"As Marines, we believe the actions of single individuals can have great impact in combat and can also make things go right. For example, Sergeant John Basilone as a machine gunner at Guadalcanal contributed "in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment."° He steadfastly manned his position in the face of repeated wave-type assaults and was instrumental in breaking the enemy's ability to press the attack, forcing them to retreat without achieving their goals." -- MCDP 1-3: Tactics
War is by nature postmillennial.
It takes the long view from the git go. It applies a legacy-minded approach to present situations. The reason a soldier is willing to hold his position and risk violent death in doing so is because he is committed to the great cause of winning the war and believes that his perseverance is the best chance he can provide for his team to win. He knows that holding out and dying where he is stationed may be the best way to advance the ball or keep the enemy pinned down from advancing theirs. It sacrifices so that others may experience forward progress. It believes that the fight is worth it whether or not one dies in the fighting. It believes victory is on the horizon, even if one doesn't live to see the sunrise.
No one can fight well without believing there is a light at the end of a barrel.
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