In many cases they fight on knowing that death is preferable to capture, or for a greater cause, or because they are professionals. It's hard to pin it down to a single reason.

For example, some trapped Soviet forces in the Kiev pocket formed in Sept 1941 fought with unbelievable ferocity, fighting with their boots, their hands, their teeth in some cases. At that time, they probably did so because they were fighting for their motherland and perhaps their very existence as a nation. Later on, they probably fought to the death so not to end up in the hands of one of the Sicherungsdivisionen (Security Divisions) that followed the Wehrmacht into Russia or because they would be shot by their own officers if they retreated.

Spite...pure spite and hatred for the basterd who chooses you out of everyone in the battlefield to shoot at.

Originally Posted by battery

Never give up... Never surrender. Soldiers fight on to die a honorable death, avoid capture, and to make their country's proud.

Right on man, thats the stuff. Read the code of conduct it says it all.

In the states, we can reflect on abstracs like "Freedom.

But is comes down to the guy next to you.

You do what you can to help the next link in the chain.

Due, I swear to god, the last thing your going to be thinking of when your getting shot at is the code of conduct and honor... the mo-fo shooting at you is all your going to be thinking of, and how terribly your going to hurt him, the slow torture he's going to endure, etc.

For your buddies!

Prefer to die standing, rather than to live kneeing down.

It's about pride of man.

a man would die for his country and family with the knowlege that he has done somthing good woudnt you

To take as many of them with you...

Every Soldier, Sailor, Marine and Airforce personel will always have the fact when engaging in a conflict, police action and/or war there is a chance of being shot and wounded or killed. As the old adage goes, there is no name on the bullet, just to whom it may concern.

All military in the U.S., well 99% are willing to fight for their country knowingly there is a percentage will be wounded or killed in action and each member of the military realizes that without themselves being alert that their fellow soldiers depend upon their courage to stay and fight.

Yes, there is a matter of being proud, Esprit De Corps

SFC