I am proud of my own organization.  I will do all I can to make it the finest unit in the Army. I will be loyal to those under who I serve. I will my full part to carry out and instructions given to me or my unit.

 As a soldier, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored profession--that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom for which my country stands. No matter what the situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my unit, or my country I will use every means I have, even beyond the line of duty, to restrain my Army comrades from actions disgraceful to themselves and to the uniform.

 I am proud of my country and its flag.  I will try to make the people of this nation proud of the service I represent, for I am an American Soldier.
 

 I was there from the beginning, meeting the enemy face to face, will to will. My bleeding feet stained the snow at Valley Forge; my frozen hands pulled Washington across the Delaware. At Yorktown, the sunlight glinted from the sword and I, begrimed and battered . . . saw a Nation born. Hardship . . . and glory I I have known. At New Orleans, I fought beyond the hostile hour, showed the fury of my long rifle . . . and came of age. I am the Infantry! Westward I pushed with wagon trains . . . moved an empire across the plains . . . anad extended freedoms borders and tamed the wild frontier. I am the Infantry! FOLLOW ME!

 I was with Scott at Vera Cruz . . . hunted the guerrilla in the mountain passes . . . and scaled the high plateau. The fighting was done when I ended my march many miles from the old Alamo. From Bull Run to Appomattox, I fought and bled. Both Blue and Gray were my colors the. Twomasters I served and united them strong . . . proved that this nation could right a wrong . . . and endure. I am the Infantry! FOLLOW ME!

 I led the charge up San Juan Hill . . . scaled the walls of old Tientsin . . . and stalked the Moro in the steaming jungles still . . . always in the vanguard. I am the Infantry! At Chateau-Thierry, first over the top, there I stood like a rock on the Marne. It was I who cracked at the Hindenburg Line . . . in the Argonne, I broke the Kaiser's spine . . . and didn't come back 'till it was "over, over there." I am the Infantry! FOLLOW ME!

 A generation older at Bataan, I briefly bowed, but then I vowed to return. assaulted the African shore . . . learned my lesson the hard way in the desert sands . . . pressed my buttons into the beach at Anzio . . . and bounced into Rome with determination and resolve. I am the Infantry! The English Channel, stout beach defenses and hedgerows could not hold me . . . I broke outat St Ines . . . unbent the Bulge . . . valted the Rhine . . . and swarmed the Heartland. Hitler's dreams and the Third Reich were dead. In the Pacific, from island to island I hopped . . . hit the beaches and chopped through swamp jungle . . . I set the Rising Sun. I am the Infantry! In Korea, I gathered my strength around Pusan . . . swept across the frozen Han . . . outflanked the Reds at Inchon and marched to the Yalu. FOLLOW ME!

 In Vietnam, while others turned aside, I fought the longest fight. From the Central highlands to South China Sea, I patrolled the jungles, the paddies, and the sky in  bitter test belonged to the Infantry. FOLLOW ME!

 Around the world, I stand . . . ever forward. Over Lebanon's sands, my rifle steady aimed. . . . and calm returned. At Berlin's gate I scorned the Wall of Shame. I am the Infantry! My bayonet . . . on wings of power . . .  keeps the peace worldwide. and despots, falsely garbed in freedom's mantel, falter . . . hide. My ally in the paddies and the forest . . . . I teach, I aid, I lead. FOLLOW ME!

When brave men fight . . . there fight I. In freedom's cause . . . I die. From Concord Bridge to Heartbreak Ridge, from the Arctic to the Mekong . . . The Quenn Of Battle! Always ready . . . then, now and forever.
I am the Infantry! FOLLOW ME!
 

 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 my rifle I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than any enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will.....

 My rifle and I know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that 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 learns its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sight and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am ready.

 We will become part of eah other. We will....Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the savior of my life.

 So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but Peace.
 

I serve in a mighty Airborne Force--famed for deeds in war--renowned for readiness in peace. It is my pledge to uphold its honor and prestige in all I am-in all I do.

 I am an elite trooper--a sky trooper--a shock trooper--a spearhead trooper. I blaze the way to far-flung goals--behind, before, above the foe's front line.

 I know that I may have to fight without support for days on end. Therefore, I keep mind and body always fit to do my part in any Airborne task. I am self-reliant and unafraid. I shoot true, and march fast and far. I fight hard and excel in every art and artifice of war.

 I never fail a fellow trooper. I cherish as a sacred trust the lives of men with whom I serve. Leaders have my fullest loyalty, and those I lead never find me lacking.

 I have pride in the Airborne! I never let it down! In peace, I do not shrink the dullest of duty not protest the toughest training. My weapons and equipment are always combat ready. I am neat of dress--military in courtesy--proper in conduct and behavior.

 In battle, I fear no foe's ability, nor under-estimate his prowness, power and guile. I fight him with all my might and skills-ever alert to evade capture or escape a trap. I never surrender, thought I be the last.
My goal in peace or war is to succeed in any mission of the day--or die, if needs be, in the try.

 I belong to a proud and glorious team--the Airborne, the Army, my Country. I am its chosen pride to fight where others may not go--to serve them well until the final victory. I am the trooper of the sky! I am the Nation's best! In peace and war I never fail Anywhere, anytime, in anything--I AM AIRBORNE!

 During the night, the Captain heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded in the  field. The Captain decided to risk his life and  bring in the wounded soldier. 
 

 Crawling on his stomach through gun fire, he reached the soldier and  dragged him back. Upon reaching his own lines, the Captain disovered that the soldier was a Confederate, and that the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern, caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier, it was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the south when the war broke out and enlisted in the Confederate Army without telling his father.

The following morning the heartbroken father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military funeral. His request was partially granted. The Captain asked if he could have a group of Army musicians play a funeral dirgeat the funeral, that request was denied.

Out of respect for the father, they said he could have one musician. He chose a Bugler and asked him play a series of notes from a piece of paper found in the dead youth's uniform. The wish was granted. 

The music was the haunting bugle melody we now know as "Taps" and is played at all military funerals.

The Origion of "Taps" was written by historian, Elizabeth May. Thanks to the Boston Chapter 83rd Infantry Division Assocition and Major Simmington.