Transcript Text:

HEADQUARTER FOURTH ARMY

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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To: All Personnel Being Discharged From The Army of The United States.

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You are being discharged from the Army today- from your Army. It is your Army

because your skill, patriotism, labor, courage and devotion have been some of the factors

which make it great. You have been a member of the finest military team in history.

You have accomplished miracles in battle and supply. Your country is proud of you and

you have every right to be proud of yourselves.

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You have seen, in the lands where you worked and fought and where many of your

comrades died, what happens when the people of a nation lose interest in their government.

You have seen what happens when they follow false leaders. You have seen what

~ happens when a nation accepts hate and intolerance.

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We are all determined that what happened in Europe and in Asia must not happen

to our country. Back in civilian life you will find that your generation will be called upon

to guide our country's destiny. Opportunity for leadership is yours. The responsibility

is yours. The nation which depended on your courage and stamina to protect it from its

enemies now expects you as individuals to claim your right to leadership, a right which

you earned honorably and which is well deserved.

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Start being a leader as soon as you put on your civilian clothes. If you see intolerance

and hate, speak out against them. Make your individual voices heard, not for selfish

things, but for honor and decency among men, for the rights of all people.

Remember, too, that No American can afford to be disinterested in any part of his

government,, whether it is county, city, state or nation.

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Choose your leaders wisely - that is the way to keep ours the country for which you

fought. Make sure that those leaders are determined to maintain peace throughout the

world. You know what war is. You know that we must not have another. As individuals

you can prevent it if you give to the task which lies ahead the same spirit which you

displayed in uniform.

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Accept that trust and the challenge which it carries. I know that the people of

America are counting on you. I know that you will not let them down.

Goodbye to each and every one of you and to each and every one of you, good luck !

 

J. M. WAINWRIGHT

General, U. S. Army

Commanding

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