West Point in Orange County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Douglas MacArthur

Class of 1903

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

1. Douglas MacArthur Monument

Inscription.

Douglas MacArthur. Class of 1903 . Duty . Honor . Country Inscribed on these walls are excerpts from General MacArthur’s last address to the Corp of Cadets, 12 May 1962, Duty . Honor . Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points to build courage when courage seems to fail; to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith; to create hope when hope becomes forlorn., You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense. From your ranks come the great captains who hold the nation’s destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds. The long gray line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts would rise from their white crosses thundering those magic wordsDuty . Honor . Country. The shadows are lengthening for me, the twilight is here. My days of old have vanished tone and tint. They have gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were. Their memory is one of wonderous beauty, watered by tears and coaxed and caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I listen vainly for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille, of far drums beating the long roll. But in the evening of my memory, always I come back to West Point, always there echoes and re-echoesDuty . Honor . Country. It is the story of American man at arms. In memory’s eye I could see those staggering columns, bending under soggy packs on many a weary march from dripping dusk to drizzling dawn, to form grimly for the attack. Blue-lipped, covered with sludge and mud, driving home to their objective and, for many, to the judgement seat of God. Always for themDuty . Honor . Country. Your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable – it is to win our wars. All other public purposes will find others for their accomplishment. Yours is the profession of arms – the will to win; the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory; that the very obsession of your public service must beDuty . Honor . Country, In war there is no substitute for Victory.

Duty • Honor • Country
Inscribed on these walls are excerpts from General MacArthur’s last address to the Corp of Cadets, 12 May 1962

Duty • Honor • CountryThose three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points to build courage when courage seems to fail; to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith; to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.

You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense. From your ranks come the great captains who hold the nation’s destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds. The long gray line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts would rise from their white crosses thundering those magic wordsDuty • Honor • Country
The shadows are lengthening for me, the twilight is here. My days of old have vanished tone and tint. They have gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were. Their memory is one of wonderous beauty, watered by tears and coaxed and caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I listen vainly for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille, of far drums beating the long roll. But in the evening of my memory, always I come back to West Point, always there echoes and re-echoesDuty

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• Honor • Country
It is the story of American man at arms. In memory’s eye I could see those staggering columns, bending under soggy packs on many a weary march from dripping dusk to drizzling dawn, to form grimly for the attack. Blue-lipped, covered with sludge and mud, driving home to their objective and, for many, to the judgement seat of God. Always for themDuty • Honor • Country
Your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable – it is to win our wars. All other public purposes will find others for their accomplishment. Yours is the profession of arms – the will to win; the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory; that the very obsession of your public service must beDuty • Honor • Country

In war
there is no substitute
for
Victory

Erected 1969.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is May 12, 1962.

Location. 41° 23.567′ N, 73° 57.528′ W. Marker is in West Point, New York, in Orange County. Marker is on Jefferson Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located at the U.S. Military Academy, in front of the MacArthur Barracks. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Point NY 10996, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Granite Wall #1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

2. Granite Wall #1

walking distance of this marker. Attack on Pearl Harbor (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Douglas MacArthur (a few steps from this marker); Constitution Corner (within shouting distance of this marker); Superintendant's Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel Thayer (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beat Navy Tunnel (about 400 feet away); Ulysses S. Grant (about 400 feet away); Washington (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Point.

More about this marker. Monument consists of a bronze statue on a pedastal, surrounded by seven granite walls containing parts of a speech given by Gen. MacArthur.

Also see . . . Biography of Douglas MacArthur. (Submitted on September 10, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Granite Wall #2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

3. Granite Wall #2

Granite Wall #3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

4. Granite Wall #3

Granite Wall #4 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

5. Granite Wall #4

Granite Wall #5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

6. Granite Wall #5

Granite Wall #6 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

7. Granite Wall #6

Granite Marker #7 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

8. Granite Marker #7

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

9. Douglas MacArthur Monument

Gen. MacArthur's widow, Jean MacArthur, dedicated this monument in 1969. The MacArthur Barracks can be seen in the background.

Closeup of MacArthur Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

10. Closeup of MacArthur Statue

Sculptor's Mark image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

11. Sculptor's Mark

Statue was created by Walter Hancock in 1968.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,284 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on September 10, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.