I’m keenly sensible of the honor that General Fanshaw has done me, a foreigner, by asking me down here to witness the Passing Out review of a class from this famous Military College. Yet, on your soil I do not feel particularly a foreigner or a stranger. Since 1812 there has been no question, no difference arising between our two countries that hasn’t been capable of amicable settlement. Within one lifetime, your nation and mine have twice found themselves partners in war.

In this war, more than any other in history, I think that we find the forces of evil more distinctly arraigned against those of decency and respect for humankind, than ever before. We are on the side of decency, and democracy and liberty. Happily we have great Allies. Every morning as we read our papers these days we have reason to give another cheer as the great Russian Armies hammer back the Germans and inflict upon them still further losses. Our great Air arms both by night and by day are punishing that enemy. They’re softening him up but much remains to be done. We can, and we will, win this war, but it means that every one of us must do his full duty. Any person, whether at the plough or with a gun at the front, who fails to do his full duty every day and every hour, must forever bear his conscience that he has contributed in some incalculable amount to the agony and sacrifice that our two countries must endure.

It behooves us then to think what these duties are - particularly our own. Our Governments arrange that the resources of these great Allies are used in such a way as to inflict the greatest punishment upon the enemy - and most quickly accomplish his defeat. All our resources, the resources of manpower, of industry, of the mines, and the fields must be used to inflict the greatest punishment upon the enemy and accomplish his defeat. It is for the High Command by air, sea and land to see that these resources are placed into action properly led, organized and maintained, to win these victories.

Among ourselves I think we’ve already shown beyond any doubt that we can work together as a unified military team with no trouble whatsoever in the accomplishment of this purpose. As we get down to the ground armies there are technical problems, one type of which you yourselves have been earnestly engaged in mastering, that is, mechanized warfare. You are a member of a great ground team; the ground team itself, of course, is only a member of the great triumvirate of land, sea and air. The High Command can do no more than to put you in action in the best possible way, under the best possible conditions, and to make sure that you are well supplied, well cared for, and everything is done for you in the way of getting you ammunition, food, clothing and everything that you need. But upon your shoulders rests the greatest responsibility of all.

You young men have this war to win. It is small unit leadership that is going to win the ground battle and that battle must be won before that enemy of ours is finally crushed. It is up to you men to give your units - whether it is a tank crew, platoon, or becomes a company - leadership, every hour of the day, every day of the week. You must know every single one of your men. It is not enough that you are the best soldier in that unit, that you are the strongest, the toughest, and the most durable, and the best equipped technically. You must be their leader, their father, their mentor even if you are half their age. You must understand their problems. You must keep them out of trouble. If they get in trouble, you must be the one to go to their rescue. That cultivation of human understanding between you and your men is the one art that you must yet master and you must master it quickly. Then you will be doing your duty and you will be worthy of the traditions of this great school and of your great country. To each one of you I wish Godspeed and Good Luck. If I could have my wish as I stand here today, feeling honored as I do in the tribute paid me, I would say this: If I could only meet you all somewhere East of the Rhine and renew the acquaintanceship of this pleasant morning. Good luck.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER