Here it is:
After Korean war the American armed forces jointly developed a Code of Conduct. The President of the United States approved this written Code in 1955. The six articles of the Code create a comprehensive guide for all American military forces in time of war, and in time of peace. The articles of the Code embrace (1) general statements of dedication to the United States and to the cause of freedom, (2) conduct on the battlefield, and (3) conduct as a prisoner of war.
The new Code of Conduct is not a part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Instead, the Code of Conduct is a personal conduct mandate for members of the American armed forces throughout the world.
Article I: I am an American, fighting in the armed forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
Article II: I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
Article III: If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
Article IV: If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
Article V: When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service, number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
Article VI: I will never forget that I am an American, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
5 comments:
I've never seen this before. Wowza!
That some heavy material you be studying!
IF you know Cam, he had this memorized before OCS and would recite it aloud as he was learning it. :) And, just him saying it and me hearing it......well, it gave a clear picture of what his best friend had already given his life for. It also put those same values within us as a couple. We now know exactly what we are sacrificing and why. He got the idea to join the military, but studying these words removes any uncertainty of what exactly is expected of us.
Also, since I don't have your facebook or email or whatever...I want to take this opportunity to say that what you wrote as a comment on your wife's recent blog post made me smile. She is, of course a wonderful, amazing wife and mom...but also...how lucky she is to have you. Cam encourages me with very similar things and I often think to myself, "How did I get so lucky to have a man like Camlon?"
We are praying for you guys and I know Cam misses your humor on ship!
Thanks Rachael, I think these paragraphs were designed to reach individuals and guide them through trying times of war and such. I have, and obviously Cam has, taken an extra step and created a whole new dimension. There are a million different ways to serve our great country. In supporting and supported roles, as civil servants, military, volunteers, and probably most important a network of family members (blood relative or by no relation other than faith in God and country). You, Katie and our kids are serving just as Cam and I do- only the job titles are different.
PS- your blog is great too.
We appreciate you and what you're doing for our country. :)
Post a Comment