Ordnance Song
The words and music to Arms for the Love of America were originally composed by Irving Berlin and published by the Army Ordnance Association in 1941. It was dedicated to Major General C.M. Wesson, the Chief of Ordnance from 1938 to 1942.
The United States Army Ordnance Corps, formerly the United States Army Ordnance Department, is a Sustainment branch of the United States Army, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia. The broad mission of the Ordnance Corps is to supply Army combat units with weapons and ammunition, including at times their procurement and maintenance. Along with the Quartermaster Corps and Transportation Corps, it forms a critical component of the U.S. Army logistics system.
The U.S. Army Ordnance Corps mission is to support the development, production, acquisition, and sustainment of weapon systems, ammunition, missiles, electronics, and ground mobility materiel during peace and war to provide combat power to the U.S. Army. The officer in charge of the branch for doctrine, training, and professional development purposes is the Chief of Ordnance.
Official Lyrics
(Arms for the love of America!)
On land and on the sea and in the air
We've gotta be there, we've gotta be there
America is sounding her alarm
We've gotta have arms, we've gotta have arms
Arms for the love of America!
They speak in a foreign land, with weapons in every hand
Whatever they try, we've gotta reply
In language that they understand
Arms for the love of America!
And for the love of every mother's son
Who's depending on the work that must be done
By the man behind the man behind the gun
They're in the camps and in the training schools
Now give'm the tools, they've gotta have tools
We called them from the factories and the farms
Now give'm the arms, they've gotta have arms
Arms for the love of America!
We've gotta get in the race and work at a lively pace
They say over here, we've nothing to fear
But let's get ready just in case
Arms for the love of America!
And for the love of every mother's son
Oh the fight for freedom can be lost or won
by the man behind the man behind the gun
Arms for the love of America!
For the love of America,
Arms!
