THE LAST MAN COMMITTEE
John Ferguson, Chairman
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John Ferguson, Chairman
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PURPOSE OF THE LAST MAN COMMITTEE President Roosevelt, at the beginning of World War II recognized that the United States Forces needed a small special force like the British Commandos. They could be used to make raids and prepare the way for regular ground troops in the invasion of the Islands of the Pacific. In 1942, President Roosevelt therefore ordered the U.S. Marines to organize four battalions of Marines to be trained for the role of Marine Raiders. A distinctive emblem was created with the death head skull and a southern cross displayed on a shield of blue. The 1st battalion of the 5th Marine regiment was selected and trained as the 1st Marine Raider Battalion. The remaining three battalions would be recruited volunteers from the ranks of the Marine Corps and selected after being interviewed for sound mind and motivation as well as body fitness. After the war was over, the Marine Raiders formed the U.S. Marine Raider Association, which has been active over fifty years. However, time has taken it's toll on the ageing Raiders and the time is fairly close when death will close the last chapter on the World War II U.S. Marine Raiders. It was with this in mind that the last man committee, made up of the youngest men who were in the Raiders during the war, formed a committee dedicated to work out a plan whereby honoring all the Raiders.
THE CREED OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES MY RIFLE 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 I MYSELF KNOW THAT IN WAR IS NOT THE ROUNDS WE FIRE, THE NOISE OF OUR BURST, NOR THE SMOKE WE MAKE. WE KNOW THAT ITS 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 IT'S WEAKNESS, ITS STRENGH, 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 ARE NO ENEMY, BUT PEACE.
Contact John Ferguson via e-mail: This page was last updated on 07/28/00 .
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