About Task Force Marne
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Task Force Marne is part of the Multi-National Corps, a coalition of units from many parts of the U.S. military, fighting for the security and freedom of Iraq. TFM falls under the command and control of 3rd Infantry Division based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia. The 3rd Infantry Division has one of the most successful combat records of any U.S. Army division. The division earned the legendary nickname Rock of the Marne because of its heroic and decisive stand at the Battle of the Marne River in France in the autumn of 1918 during World War One.
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Rock of the Marne!
The Dog Face Soldier Song
“I’m just a Dog Face Soldier, with a rifle on my shoulder."
So go the words of the division's theme song. Thanks to the creative genius of Walt Disney Productions, that "Dog Face Soldier" was caricatured into a tan bulldog: "heroic, but humble, fierce, but gentle, quick-witted and wise, with a confidence and dignity that comes from having proved himself."
Major General Albert O. Connor, a Third Division commander, visualized verbally what he wanted for a "Dog Face Soldier," Walt Disney Productions complied and the caricature was created.
All it cost was one dollar. The bull-dog face soldier is the result of an exchange of letters between General Connor and Walt Disney Productions. In one of his letters to Disney, General Connor explained: "For many years, the 3rd Infantry Division has been seeking a trademark based on the symbolism of the "Dog Face Soldier." The term "dog face," he continued, "is an old one in our Army, dating back to the Indian Wars."
The division received the final design of the bull-dog face soldier in August 1965. Along with the drawing came a contract granting exclusive and perpetual right and license to reproduce the drawing. The one dollar bill provided by the Marne Association was autographed by the division's Sergeants Major. Along with the autographed bill, which was framed, a letter of thanks to Walt Disney and his staff was sent for bringing to life the verbal conception of a song.
Since then, generations of Marne Soldiers have carried on the tradition of singing the division's song at morning formations and other official functions. Upon joining the 3rd Infantry Division, Soldiers are required to memorize the lyrics as part of the proud Marne heritage.
Cpl. Bert Gold and Lt. Ken Hart, both of Long Beach, New York, co-wrote "Dogface Soldier" in 1942. They wrote the song about common soldiers but it came to the attention of then Third Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott who had "Dogface Soldier" adopted as the division's song. The song was immensely popular. Soldiers sang it, marched to it and danced to it.
It made a public debut in the 1955 Audie Murphy film "To Hell and Back". Over 300,000 copies of the recording were sold. "Dogface Soldier" is the most publicized and well known song of World War II.
"Dogface Soldier" is still a strong part of the Third Division.
Lyrics
I Wouldn't Give A Bean
To Be A Fancy Pants Marine
I'd Rather Be A
Dog Face Soldier Like I Am
I Wouldn't Trade My Old OD's
For All The Navy's Dungarees
For I'm The Walking Pride
Of Uncle Sam
On Army Posters That I Read
It Says "Be All That You Can"
So They're Tearing Me Down
To Build Me Over Again
I'm Just A Dog Face Soldier
With A Rifle On My Shoulder
And I Eat Raw Meat
For Breakfast E'V'RY Day
So Feed Me Ammunition
Keep Me In Third Division
Your Dog Face Soldier's A-Okay
> Listen to the lyrics being sung here>>
