Tom,
I thought your would recognize the quote as an history buff. It's from a Gen Patton speech to his troops. When he tells his troops at least they won't have to say to their kids when they ask what did you do in the war? "You won't have to say shoveling shit in Louisiana." or something like that.
I don't recognize your allusion to Ike. Where did that come from? Or did you just make it up?