I will hold

the long version

"Cates knew that he and his small band of Marines were in a desperate spot. Before handing the note over to a runner, he added three words that would resound through Marine Corps history: I WILL HOLD. From the moment he first joined the Marine Reserves of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, Clifton B. Cates was determined to make his mark as a leader. Little did he know what he would accomplish in his legendary career. Not as well-known as contemporaries such as Alvin C. York, Cates earned his fame not from a single act of heroism but from his consistent and courageous demeanor throughout the war and beyond. Following the bloody second half of 1918 with the 6th Marine Regiment, he was awarded the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Silver Star and was recognized by the French government with the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre, along the way garnering the nickname Lucky. I Will Hold is the inspiring, brutally vivid, and incredible life story of a Marine Corps legend whose grit and unstoppable spirit on the battlefield matched his personal drive and sage wisdom off of it"--Provided by publisher.