West Point Class of 1969
Great life changing event. Would not wish to change any of it, not on your lives! Flew (my first time ever) to Idlewild Airport and bused into Manhattan Hotel. That evening ascended to top of The Empire State and gawked at the world I imagined was there to conquer. Bused into WP the next day and followed the others wearing black low tops from Thayer Hotel to Central Area. The rest is history.
Took a Trailways bus from Norfolk to NYC free because my Dad worked for them. Made it to the bus to West Point and all after that was a haze that I had no clue what was happening. Prior-service stud saved my butt during Beast many times.
I flew to NY from Pittsburgh, then took a bus to Highland Falls. I stayed overnight in some family’s house in what I recall was a converted attic with several bunk beds. There were maybe 6 to 8 new cadets who stayed there. I should have gotten their names, but I didn’t. I think one of them was KC Scull. The next day, I remember running up New South Barracks stairs. Running down the stairs was Dick Carter, a friend from Prep School. Dick quickly said to me, “This is cool!” Well, yes, I guess looking back now, it was cool. Very cool! How many are fortunate enough to experience that and the 4 years that follow? The rest of that day is a complete blur…
I spent the night at a NYC hotel in which other ‘New Cadets” were also staying. A group caught the early bus to WP. After grabbing my stuff from the hold under the bus, I started up the ramp towards the yelling in New South. I nearly ran into the fellow in front of me. I think he may have been the first one to quit our class. He dropped his two bags, did an about face, picked up his bags, exclaimed “What the Hell am I doing here!” and got on the bus back to NYC!
I boarded a plane (my first jet ride) in New Orleans the day before we were to report. Got to New York City, found my way to Port Authority Bus terminals and the bus to West Point. Stayed at the Thayer Hotel. Inadvertently went exploring the cadet area with a couple of other guys and walked onto Flirtation Walk without knowing it at the time. Took the bus in the morning to the cadet area and reported to the “Man in the Red Sash” in new south. The rest is history. Would not trade it for anything.
