But when you have realized the technical superiority of our Guynemer, you will have yet to learn one thing, one great thing, the essential thing. You have heard that Guynemer's frame was not robust; that he was delicate, and the military boards refused him several times as unfit. Yet no aviator ever showed more endurance than he did, even when developments made long cruising necessary in altitudes of 6000 or 7000 meters. There have been pilots as quickwitted and gunners as accurate as Guynemer, but there has never been anybody who equaled him in the flashlike rapidity of his attack, or for doggedness in keeping up a fight. We must conclude that he had a special gift, and this gift--his own genius--must be ultimately reduced to his decision, that is, his will-power. His will, to the very end, was far above his physical strength. There are two great dates in his short life: November 21, 1914, when he joined the army, and September 11, 1917, when he left camp for his last flight. Neither a passion for aviation nor thirst for glory had any part in his action on those two dates. Will-power in itself is sometimes dangerous, enviable though it be, and must be wisely directed. Now, Guynemer regulated his will by one great object, which was to serve, to serve his country, even unto death. Finally, do not place Guynemer apart from his comrades: even in his grave, even in the region where there is no grave, he would resent it. I hope you will learn by heart the names of the French aces, at any rate those names which I am going to give you, whatever may become of those who bear them:[32] _sous-lieutenant_ Nungesser 30 airplanes brought down Captain Heurtaux 21 " " Lieutenant Deullin 17 " " Lieutenant Pinsard 16 " " _sous-lieutenant_ Madon 16 " " _sous-lieutenant_ Chaput 12 " " Adjutant Jailler 12 " " _sous-lieutenant_ Ortoli 11 " " _sous-lieutenant_ Tarascon 11 " " Chief Adjutant Fonck 11 " " _sous-lieutenant_ Lufbery 10 " " [Footnote 32: List made September 11, 1917.] These names will become more and more glorious--some have already done so--and others will be added to the list which you will learn also. But however tenacious your memory may be, you will never remember, nobody will ever remember, the thousands of names we ought to save from oblivion, the names of those whose patience, courage, and sufferings have saved the soil of France. The fame of one man is nothing unless it represent the obscure deeds of the anonymous multitude. The name of Guynemer ought to sum up the sacrifice of all French youth--infantrymen, gunners, pioneers, troopers, or flyers--who have given their lives for us, as we hear the infinite murmur of the ocean in one beautiful shell.