Memories and Traditions, The Real West Point Story

This book - many years in compilation - is Priceless, a 'work of art', it awakens the gamut of emotions within a reader, from joy, laughter at some of the pranks pulled, to a lump in one's throat after reading Richard Lee's ('60) treatise on the Taps Vigil. The Great American Public, The "GAP" in cadet terminology, may not be able to understand or appreciate the slang inherent in this work - although the authors do go to great lengths to explain it and, by virtue of the fact that the book is aimed at a specific, limited audience that has developed its' own language over the 'the years of a century told' unlike a historical piece, or a novel, it may not appeal to the general public. The GAP will not be able to comprehend the relative austerity of the Cadet's life, existence, which has become measurably better with the passage of time; a change that the reviewer has observed with some wonder, he being of the 'old' school! In the opinion of the reviewer, this is a masterpiece, a work of history albeit a bit unusual and limited to a small section of the American Public, and he recommends it HIGHLY to the West Point audience which, as of the most recent compilation, numbers in excess of 44,000 living Graduates, PLUS an inestimable number of 'interested parties'. The Military Academy today has a goal of receiving ten applicants for every position; over 1320 new cadets were admitted this past summer into the class of 2007, more than 16000 individuals opened admission files - the average SAT score of the entering class was in excess of 1200. Cadets have commented that, if West Point could find a way to enforce it, there would be a 'Reg' covering the position in which a cadet sleeps! Still, West Point continues to change - it MUST, in order to remain relevant to contemporary Society. The reviewer, Thomas W. Leo,'59, was the leader of the 2nd, 3rd generation of the Moles, has reviewed numerous works authored by Graduates of West Point.