The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-02
LETS co. MAY
BE ARMY SLOGAN
Colonel Edward L. Munson Says
Lets Co., is An Inspiring and
Popular Slogan.

The most inspiring and, at the same
time, the most popular slogan used
by our troops during the world war
is embraced in the unpretentious
words Let's Co"
This is the valuable judgment of
Colonel Edward L. Munson, chief of
the morale branch, general staff, and
a discerning and appreciative student
of soldier psychology. Colonel Mum
son as organizer and head of this
branch during the war seems qualified
as an expert on question of this char
acter and he backs his opinion in the
following words:
My conviction on this subject-a
subject that is of real Importance to
students of military morales based
on unanimous verdict of those who
served with troops. reinforced by the
judgment of many who have looked
at the question from other angles. The
appeal Let's Co combines all the
necessary psychological elements of a
military slogan. Other popular phras-
es used by our troops unquestionab-
ly had their effect in reviVing flag
ging spirits and in cheering tired men
but none seems so typical1y American,
SO broad and so satisfying.
Lets Co stimulates at one and
the same time more of the basic in
stincts that govern human behavior
than probably any other military
catch phrase. 1t implies action, and
therefore stirs the instinct Of self
assertion. The movement it enlbOd-
les. stimulates the migratory instinct,
common to man as we'll as birds, ami
mails and fishes-the desire to seek
rev surroundings Through commu-
l.itv Of such action, it r0uses the in
stinct Ct righteousness AS to wha
viii be found at the end OF the road, !
il piques The instinct of curiosity and
rmbodjcS adventure. The completion
Of the task involves expression of the |
instinct of coustructiveness, of a good !
job 10 be Well done. If addressed to |
an organization which is part of a |
larger command 1t brings up a concept |
Of emulation depending on the in |
stinct OF rivalry. The task is to be |
pushed to the end, if necessary, in a !
lighting sense. and hence the instinct
Of pugnacity is awakened.
The slogan contains no word of !
command, no stern admonition. it does !
not impose itself upon the will Of the !
nearer It calls rather for compan- |
ior ship Cor voluntary action and con- |
tri3ution on The part Of the soldier. for |
a conc rted movement prompted by |
mutual desire.
Ny analysis may not be correct |
one, 1t correct or not. I am certain |
that Let's Go was used spontaneous |
lv under all circumstances and al |
ways with an encouraging response. |
Other slogans were adopted from time |
to time by various COntingents of the !
expeditionary forces and units serv- |
ing in this country, but none of them !
quite filled the Place of the one now |
under discussion. Where do We go
from here was not an unusual SEN
tence during the war and eye witness |
es tell US that the song by that name |
was sung quite cheerfulIy as the |
transport Tuscania sank into the wa |
tiers of the British channel. When |
do we eat?'. Who won the WARP and |
Where are the ships?' We're three SEN |
fences many times repeated by Amer |
lean soldiers but they were usually |
used in a satirical vein and formed an |
outlet for the distinct and individual |
hunor of our troops, but for everyday |
,aAA in ras4 ar EattIS- tI~ s1aa-A= L~-a~l