Click on small photos

Cadet will not Lie, Cheat, Steal, or Tolerate Those Who Do


USMA at West Point


We have changed the wording of our Alma Mater to reflect the fact that our Women Graduates have also given their lives serving this Nation.


----- Class of 2012 Motto ------

- "For More Than Ourselves" -Thank you Class of 2012 - for the Honor of Marching with you The Class of 62 - Can Do


Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First


Motto -- Duty Honor Country


The Cadets of West Point


They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game. They were the Team that Gave The Most


Washington's Letter recommending the establishment of the Academy and the History of West Point


The Oaths We Take


West Points Medal of Honor Winners


Jefferson Hall - the Academy's new Library.


Douglas MacArthur

Vinegar Joe Stilwell cleaning his Thompson -The Walkout -Burma 1942

George Patton


The Monuments of West Point


Kosciuszko Monument - Guarding the Hudson ensuring there is no passage of British Man of War


Forts of the Hudson

So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, Oh!


Academic Excellence


---- Colonel Thayer


West Point


Trophy Point


L'Ecole Polytechnique Monument, or The French Monument by Cadets


Superintendent's Quarters viewed from Thayer Road

Superintendant was not Happy Black '57



Home of the Dean


Quarters 104

Cadet Chapel


Michie Stadium


Arvin Gym


Kimsey Athletic Center


Holleder Center


Washington Monument


United States Military Academy Band


Cadet Barracks


Rugby Complex


Great Chain


Plain looking toward Washington Hall


Battle Monument


Washington Hall with Cadet Chapel on rocks above.


Hudson River


Captured Trophies


Battle Monument


West Point Cemetery


Plain


Cost to this Nation of Differing Views


Trophy Point -- Our Flag


Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s


Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s


Sending the Army Team off to Beat Navy


Army Mule


Color Guard


Band Box Review Early 1950's in Central Area


Battalion Mass Early 50's


Flirtation Walk



Arvin Gym


Duty Honor Country


Cadet will not Lie, Cheat, Steal, or Tolerate Those Who Do


Motto -- Duty Honor Country

Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First

Academic Excellence

--They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game. They were the Team that Gave The Most

Colonel Thayer

West Point mid 60's

Trophy Point

L'Ecole Polytechnique Monument, or The French Monument by Cadets

Superintendent's Quarters viewed from Thayer Road

Cadet Chapel

Michie Stadium

Arvin Gym

Kimsey Athletic Center

Holleder Center

Washington Monument

United States Military Academy Band

Barracks

Rugby Complex

Great Chain

Plain looking toward Washington Hall

Battle Monument

Washington Hall with Cadet Chapel on rocks above.

Hudson River

Captured Trophies

Battle Monument

West Point Cemetery

Plain

Cost to this Nation of Differing Views

Trophy Point -- Our Flag

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Sending the Army Team off to Beat Navy

Army Mule

Color Guard

Band Box Review Early 1950's in Central Area

Battalion Mass Early 50's

Flirtation Walk

Cadet will not Lie, Cheat, Steal, or Tolerate Those Who Do

Motto -- Duty Honor Country

Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First

Academic Excellence

They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game. They were the Team that Gave The Most

Colonel Thayer

West Point mid 60's

Trophy Point

L'Ecole Polytechnique Monument, or The French Monument by Cadets

Superintendent's Quarters viewed from Thayer Road

Cadet Chapel

Michie Stadium

Arvin Gym

Kimsey Athletic Center

Holleder Center

Washington Monument

United States Military Academy Band

Barracks

Rugby Complex

Great Chain

Plain looking toward Washington Hall

Battle Monument

Washington Hall with Cadet Chapel on rocks above.

Hudson River

Captured Trophies

Battle Monument

West Point Cemetery

Plain

- Cost to this Nation of Differing Views

Trophy Point -- Our Flag

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Sending the Army Team off to Beat Navy

- Army Mule

Color Guard

Band Box Review Early 1950's in Central Area

Battalion Mass Early 50's

Flirtation Walk

Click on Photos Below

Please note it takes a couple of hours to update all pages as material is added to this section. You may have to return to the home page to see all of the current links

Cadet will not Lie, Cheat, Steal, or Tolerate Those Who Do

We have changed the wording of our Alma Mater to reflect the fact that our Women Graduates have also given their lives serving this Nation.

----- Class of 2012 Motto ----- "For More Than Ourselves" Thank you Class of 2012 for the Honor of Marching with you The Class of 62

---------- Class of 2008 --------- ----- Class Crest & Motto ----- "No Mission Too Great"

---- Their Commencement ---- "Here am I; Send me."

Thank you Class of 2008 and Please Thank the Men & Women --- the Soldiers you will lead --- The Class of 62.

Motto -- Duty Honor Country

Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First

Jefferson Hall - the Academy's new Library.

Academic Excellence

--They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game. They were the Team that Gave The Most

---- Colonel Thayer

West Point mid 60's

Trophy Point

L'Ecole Polytechnique Monument, or The French Monument by Cadets

Superintendent's Quarters viewed from Thayer Road

Cadet Chapel

Michie Stadium

Arvin Gym

Kimsey Athletic Center

Holleder Center

Washington Monument

United States Military Academy Band

Barracks

Rugby Complex

Great Chain

Plain looking toward Washington Hall

Battle Monument

Washington Hall with Cadet Chapel on rocks above.

Hudson River

Captured Trophies

Battle Monument

West Point Cemetery

Plain

- Cost to this Nation of Differing Views

Trophy Point -- Our Flag

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Sending the Army Team off to Beat Navy

- Army Mule

Color Guard

Band Box Review Early 1950's in Central Area

Battalion Mass Early 50's

Flirtation Walk

Arvin Gym

Duty Honor Country

Cadet will not Lie, Cheat, Steal, or Tolerate Those Who Do

Motto -- Duty Honor Country

Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First

Academic Excellence

--They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game. They were the Team that Gave The Most

---- Colonel Thayer

West Point mid 60's

Trophy Point

L'Ecole Polytechnique Monument, or The French Monument by Cadets

Superintendent's Quarters viewed from Thayer Road

Cadet Chapel

Michie Stadium

Arvin Gym

Kimsey Athletic Center

Holleder Center

Washington Monument

United States Military Academy Band

Barracks

Rugby Complex

Great Chain

Plain looking toward Washington Hall

Battle Monument

Washington Hall with Cadet Chapel on rocks above.

Hudson River

Captured Trophies

Battle Monument

West Point Cemetery

Plain

- Cost to this Nation of Differing Views

Trophy Point -- Our Flag

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Corps of Cadets Formed in Companies early 1960s

Sending the Army Team off to Beat Navy

- Army Mule

Color Guard

Band Box Review Early 1950's in Central Area

Battalion Mass Early 50's

Flirtation Walk

Cadet will not Lie, Cheat, Steal, or Tolerate Those Who Do

Motto -- Duty Honor Country

Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First

Academic Excellence

--They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game. They were the Team that Gave The Most

---- Colonel Thayer

West Point mid 60's

Trophy Point

L'Ecole Polytechnique Monument, or The French Monument by Cadets

Superintendent's Quarters viewed from Thayer Road

Cadet Chapel

Michie Stadium

Arvin Gym

Kimsey Athletic Center

Holleder Center

Washington Monument

The material below this point is a site a work area.


Page 2








































































The '54 Crest

General MacArthur stated it would take

"at least 10 years"

to return Army Football to Respectability


28th Infantry Regiment
Black Lion Award is intended to go to the person on his team "who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self-sacrifice, and - above all -

an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself."


General George Patton

"The Army moves as a team, eats as a team, and fights as a team."


The '55 Crest











They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game.

They were the Team that Gave The Most


Don Hollender Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First


Vann and Holleder


9 Army A's


The '56 Crest


The '57 Crest










Can Do


Gen Van Fleet addressing the Corps prior to the Navy Game


Constructed under supervision of Jay Gould "54 and the Ord Dept from a German Rocket Gun captured at Kasserine Pass. First used in the Duke Game.


COL "Red" Reeder granted the Cheerleaders Corps Squad status to obtain financial support for their spirit-inducing initiatives.


Bob Mischak - - It should be pointed out that Bob was an All American selection, but is not recognized by the Academy as such because of the organization which selected him.









Ubel scores 3 Times against Navy - Vann's facking results in Peter getting tackled - #10 on the ground behind Ubel

Vann to Sisson

Army's B Squad

Vann to Mischak.

Uebel Intercepts

Cody to Don Holleder








Lasley

Frank Hicks

Burd

Bill Purdue

Cody

Meador Mgr

Ron Melnick







Ralph Chesnauskas

Pat Uebel

Tommy Bell

Sisson headed for another score

Peter Vann stuffs the ball in Jerry's gut

Leroy Lunn & Jerry Lodge

Uebel after taking the handoff from Hagan







Attaya - Army's Fullback

Sisson - one of 3 Great Ends

Bob Mischak

Ralph Chesnauskas


Bob Farris

Vann moving out of the pocket

Peter Vann 10, Billy Chance 38, Herdman 68







Ken Kramer

Joe Lapchick

Kirk Cockrell


Lodge going down tosses to Paul Schweikert for score.




Dick Zeigler

Bob Farris
Played the 2d half of the Navy Game blind in one eye.







Pat Uebel

Tommy Bell

Peter Vann

Freddie Attaya

Mike Zeigler

Jerry Lodge wearing #67, playing fullback.

Johnny Wing




Lowell Sisson


Norm Stephen

Jack Krause

Dick Ziegler

Jerry Lodge

Leroy Lunn






Norm Stephen

Jerry Lodge

Corps of Cadets for Navy Game

Can Do

General MacArthur stated it would take

"at least 10 years"

to return Army Football to Respectability

General George Patton

"The Army moves as a team, eats as a team, and fights as a team."

Don Hollender Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First








The '54 Crest

The '55 Crest

28th Infantry Regiment
Black Lion Award is intended to go to the person on his team "who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self-sacrifice, and - above all -

an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself."


They played perhaps Army's Greatest Game.

They were the Team that Gave The Most


The '56 Crest


The '57 Crest





West Point's Infamous Indoor Obstacle Course

Gray Matter - 17 March 2011

Mention of the words "indoor obstacle course" to most West Point cadets or graduates, and you are bound to get an interesting reaction. For some, it recalls a recurring opportunity to set a record in physical education, or at least chalk up a maximum grade. For others, it means several afternoons spent in practice, attempting to cut a few seconds off the time required to negotiate an obstacle by improving one's form, if only for bragging rights within one's cadet company. For many, it was part of the natural course of events - neither feared excessively nor considered a great way to spend an afternoon. For some, however, images of "mission impossible" come to mind, due to inherent problems with height or upper body strength. All, however, unite in recalling the dry, dusty feeling in one's lungs during the three laps on the indoor track that immediately preceded the finish line.

The indoor obstacle course now must be passed in order to graduate, and it is a devilishly intricate and demanding test of agility, flexibility, confidence and endurance involving eleven obstacles. Early versions arranged some of the obstacles in a different order, but the three minutes or so of hell remain about the same for all.

Nowadays, the first obstacle after the command of "Go" requires one to crawl under a low frame with a plastic or other sheet over the top. Hitting the supporting frame is slightly painful; bumping the sheet too much slows you down. Immediately following is obstacle two: a series of tires that forces you to raise your legs high to navigate without tripping. Not terribly difficult, but a single misstep can cause you to fall and lose precious seconds. An overly cautious approach costs almost as much time and runs the risk of being run over by the cadet who started 15-20 seconds behind you.

Obstacle three has changed in spirit, if not substance, over the years. It is a padded pommel horse draped in a mat, and at one time in the past, a dive, tuck and forward roll was required. Since military movement first became a part of the curriculum of the Department of Physical Education, now one's hands may be placed on the horse and a vault executed with no other part of the body touching the horse. Also, a degree of subjectivity is introduced. A grader determines if you landed "under control" or not.

Assuming that you were under control and did not fall, you proceed to obstacle four, the shelf. It is a plywood platform about six or seven feet off the floor and supported by a pipe framework. One must grab onto the shelf - not the pipe framework - and pull one's self onto the shelf. Then one faces obstacle five, the horizontal bars. Just navigate to the middle of the gym by walking on a pipe framework with vertical supports just far enough apart to challenge your balance in between supports. Being cautious again costs precious seconds - bounding from one support to the other like a monkey is faster. Then drop back down to main floor level and obstacle six, the suspended tire. Super athletes can jump feet first through the tire and slide their upper torso through on the run. Most cadets grab the two cables suspending the tires and then thrust their legs through, costing them about five seconds. Next is obstacle seven, the balance beam. Walk the entire distance without falling off, then jump down and execute a forward roll. Fall off or do a bad roll? Start over.

Obstacle eight is hated by the vertically challenged or those with less upper body strength. It is the infamous eight-foot wall. Get over it in any way possible without touching the vertical supports on either side. Easier for a tall cadet or those unafraid of rushing the padded wall at full speed, jumping up, and getting most of one's body over on the fly. Obstacle nine is a horizontal ladder. Putting both hands on the same rung takes too much time. Alternating hands is faster, but only if you don't fall. You have to start over if you do, and the clock is always ticking.

Take heart; the end is in sight. Of course, the finish line is on the indoor track above, and you are down on the main floor of the gym. Enter obstacle ten, the rope climb. Make it to the red line on the rope, jump onto the platform and climb onto the track. Getting your feet on the platform without reaching the red line with your hands will cost you a 15-second penalty; don't make it up the rope and it costs you 30 seconds - enough to fail most cadets. Then you still have to climb a rope ladder up to the track and run anyway.

Once on the track, a helpful staff member hands you a medicine ball that you proudly carry around the track for one lap. Then you carefully place the ball into a bin and pick up a baton for another lap and another careful return to a bin. Then your dust-dry lungs must attempt to scavenge enough oxygen for a partial lap at full speed to the finish line. That or discover that giving less than everything you had left - even though you were certain that you had nothing left - puts you across the finish line at one second over the course record or the company record or the passing time for the indoor obstacle course test. There are several large plastic waste receptacles off to the left for those who need them. Better luck on the re-test.

Your humble servant, J. Phoenix, Esquire

Please forward guest articles, comments and suggestions for future topics to JPhoenix@wpaog.org. You may also sign up to receive Gray Matter directly at that same email address.

Did you know that a number of previous Gray Matter essays may be found at www.westpointaog.org ?

Click on - The Poop Sheets - and then scroll down and click on Gray Matter e-Newsletter.

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