a rumor of war essay
The United States Marine Corps has a motto that describes a commitment to one another, the organization, and the country. It is known as Semper Fidelis or "Semper
Fi", translated from Latin, it means "Always Faithful." Philip Caputo, author of A Rumor of War, is and always will be a Marine, which allows for the individual and
unique comprehension of the code of the Marine Corps as it relates to his experiences in the war and his life. Caputo, like all other Marines, is well aware of the promise of honor, courage, and commitment one makes when they become a Marine. Honor guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior. Courage is the mental, moral and physical strength ingrained in Marines. Courage is the ability to do the right
thing, in the right way, for the right reasons. Commitment is the spirit of determination
and dedication found in Marines. Caputo came to realize that the Corps is "a society unto itself, demanding total commitment to its doctrines and values" (8). This realization of a code that cannot and will not be broken helped Caputo and all Marines when they were not sure if what they were doing was right' or if they questioned what they were doing. To live by this code was to know and have faith always, even during the most difficult of times. It is not so much that it helped them "make sense" of the war, often times they could not make any sense out of killing and being killed, especially towards the end of the war. It instead represented a solidness, a steady principle, it will always exist, unlike so much of the world that crashes around the Marines, it will never be
broken. Caputo and all Marines know "the codes Marines are expected to live by: they never leave their casualties on the battlefield, never retreat, and never surrender so long as they have the means to resist" (12).
The quotes that head each chapter reflect the chapters in which they head. Caputo...
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