This Memorial Day 2022, I was with some former Marines, sailors, and soldiers at a Memorial Day service at Freedom Park in Charlotte, NC.
As I was about to read the inscription on the Marine Corps monument, Top Padgett, age 92, a former drill instructor who served with the First Marine Division (1stMarDiv) in Korea, stepped up and asked if I would read the Rifleman’s Creed! Top always says he made his “maggots” recite it.
Of course, I wanted to recite it as our grandfather, General Rupertus, an expert rifleman, wrote it soon after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, launching the United States into WWII. And it is one of the top FAQs on the Marine Corps website.*
By December 8, 1941, Rupertus was commanding officer of Marine Corps Base San Diego. Thousands of recruits flooded into the Marine Corps. Rupertus knew the enemy and knew the rifle. In writing this, he hoped the Marines would understand the power of their rifle in protecting themselves and their fellow Marines and winning the ground war they soon faced in the Pacific.
It was published in the Marine Corps Chevron on March 14, 1942, the day he left to join General Vandegrift in New River, NC, for the formation and training of the 1stMarDiv.
.
So back to that moment at Freedom Park. I suddenly realized I had not fully memorized it! So I had to read it from my phone. Alas, that was one humble kick in the booty. Thanks to Top, I set out to finally memorize this excellent rifle creed.
My Rifle the Creed of a United States Marine
- 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 master my life.
- My rifle, without me, is useless. Without me, my rifle is 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 in this war it is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. It is the hits we make. We will hit…
- My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. This I will learn it as a brother. I will learns 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 as I will ever guard my legs, arms, eyes and heart from damage. I will keep my rifle 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 the enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
- So be it, until victory is America’s and there is no enemy, but peace!!
Pretty powerful, even now.
History of the Marine Corps Rifle Creed: https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Frequently-Requested-Topics/Marines-Rifle-Creed/
