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thousand ca mpfires； I have witnessed that enduring fortitude； that patriotic selfabnegati on； and that invincible determination which have carved his statue in the hearts of his people。 From one end of the world to the other he has drained deep the c halice of courage。
序 言（6）
As I listened to those songs the glee club； in memory's eye I could see thos e staggering columns of the First World War； bending under soggy packs； on many a weary march from dripping dusk to drizzling dawn； slogging ankledeep through the mire of shellshocked roads； to form grimly for the attack； bluelipped； covered with sludge and mud； chilled by the wind and rain； driving home to their objective； and for many； to the judgment seat of God。
I do not know the dignity of their birth； but I do know the glory of their d eath。
They died unquestioning； unplaining； with faith in their hearts； and on t heir lips the hope that we would go on to victory。
Always； for them： Duty； Honor； Country； always their blood and sweat and tea rs； as we sought the way and the light and the truth。
And 20 years after； on the other side of the globe； again the filth of murky foxholes； the stench of ghostly trenches； the slime of dripping dugouts； those boiling suns of relentless heat； those torrential rains of devastating storms； t he loneliness and utter desolation of jungle trails； the bitterness of long sepa ration from those they loved and cherished； the deadly pestilence of tropical di sease； the horror of stricken areas of war； their resolute and determined defens e； their swift and sure attack； their indomitable purpose； their plete and de cisive victory — always victory。 Always through the bloody haze of their last r everberating shot； the vision of gaunt； ghastly men reverently following your pa ssword of： Duty； Honor； Country。
The code which those words perpetuate embraces the highest moral laws and wi ll stand the test of any ethics or philosophies ever promulgated for the uplift of mankind。 Its requirements are for the things that are right； and its restrain ts are from the things that are wrong。
The soldier； above all other men； is required to practice the greatest act o f religious training： sacrifice。 In battle and in the face of danger and deat h； he discloses those divine attributes which his Maker gave when he created man in his own image。 No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of the Divine help which alone can sustain him。
However horrible the incidents of war may be； the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country is the noblest development of man kind。
You now face a new world — a world of change。 The thrust into outer space o f the satellite； spheres； and missiles mark the beginning of another epoch in th e long story of mankind。 In the five or more billions of years the scientists te ll us it has taken to form the earth； in the three or more billion years of deve lopment of the human race； there has never been a more abrupt or staggering evol ution。 We deal now not with things of this world alone； but with the illimitable distances and as yet unfathomed mysteries of the universe。 We are reaching out for a new and boundless frontier。
序 言（7）
We speak in strange terms： of harnessing the cosmic energy； of making winds and tides work for us； of creating unheard synthetic materials to supplement or even replace our old standard basics； to purify sea water for our drink； of mini ng ocean floors for new fields of wealth and food； of disease preventatives to e xpand life into the hundreds of years； of controlling the weather for a more equ itable distribution of heat and cold； of rain and shine； of space ships to the m oon； of the primary target in war； no longer limited to the armed forces of an e nemy； but instead to include his civil populations； of ultimate conflict between a united human race and the sinister forces of some other planetary galaxy； of such dreams and fantasies as to make life the most exciting of all time。
And through all this welter of change and development； your mission remains fixed； determined，inviolable： it is to win our wars。
Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital d edication。 All other public purposes； all other public projects； all other publi c needs； great or small； will find others for their acplishment。 But you are the ones who are trained to fight。 Yours is the profession of arms； the will to win； the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory； that if you lose； the nation will be destroyed； that the very obsession of your public service must be： Duty； Honor； Country。
Others will debate the controversial issues； national and international； whi ch divide men's minds； but serene； calm； aloof； you stand as the Nation's warg uardian； as its lifeguard from the raging tides of international conflict； as it s gladiator in the arena of battle。 For a century and a half you have defended； guarded； and protected its hallowed traditions of liberty and freedom； of right and justice。
Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of governm ent； whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing； indulged in too long； by federal paternalism grown too mighty； by power groups grown too arrogan t； by politics grown too corrupt； by crime grown too rampant； by morals grown to o low； by taxes grown too high； by extremists grown too violent； whether our per sonal liberties are as thorough and plete as they should be。 These great nati onal problems are not for your professional participation or military solution。 Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night： Duty； Honor； Cou ntry。
You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national sy stem of defense。 From your ranks e the great captains who hold the nation's d estiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds。 The Long Gray Line has n ever failed us。 Were you to do so； a million ghosts in olive drab； in brown khak i； in blue and gray； would rise from their white crosses thundering those magic words： Duty； Honor； Country。
This does not mean that you are war mongers。
On the contrary； the soldier； above all other people； prays for peace； for h e must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war。
But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato that wisest of all ph ilosophers： “Only the dead have seen the end of war。”
The shadows are lengthening for me。 The twilight is here。 My days of old hav e vanished； tone and tint。 They have gone glimmering through the dreams of thing s that were。 Their memory is one of wondrous beauty； watered by tears； and coaxe d and caressed by the smiles of yesterday。 I listen vainly； but with thirsty ear s； for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille； of far drums beatin g the long roll。 In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns； the rattle of musk etry； the strange； mournful mutter of the battlefield。
But in the evening of my memory； always I e back to West Point。
Always there echoes and reechoes： Duty； Honor； Country。
Today marks my final roll call with you； but I want you to know that when I cross the river my last conscious thoughts will be of The Corps； and The Corps； and The Corps。
I bid you farewell。
。。
西点军校简介（1）
美国西点军校全称“美国陆军军官学校”。200年来，一直是美国培养领导人的重要场 所。学校因位于纽约市北郊的哈得孙峡谷河上肘状的三角岩石坡地上，该点被当地人称为“ 西点”，故习惯上又被称为“西点军校”。西点军校的教官们和军校生们也常常被称为“西 点人”。
西点校园及附属教学区位于哈得孙河上游的高山，依山傍水，风光秀丽，总面积为1600 0公顷。一系列哥特式建筑风格的建筑物从内向外被起伏的群山环抱。内圈为主要校园区， 由教学大楼、学员区、运动场与活动中心等组成。其中教学大楼及其周围的建筑被命名为“ 华盛顿楼”，楼前于1916年建立了一座展现华盛顿马上得天下的塑像。号称世界最大可容纳 全校五六千官兵同时就餐的军校大餐厅，就在华盛顿楼内。外圈则由冬季滑雪场、高尔夫球 场、训练与野营区等构成。整体建筑以学校的大运动场为中心展开，而校长的宿舍就坐落在 大运动场边上，象征着校长与学员的亲密关系。校长一般