Cadences originated with PVT Willie Lee Duckworth during WWII. His story has turned to legend and is still alive in the US military today. ​ Duckworth, a black Soldier and a descendent of freed American slaves, took the call-and-response style of “work songs” and wrote his famous tune, “Sound Off.” ​ This new-found method of morale-building would quickly spread across the Army, and make its mark in its history. Hundreds of cadences have since been written and taken root in US military culture. |

“The Duckworth Chant” — In 1944, a young soldier named Willie Lee Duckworth introduced the first ever cadence to his platoon. This cadence, “Sound Off” (which you’re listening to right now) quickly spread throughout the Army and the tradition has stuck with the US military ever since. This young black soldier took the African-American “work song” tradition and created a morale-boosting tradition that would last for decades. Thank you, and RIP to PVT Duckworth for wearing the title, “Soldier” and