West Point celebrated the annual Founders Day Dinner March 5 at the Mess Hall with Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. John C. Thomson III as guest speaker.
“Tonight is one that we should think about what constitutes the foundation of the Academy,” Thomson said. “I argue that as much as a piece of parchment signed by President Jefferson, this institution is founded by its graduates. From the first graduating class made up of Joseph Swift and Simon Levy, ‘through the years of two centuries told,’ West Point’s graduates have poured a foundation of service and sacrifice for us to continue the tradition of ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’”
“Our 1,944th graduate, a native of Delafield, Wisconsin lived up to his Class Motto “Per Angusta, Ad Augusta,” Thomson said. “Two years and one week after graduating, he and other members of the June Class of 1861 played vital roles in the Battle of Gettysburg. On the battle’s second day, their class valedictorian, Patrick O’Rourke made the ultimate sacrifice while leading a charge just in the nick of time on Little Round Top.”
Thomson explained that on the third day, the class goat, George Armstrong Custer, commanded a cavalry charge that broke up a Confederate flank attack under Jeb Stuart.
“That same afternoon, Cullum number 1,944, Alonzo Cushing, found himself commanding an artillery battery consisting of six three-inch ordnance rifled cannons at what some argue was the most decisive point at this critical battle of the Civil War,” he said.
Cullum number 60,574 from the Class of 2004 commanded Special Forces Operation Detachment Alpha 3132 in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan.
“His team was called on to serve as a quick reaction force after enemy fighters breached the walls of a coalition military compound,” Thomson said. “He led his men in two vehicles toward the attack, where two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices had torn through the base perimeter. Continually exposed to enemy fire, he coordinated efforts to defeat the withering attack and was credited with saving multiple friendly lives.”
Will Eberle became the third USMA graduate since Vietnam to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Full Story»
Story and photo courtesy of Kathy Eastwood Pointer View
