Tip's Patton Speech

  • Published
  • By Col. "Tip" Stinnette
  • 39th Air Base Wing Commander
Once upon a time there was a movie called "Patton." In the opening three minutes of the movie, General George S. Patton is standing in front of a big U.S. flag talking to his troops before going into battle during World War II. The speech is stirring and timeless. I have taken some liberties and twisted it to fit Team Incirlik at this very point.

I want you to remember that no one ever won a war by dying for their cause.

They won it by making someone else die for their cause. And all this stuff you've heard about Americans shying away from a challenge ... wanting to turn and run when the going gets tough is a lot of horse manure. Americans never shy away when we're needed. All real Americans stand up and fight for what is right. When we were kids, we all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ball player, and the toughest boxer.

Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time ... I wouldn't give a hoot for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans are not losers. The mere thought of losing is hateful to Americans. Now, Incirlik is a team. It lives, eats, and fights as a team. This "individuality" business is a bunch of nonsense. The people who write that stuff about individuality don't know anything more about battle than they do about why the sky is blue. Now, we have the finest food and equipment, the best spirit and the best Airmen in the world.

You know, I actually pity those that would try to compare themselves to us. We're not just going to win, we're going to win by a blow out.

Now, some of you I know are wondering whether or not you'll measure up under fire ... don't worry about that. I can assure you that you will do your duty. We need to wade into this event. Give our all. Exhaust ourselves. When you see your best friend spent and exhausted, you'll know what to do.

Now there's another thing I want you to remember. I don't want to get any messages saying that we are holding our position.

We're not holding anything ... let the other guys do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding anything except the trophy. We're going to hold that trophy high. High above our shoulders.

We're going to win this one by a mile and never look back. Now there's one thing that you'll be able to say when you get back home. Thirty years from now when you are sitting around your fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did at the "Lik," you won't have to say, "Well, I helped us take the re-inspection."

Alright now, you warriors, you know how I feel. I will be proud to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime, anywhere.

That is all.