Old soldiers never die; they just fade away. And like the old soldier in that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the sight to see that duty.

Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.

They were mostly French, a few Arabs, and despite their uniforms they didn't look very important any more. Later I learned that if you watch men die, especially if you've known them at all, they still look important afterward no matter what you have to do with them, but I was inexperienced then.

I see that old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.

A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him.

By profession I am a Soldier and take pride in that fact, but I am prouder to be a father