Back when I was in the Army, I got a little blue book that was printed by the military for distribution at the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. I haven’t read the book in over a year, but, when I was reading it daily (generally when I was in the field), I copied a few quotes from the book onto my Palm.
The book was a reprint of a book that a family sent to George Bowler Tullidge III, a Sergeant in the 507th Parachute Infantry 82nd Airborne Division, who was killed on June 8th, 1944, while serving his country during the Invasion of France.
The book was a tremendous read, and I figured I’d post a few of the quotes I copied from it here for you to read:
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
— Proverbs 1:10.
The world makes way for a determined man.
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself
– Goethe
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, “Press On,” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
– Coolidge
Heroism is simple, and yet it is rare. Everyone who does the best that he can is a hero.
– Josh Billings
Because the task is difficult to many tire and quit,
But that’s the time to summon up your patience and grit,
And that’s the time to prove your skill.
So stick it out and work until
You justify your faith that you
Can do what any man can do.
– Edgar Guest
How do you tackle your work each day?
With confidence clear, or dread?
What to yourself do you stop and say
When a new task lies ahead?
What is the thought that is in your mind?
Is feat ever running through it?
If so, just tackle the next you din
By thinking you’re going to do it.
— Edgar Guest
It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecratedmen.
– Phillip Brooks
It is those who perform faithfully their appointed work day by day, who in God’s own time will hear His call, “Come up higher.”
– E.G. White
Sucess in life is a matter not so much of talent or opportunity as of perserverance.
– C.N. Windle
Interestingly, the book was compiled by hand by Sergeant Tullidge’s mother after his death and given to the Army to help other soldiers get through their days in the military…
Great read, if you find it somewhere. And because I can’t find a copy of the text online, I might just post the whole thing here someday if I can’t find a copyright on it…
Update: I finally posted the full text to A Paratrooper’s Faith online, so that the full text is posted somewhere, and Google can find it. Enjoy!
