Ivy Courtney was born in 1895 in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at Jackson Barracks, Louisiana, on May 5, 1917, and served with Company L of the 9th Infantry Regiment in May 1917. He then served with Company L of the 47th Infantry Regiment from May to August 1917, followed by service back with Company L of the 9th Infantry Regiment from August 1917 until he deployed with his unit to France in October 1917 as part of the 2nd Infantry Division. During this time, Corporal Courtney participated in the campaigns at Aisne, Aisle-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Ile de France, and Lorraine. He was badly wounded at the Battle of Marne on July 18, 1918, and he was killed in action on November 4, 1918. Ivy Courtney was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France.

Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.