On, brave old Army team!
On to the fray.
Fight on to victory
For that's the fearless Army way.
~United States Military Academy Fight Song
I grew up hearing my father sing this fight song on every Army game day, especially on Army-Navy game days. My dad is a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1986. Since his graduation, my dad has continued to live by the values that USMA has taught him and passed on to me.
This past September I had the opportunity to travel to West Point with my parents to my dad's 30-year class reunion. I have been to West Point with my family before, but this reunion was different. During this reunion, I talked with my dad's classmates, listened to hundreds of stories, and observed the interactions between the old graduates. The graduates gave me insight into the key values of the United States Military Academy.
For hundreds of years, the United States Military Academy has been one of the most prestigious schools in the country. The school chooses the brightest of the bright, the strongest of the strong, and the bravest of the brave to be their cadets. The best of the best. In addition to teaching the cadets how to be great military leaders, they teach them the values of integrity, character, and leadership. The values are just one of the many unique aspects that the Academy has.
No fraternity or sorority can ever match up to the brotherhood that the United States Military Academy creates. When my dad ran into a classmate throughout the weekend, it didn't matter if he had been best friends with them or just knew them from passing, they would both be overwhelmed with excitement to see each other. At one point during the weekend, my dad met someone who he had not seen in 30 years. After about a thirty second introduction, it would seem as if they had been best friends for years.
Every cadet is assigned to a company whom they grow with throughout the Academy. Similar to Greek Life, each company is given a mascot to represent them for generations to come. My dad made a point to search for the current C4 Cowboys while he was on campus. The companies power through rigorous training; physically, academically, and mentally. Many would go on to Ranger school after graduation. These experiences create a brotherhood that cannot be experienced at other colleges.
The bond between West Point graduates is seen throughout all classes. A few days before the reunion, my parents and I decided to go into the city to a Yankee's game. My dad was wearing his Class of '86 hat and a stranger approached him with an outstretched hand. "Sir, it is nice to meet you! Class of '91, thank you for serving!" The automatic connection is something that no other college can be proud to say.
Like any military branch, choosing to go into the army is not an easy path. On the second day of the reunion, a memorial service was held for the cadets that had fallen since the reunion prior. Unfortunately, it was unbearably hot. My mom and I sat under a tree to keep cool, but I was amazed at the perseverance the old grads showed. As classmates shared beloved stories of the fallen, sweat build-up became noticeable on the backs of the old grads. However, they still sat with perfect posture as a sign of respect.
These men and women that choose the military have a level of bravery that is beyond words. They know that there is a good chance they may not back in one piece. They are brave in the fact that they look death in the face and say "Bring it on."
When the cadets decide to go into the Academy, they know that it may end in their death. The class of '86 has had classmates die due to car crashes, cancer, heart attacks, etc. One classmate, Douglas Gurian was killed on 9/11 when he was at the World Trade Center for a one-day business conference.
Of course, many have died while serving their country. One of the deaths that really hit home for the class of '86 was the death of John McHugh or Johnny Mac. Johnny Mac was in Afghanistan for a NATO peace conference, when a suicide bomber hit his convoy. He was planning on retiring later that year to mark his military career at 25 years.
Johnny Mac left behind 5 beautiful children and his wife. With the help of some '86 classmates, The Johnny Mac Soldier's Fund was created to provide scholarships to children whose parents have been killed in action. I got the chance to meet his oldest daughter, Kelly, at the reunion, and the support that has been shown to her has been phenomenal. The Class of '86 welcomed her as if she was directly related to them and told her hundreds of stories of her father.
When I saw the way Kelly was welcomed like family, it reinforced the West Point brotherhood in my mind. When my mom and I would talk to my dad's classmates, they would treat us as if we were their family. They would treat Kelly as if she was their daughter. The classmates my dad is closest with have become father figures to me. Their wives are like my "second mom". Their family is our family.
The United States Military Academy is a school that has taught the greatest leaders of all time. The class of 1986 alone has produced generals, CEOs, businessmen and women, priests, congressmen, mothers, fathers, etc. No matter what profession the cadet chooses, they are on the road to success.
Every other college is able to prepare their students for success, so what makes the United States Military Academy so different? The cadets have grit. My favorite definition of grit is a combination of passion and perseverance. To be a cadet you must be passionate about being a cadet. You must also be up to the challenges that come with being a cadet. If you don't have grit, you won't make it as a cadet. Like I said before, they only choose the best of the best, so if you aren't all in, you aren't in. Having grit is what makes the cadets stand out from the crowd.
Walking on the West Point grounds as an "outsider" is a unique experience. To walk on the grounds where so many famous, important leaders had walked before is humbling. Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Edgar Allen Poe, just to name a few. It makes me proud to personally know cadets and former cadets that have been here. It makes me more proud to have a father that graduated from here.
Growing up with a father as a West Point graduate has taught me a lot. It taught me that you always root for Army, never Navy. It taught me that you should always choose the harder right over the easier wrong. It taught me that you must have grit in everything that you do. And, finally, the Class of '86 taught me that Courage Never Quits.
