III – Be

US Military Academy Prayers

The United States Army Cadet Command Prayer was officially commissioned and recognized in 2006 by the United States Army Cadet Command as the fourth official institutional military prayer in US history. It was originally written for the Leader’s Training Course (LTC)—now known as Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Military Hymns ]

As it approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, the prayer remains a solemn reflection of the values and mission of the United States Army Cadet Command, contributing to a broader effort to foster spiritual resilience and ethical leadership among ROTC Cadets.

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Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the Essence of Leadership

General Douglas MacArthur was Supreme Allied Commander, South West Pacific Area in WWII, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers overseeing the occupation of Japan following the war, and Commander-in-Chief of United Nations Command in the Korean War. He is one of only five people to hold the rank of General of the Army.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Medals of Honor and Valor ]

In receiving the Sylvanus Thayer Award at the US Military Academy at West Point on May 12, 1962—two years before his death—he gave a commencement address that has come to be revered for its patriotism and emphasis on the moral and ethical responsibilities of future leaders.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of LEADERSHIP ]

Five paragraphs of his speech, especially, read like a handbook of timeless leadership virtues. He began with the West Point motto—Duty, Honor, Country—to which he appended the virtues of courage, faith and hope:

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D-Day June 6, 1944: The Bible and Prayer of WWII

During World War II, troops were given a pocket Bible, which included a letter from US President Franklin Roosevelt encouraging them to read it. The letter reads:

To the Armed Forces:
As Commander-in-Chief, I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and diverse origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration. It is a fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul.
Very sincerely yours,
   Franklin D. Roosevelt.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]

D-Day came Tuesday, June 6, 1944, when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy. According to the US National Archives:

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