Honorable Dr. Clifford L. Stanley
Honorable Dr. Clifford L. Stanley, former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Major General, United States Marine Corps (Retired)
My Commitment to Serving Others
The honor of serving, and the sheer joy of nurturing the talents of others, has been an absolute joy for me from day-one. My service as an officer in the Marine Corps was never about me, the rank I achieved, adulation or recognition from others.
It was always about caring deeply for the welfare of my fellow man, which of course included our women, and serving them with
every ounce of my ability. With humility, I have always recognized my limitations and have always strived to view others as more important than I am.
When I repeated the oath of office in April 1969, prior to beginning my officer training in Quantico, Virginia, the final words of that oath resonated with me then, just as those words resonate with me today. Those words: “So help me God.” Need I say more?
Semper Fidelis!