MY RIFLE
The Creed of a United States Marine
by
MGen. William H. Rupertus (US Marine Corps Retired)
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 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 counts. We will hit...
My rifle is human, as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its
weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sight and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the
ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against
damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...
Before god, I swear this creed. My rifle and my self are the defenders of my country. We are the masters
of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
In the beginning The US Constitution