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 myself know that what
counts in 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 learn
its weaknesses, its strength, 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 is no enemy,
but Peace!
THE CREED OF THE UNITED
STATES MARINES
