ASSEMBLY — ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES — /OLUME OCTOBER, 1942 No. 3 U h • rïr mm VOLUME I. OCTOBER, 1942. No. 3. Officers Contents Association of Graduates General Tillman Passes 1 PRESIDENT Stewart Field 2 Maj. Gen. Robert M. Danford, Ret'd, '04 Douglas MacArtfyur 3 VICE-PRESIDENTS Bulletin Board 4 Maj. Gen. John M. Jenkins, Ret'd, '87 Plain Talk 5 Brig. Gen. Nathaniel F. McClure, Ret'd, '87 Tom Jenkins Retires 7 Brig. Gen. John McA. Palmer, Ret'd, 'S2 Brig. Gen. James P. Jervey, Ret'd, '92 Oldest Living Graduate 7 Lieut. Gen. Albert J. Bowley, Ret'd, '97 Last Roll Call 8 BOARD OF TRUSTEES We Salute 8 To Serve until July 1, 1943 Cadet Prayer History 8 Col. Allan M. Pope, '03 Col. Chauncey L. Fenton, '04 Cadet Prayer 9 Col. Douglas I. McKay, '05 Col. James W. Riley, '06 Graduates and Ex-Cadets Stationed at West Point 10 Col. Walter S. Sturgill, Ret'd, '06 Col. Meade Wildrick, '10 Back in Uniform 11 Col. Thomas D. Stamps, Aug., '17 Col. Philip E. Gallagher, June, '18 New Members of the Association 11 Mr. Edmund B. Bellinger, June, '18 Maj. Francis G. Greene, '22 West Point Public Relations 11 To Serve until July 1, 1944 Maneuvers and Training Photographs 12-13 Maj. Gen. Dennis E. Nolan, Ret'd, '96 Report 14 Maj. Gen. Robert C. Davis, Ret'd, '98 Col. John C. Montgomery, Ret'd, '03 Down the Field 23 Col. Roger G. Alexander, '07 Maj. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger, '09 Fall and Winter Sports Schedule Inside Back Cover Col. Clarence H. Danielson, '13 Col. Herman Beukema, '15 Invitation Inside Back Cover Mr. Howard P. Richardson, June, '18 Capt. John A. McNulty, '20 In Memory Insert Mr. R. Deck Reynolds, '24 Cover—Composite picture of Cadets in summer training and Army playing To Serve until July 1, 1945 football. Brig. Gen. Avery D. Andrews, Ret'd, '86 Col. Alexander R. Piper, Ret'd, '89 Ma(. Gen- Charles McK. Saltzman, Ret'd, '96 Maj. Gen. Frank R. McCoy, Ret'd, '97 Maj. Gen. Frank P. Lahm, Ret'd, '01 Staff Maj. Gen. Francis B. Wilby, '05 Editor Captain William L. Kost, '25 Col. William E. Morrison, '07 Col. Hugh H. McGee, '09 Circulation Manager Mrs. Blanche 0. Kingsley Col. Freeman W. Bowley, '11 Mr. R. Parker Kuhn, '16 ASSEMBLY is published quarterly at 50 Third Street, Newburgh, New York, by the Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy, West Point, N. Y. Appli- cation for entry as second-class matter Is pending. Subscription-prices: Single copy. SECRETARY AND TREASURER 25 cents; Annual subscription, (1.00; Life subscription, $15.00. Cover photograph courtesy White Studios. Other photographs courtesy of Acme, Public Relations Office, Capt. William L. Kost, '25 U. S. M. A., White Studios. [1] General Tillman Passes It is with deep regret that the letters from graduates of the Military get about the limited time and Association of Graduates learned of Academy tearing Sammy Tillman to have to call a sudden halt on him- the passing of the Academy's oldest pieces. He had sacrificed his own self and return to the immediate living graduate, General Samuel E. good name and reputation for the matter of the text book. And, in- Tillman, on June 24, 1942. His death good of the Military Academy. He cidentally, his lectures on this and it moves the last of several who had knew that officers of the Army, active other subjects of the course were i harge of the instruction of the cadets and retired, could not attack the habitually hailed with delight; they at the U. S. Military Academy during President but they could attack were always interesting. And his the closing decades of the 19th Cen- Sammy Tillman. The public had manner of delivery, rather con- tury. Generals Pershing, Bullard. spoken. There was no further sug- versational, appealed strongly to Summerall, Goethals, March, and gestion from the White House re- young men having their first scien- many other army officers who became garding the converting of the Mil- tific contact with Nature. We soon famous in the Spanish-Amer- learned to feel great respect ican War and in the World for his grasp of the subjects War, were among the cadets in his course and an affec- whose education was super- tion which increased as the vised by notable teachers years went on, for a man we such as Professor Tillman. knew was just, though strict His closest interests when need be, approachable throughout his life of almost at all times by those in need ninety-five years had been of help and advice, and gen- with his beloved Alma uinely interested in the pro- Mater, where he taught gress of his pupils and in cadets for over thirty-six getting them to make the years. grade in the final examina- His keen insight and de- tions. votion is exemplified by the "He was a comparatively writing of an officer who young man then and though was an instructor in Profes- slight in build, was most vig- sor Tillman's department: orous and active. He would "Theodore Roosevelt be- always run up the stairs of came President in Septem- the Academic Building and ber, 1901. Sometime in 1902 was still doing it some or 3 he advocated a com- twenty years later. He was plete change in the Military an inveterate and, we Academy, curtailing the thought, an invincible tennis Academic Course materially player and followed keenly and practically establishing the advances and prowess of a Rough Rider institution. the Army teams in all sports Practically everyone sta- as they came into fashion. tioned at West Point was "His lifelong interest in strongly opposed. Much to general education of the our surprise, there appear- young people of the nation ed in the Army and Navy before and after a West Journal, a letter from Col- Point career is well known." GENERAL SAMUEL E. TILLMAN Professor Tillman retired onel Tillman approving in Class of 1869 detail all of the President's October 2, 1911, after more views. I was greatly puzzled. than forty-four years service. However, in 1917 when the United After a few days I could stand it no itary Academy into a Rough Rider States entered the World War, Col- longer and visited Colonel Tillman in institution." Another officer writes of General onel Tillman requested active service. his office. 'Professor, I think I know His mind was keen and he had kept your views on the Military Academy. Tillman at the time when the Profes- sor taught him as a cadet: his body in exceptionally good trim. Will you please tell me what made The story goes that some people in you write that letter to the Army and "Professor Tillman (Sammy, as of course we cadets called him) brought Washington told him he was too old, Navy Journal?' He pointed to a lot to which he replied, "I'm the same age of letters on a nearby table and said, to the classroom an atmosphere of great plains and mountain chains and as Hindenburg and he seems to be 'Read any one of them and you will doing pretty well." The result, he see the reason.' I selected a letter at an enthusiasm for grand scenery that he must have breathed in while was not only accepted but given the random. It was from one of Colonel distinction of being the only retired Tillman's classmates and was about on duty as a young officer as Assist- ant Engineer upon Explorations in officer to be appointed as Superin- as follows: 'You senile old fool, what Arizona and New Mexico. I can well tendent of the U. S. Military Acad- in hell are you driving at? etc., etc.' remember in his lectures during the emy. Following his retirement in It was not necessary to read^ any Geology course that he would get so 1919, Congress by special resolution more. I remarked, 'I understand' and wrapped up in descriptions of things authorized his promotion to Brig- left. The newspapers and the Army he had seen that he would for- (Continued on page 7) and Navy Journal were filled with 12] Assembly Stewart Field August 25, 1942—red letter day in flyers or non-flyers, will have the of its field for West Point training. the History of the United States Mil- benfits of contact with, or instruc- The measure was approved by Con- itary Academy. tions in, the latest and one of the fin- gress and signed by the President in On that day, the l.S.M.A. started est and best flying schools in Amer- May. September brought War De- basic flying training for 269 second ica—Stewart Field." partment acceptance of the title. class cadets at Stewart Field. 15 Colonel Weikert accepted from Work continued slowly through the miles northwest of West Point, \. Y. General Wilby a plaque commemor- years but when over 1,200 acres had The men who qualify will graduate ating the official dedication of the been acquired and the green signal go with wings as 2nd Lieutenants in the field and told the audience that at given, work was moved into high Army Air Corps. Stewart Field cadets would be train- gear and will continue until the pro- At Stewart Field. Air Cadets of the ed "to meet and prevail over the best ject is completed. First regular in- Military Academy will eventually re- that the ruthless Axis partners can struction of U.S.M.A. cadets began ceive both basic and advanced fly- send against them.