Never once did I hear any officer say he or she would fall on a sword.

TEd, falling on your sword is something you do when you've lost dreadfully and don't want the enemy to take you alive, isn't it? In which case, it's not a possibility you'd gladly admit, and definitely not a statement of pride, even for individualists.

I think belM's "This is a trench in which I'd be prepared to die" works pretty well. I'll try to remember to use it some time!