornewdecisionsinthe
diplomaticspheretopermittherealisticadjustmentofmilitary
strategy.
Suchdecisionshavenotbeenforthcoming.
Whilenomaninhisrightmindwouldadvocatesendingourground
forcesintocontinentalChina,andsuchwasnevergivenathought,
thenewsituationdidurgentlydemandadrasticrevisionofstrategic
planningifourpoliticalaimwastodefeatthisnewenemyaswehad
defeatedtheold.
Apartfromthemilitaryneed,asIsawIt,toneutralizethe
sanctuaryprotectiongiventheenemynorthoftheYalu,Ifeltthat
militarynecessityintheconductofthewarmadenecessary:first
theintensificationofoureconomicblockadeagainstChina;twothe
impositionofanavalblockadeagainsttheChinacoast;threeremoval
ofrestrictionsonairreconnaissanceofChina'scoastalareasand
ofManchuria;fourremovalofrestrictionsontheforcesofthe
RepublicofChinaonFormosa,withlogisticalsupporttocontribute
totheireffectiveoperationsagainstthecommonenemy.
Forentertainingtheseviews,allprofessionallydesignedto
supportourforcescommittedtoKoreaandbringhostilitiestoan
endwiththeleastpossibledelayandatasavingofcountless
Americanandalliedlives,Ihavebeenseverelycriticizedinlay
circles,principallyabroad,despitemyunderstandingthatfroma
militarystandpointtheaboveviewshavebeenfullysharedinthe
pastbypracticallyeverymilitaryleaderconcernedwiththeKorean
campaign,includingourownJointChiefsofStaff.
Icalledforreinforcementsbutwasinformedthatreinforcements
learthatifnotpermittedtodestroy
theenemybuilt-upbasesnorthoftheYalu,ifnotpermittedto
utilizethefriendlyChineseForceofsome600,000menonFormosa,
ifnotpermittedtoblockadetheChinacoasttopreventtheChinese
Redsfromgettingsuccorfromwithout,andifthereweretobeno
hopeofmajorreinforcements,thepositionofthecommandfromthe
militarystandpointforbadevictory.
WecouldholdinKoreabyconstantmaneuverandinanapproximate
areawhereoursupplylineadvantageswereinbalancewiththesupply
linedisadvantagesoftheenemy,butwecouldhopeatbestforonly
anindecisivecampaignwithitsterribleandconstantattritionupon
constantlycalledforthenewpoliticaldecisionsessentialtoa
solution.
eensaid,
ineffect,gcouldbefurtherfromthe
arasfewothermennowlivingknowit,andnothing
ongadvocateditscompleteabolition,
asitsverydestructivenessonbothfriendandfoehasrenderedit
,on
theseconddayofSeptember,nineteenhundredandforty-five,just
followingthesurrenderoftheJapanesenationontheBattleship
Missouri,Iformallycautionedasfollows:
"Mensincethebeginningoftimehave
smethodsthroughthe
ageshavebeenattemptedtodevisean
internationalprocesstopreventorsettle
every
startworkablemethodswerefoundinso
farasindividualcitizenswereconcerned,
butthemechanicsofaninstrumentalityof
largerinternationalscopehavenever
ryalliances,
balancesofpower,LeaguesofNations,
allinturnfailed,leavingtheonlypathto
utterdestructivenessofwarnowblocks
hadourlast
llnotdevisesome
greaterandmoreequitablesystem,
problembasicallyistheologicaland
involvesaspiritualrecrudescenceand
improvementofhumancharacterthatwill
synchronizewithouralmostmatchless
advancesinscience,art,literature,andall
materialandculturaldevelopmentsof
beofthespirit
ifwearetosavetheflesh."
Butoncewarisforceduponus,thereisnootheralternative
thantoapplyeveryavailablemeanstobringittoaswiftend.
War'sveryobjectisvictory,notprolongedindecision.
Inwarthereisnosubstituteforvictory.
Therearesomewho,forvaryingreasons,wouldappeaseRedChina.
Theyareblindtohistory'sclearlesson,forhistoryteacheswith
unmistakableemphasisthatappeasementbutbegetsnewandbloodier
tstonosingleinstancewherethisendhasjustified
thatmeans,
blackmail,itlaysthebasisfornewandsuccessivelygreaterdemands
until,asinblackmail,violencebecomestheonlyotheralternative.
"Why,"mysoldiersaskedofme,"surrendermilitaryadvantages
toanenemyinthefield?"Icouldnotanswer.
Somemaysay:toavoidspreadoftheconflictintoanall-out
warwithChina;others,r
explanationseemsvalid,forChinaisalreadyengagingwiththe
maximumpoweritcancommit,andtheSovietwillnotnecessarilymesh
obra,anynewenemywillmore
likelystrikewheneveritfeelsthattherelativityinmilitaryor
otherpotentialisinitsfavoronaworld-widebasis.
ThetragedyofKoreaisfurtherheightenedbythefactthatits
emns
thatnation,whichitisourpurposetosave,tosufferthe
devastatingimpactoffullnavalandairbombardmentwhilethe
enemy'ssanctuariesarefullyprotectedfromsuchattackand
devastation.
Ofthenationsoftheworld,Koreaalone,uptonow,isthesole
nificenceof
thecourageandfortitudeoftheKoreanpeopledefiesdescription.
ast
wordstomewere:"Don'tscuttlethePacific!"
vemet
allteststhere,andIcanreporttoyouwithoutreservationthat
theyaresplendidineveryway.
Itwasmyconstantefforttopreservethemandendthissavage
conflicthonorablyandwiththeleastlossoftimeandaminimum
wingbloodshedhascausedmethedeepest
anguishandanxiety.
Thosegallantmenwillremainofteninmythoughtsandinmy
prayersalways.
oinedthe
Army,evenbeforetheturnofthecentury,itwasthefulfillment
ldhasturnedovermany
timessinceItooktheoathontheplainatWestPoint,andthehopes
anddreamshavelongsincevanished,butIstillremembertherefrain
ofoneofthemostpopularbarrackballadsofthatdaywhich
proclaimedmostproudlythat"oldsoldiersneverdie;theyjustfade
away."Andliketheoldsoldierofthatballad,Inowclosemy
militarycareerandjustfadeaway,anoldsoldierwhotriedtodo
hisdutyasGodgavehimthelighttoseethatduty.
GoodBye.