The Days Forward

West Point Class of 1969

What West Point Means to Me

What West Point Means To Me – Harry Dolton

Looking back now from fifty and fifty-four years when I respectively graduated from and entered West Point, there are two clear areas of the strong impression West Point has made on me—the institution itself and the people encountered. Some things in life do fade with time, but the strong influence of the West Point experience isn’t one of them, then or now!
Even before seeing West Point, its reputation as a unique training ground for national leaders was well known in our country’s history, especially for leaders in wartime. The popular TV series in the late 1950s, “The West Point Story”, was another great source of wider knowledge about the Academy, as were a popular series of books about cadet life. Finally, the annual Army-Navy game was another glimpse into the image and mystique of West Point. All of these advance insights, however, paled in impact when compared to the firsthand influence of actually becoming a Cadet. Over the four-year period of being there, West Point as an institution served to both inspire and to transform in fundamental and lasting ways. The tenets of Duty, Honor, Country as well as the overriding attitude of service to the nation seemed to become inseparable between the institution and the Cadets.

While the institution of West Point itself loomed large, in the terms of lasting influence it was the people of West Point who made perhaps the most lasting and certainly living impression over a lifetime. The faculty and staff at West Point were highly qualified and dedicated to their mission, and without question had a significant impact on all of us over four years. Additionally, the upper classes of Cadets, who were our leaders and role models, had a very personal influence on our development, usually in a favorable direction.
Finally, in terms of a persistent influence in our lives, it is fair to say that it was the relationship developed with our contemporaries—our West Point classmates—that has had the greatest meaning. Time spent together in the crucible of West Point coupled with years of service as well as informal friendships over an extended period has cemented ties and made the West Point experience a fundamental core in our lives.

What West Point Means to Me – Art Nigro

West Point was a survival exercise for me.
Never be first, never be last, and keep your head down. That was my motto.
I can’t say I enjoyed my 4 years there and often feel that I missed the entire college experience. However, I graduated feeling that I could handle any situation that arose, and I went on to practice the Cadet Honor Code both at work and at home. As a general manager, I taught the honor code to my staff in hotels around the world, and it played a central role in our success. It is a great code to live by.
Undoubtedly, the best thing about attending West Point was meeting Sheila, my wife of 49 years now, when I was a platoon leader at Beast Barracks. If there was such a thing as a good year at West Point, it was that last one. We had a few privileges and got our cars in the spring. It was a good time to have a corvette, a wonderful girlfriend, and lots of buddies in Company C-3.
Since I went into the Air Force and got out after 5 years, it became difficult to keep in regular touch with my classmates, and I regret that very much. We were an eclectic bunch of characters in C-3, and it is great to see how well everyone has done in life. On the eve of our 50th reunion, I look forward to seeing them again and catching up.

It is safe to say that if I didn’t go to West Point, I wouldn’t have met Sheila and had such a wonderful family of which I am proud.

What West Point Means To Me – Guy Miller

Ol’ Weird learned the tools he needed for life while at West Point. He even earned his nickname there.
Besides a tremendous foundation in math, the sciences and engineering, we all got well-rounded in English and other foreign languages, law, psych, sosh and history, plus a few electives. By graduation, every last one of us had upwards of 200 credit hours, a genuine BS degree so broad we were qualified to be admitted to virtually any graduate program at any university in the country. Civilian professors were thrilled by our study habits and discipline, as we knocked out program requirements with astounding effectiveness.
My own personal appreciation of our cadet academics came in 1987, when I sat for the Engineer-in-Training exam. Having been out of school almost two decades, I showed up for the open book exam with nothing but a single yellow reference book and my old slide rule.
Kids I was taking the exam with arrived with shopping carts full of reference books, notes, texts and marvelous programmable graphing calculators. Never even having seen a slipstick, they were astounded when I showed them the technology that put a man on the moon. Most of them busted the exam, but dang if this old fart didn’t max that sucker! Many thanks to our Alma Mater.

What West Point Means To Me – Bruce Wheeler

What has being a member of the West Point class of 1969 meant to me? My moral compass continues to be aligned with The Cadet Prayer.

The friendships from cadet days and subsequently through assignments, mini-reunions and other activities and experiences have been rich and treasured. Cycling, skiing, safaris, as well as the cruises, a cup of coffee or wine with classmates has led me to appreciate the depth and breadth of shared life experiences with our class family. When I stood at Trophy Point on July 1, 1965 and subsequently at parades and in the reviewing stand, the memories leave me humbled and thankful for being a part of such a great class and institution.

What West Point Means To Me – Dick Wallace

To assess the impact of West Point on me, I conclude that the guiding influence was from the classmates with whom I had the most association. A-2 mates and those that I served with over my career. Always present was the deep-seated motivation to honor, or to in no way discredit my Class or West Point. All in all, that motivation made me a better person. I treasure and honor those relationships formed at West Point.
As a soldier, I was privileged to associate with the best citizens our nation produces – soldiers and families – who for long or short periods of their lives, strove to transcend focus on self and lived for the greater cause of service to our nation. For the most part, my West Point classmates and I lived in a time when the threat to the nation was real. We endeavored always to bring our West Point values to all aspects of our lives.
I have, for some time now, been enjoying the “fruits of liberty” sowed by our national abundance, character, creativity and productivity. My optimism for the future is fueled by the knowledge that there are still young Americans who endeavor to join the ranks of “The Long Gray Line” and follow the path from West Point wherever it may lead.