TYR Tactical

Dog Faced Soldier

I served in the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division from 1988-1990. The Marne Division has a song, “Dog Faced Soldier” dating from WWII l, as well as a mascot named Rocky, created in 1965 by none other than Walt Disney, for just $1.  Rocky’s name hails from WWI, where 3ID held like a rock during the second Battle of the Marne River.  This distinguished service also earned the Division its motto, the French “Nous Resterons La” (English – We Shall Remain Here).

  
I find it rather unfortunate that the song “Dog Faced Soldier” written by two Infantrymen, was altered after the Division moved to Ft Stewart to make it gender neutral.  Here is the version we sang.  If you attended PLDC at the 3ID NCO Academy in Kitzengen, you had to learn and sing it as well, regardless of which unit you served with.  This often led to altered lyrics that weren’t so flattering for us ‘Dog Faced Soldiers.’

I wouldn’t give a bean,
to be a fancy-pants Marine
I’d rather be a dog-faced soldier like I am.
I wouldn’t trade my old O.D.’s
for all the Navy’s dungarees
for I’m the marching pride of Uncle Sam.
All the posters you see say the Army builds men,
Well, they’re tearing me down to build me over again.
I’m just a dog-faced soldier
with a rifle on my shoulder
and I eat raw meat for breakfast every day.
So feed me ammunition, and keep me in the 3rd Division
For your dog-faced soldier boy’s O.K.

9 Responses to “Dog Faced Soldier”

  1. A CO 1-15 says:

    What time is it?

    1-15 SIR!

  2. Josh says:

    Interesting, I’m with 3ID now and never knew they changed the lyrics. We still sing it every morning after reveille.

  3. Steve says:

    I think the original lyric was “…and I eat a Kraut for breakfast every day”.

    – Another former Dog Faced Soldier

  4. CV76 says:

    24th to 3rd here…I transitioned when they killed the 24th but this does bring back some memories. Some good (Cavalry), some bad (Fort Stewart).

  5. Contractor says:

    Wow….once again. I’m glad I left.

    I can’t see any reason why I’d go back.

  6. Chuck says:

    Always reminds me of Memorial Day 2010 in Mosul at COS Marez. 2nd Brigade Remembrance ceremony. The Iraqi dignitaries didn’t get it at all.

  7. GW says:

    I sang this song at Reagan Airport with ten or so WWII vets in the middle of the concourse and their lyrics were different. great moment in my life. when I was the last man on the plane, the Captain said, hey hero, were you singing up there? I said yes sir, he said ROCK of the Marne!