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West Point's grads uncertain about future
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-29 13:51

When the Class of 2004, about 900 graduates, entered West Point military academy four years ago, the world was a very different place.

After speaking to several members of the graduating class, each of them believes that they will go to war, perhaps within a year. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred during their sophomore year and changed their outlook on the future.

"So when 9/11 happened, we all had to reconsider our future ambitions and what we expect of each other, and decide, 'Do we want to continue this knowing what just happened?'" said cadet Jacob Bergman.

"We signed up in a time of peace, but we chose to stay in a time of war, and I think that is a very interesting point for our class. And I think that says a lot about our class," added cadet Eleanor Gillis.

Lingering Prison Abuse Scandal

Like everyone else in the country, they have seen the military's shortcomings, as evidenced by the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.

"Our instructors and officer leadership has told us that incident was probably a leadership failure and that when we are officers and that when we lead soldiers, we need to facilitate a culture that will not stand for actions like that. That is part of the example of what not to do," said cadet Wesley Hunt.

"There are steps that officers and leaders can take to ensure that something like that does never happen," said cadet Andrew Rhodes.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will serve as their commencement speaker. If given the chance, Hunt said he would like to ask the secretary about the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

"I would probably ask him a question pertaining to prison and how that could have been prevented from his level," Hunt said. "I think we know how we could prevent it from our level — you know, a lieutenant or sergeant — anyone could have stepped in and said, 'This is wrong, we're not going to do this anymore.' But from his level, the secretary of defense, he's the No. 1 man, how could he have stopped this?"

These cadets watch the news. They also talk to other West Pointers already in battle, their mentors in a way, so they know that fighting in Iraq is tough.

"Wherever we're going, we are ambassadors from America," said Bergman. "What an Iraqi or an Afghani see in front of them is America, in fatigues as a soldier. And we are preparing to do that. We are preparing to represent America."

Said Hunt: "At times it is kind of confusing to see who we are fighting. We don't know whether or not it's Iraqis sometimes, or whether or not it's insurgents. I think we do know that we are fighting a war on terror. I think that is kind of the key focus here, as long as we stay focused on that. It will be less confusing for us. But at times it's really a haze almost."

Families Express Concern

This weekend, the cadets will graduate and be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army. Their families, who will convene in West Point, N.Y., for the ceremony, are full of pride and worry.

"I think they are nervous, just like any other parents would be, but I think they know it is what I have to do," said Gillis.

"My dad, he has more of the patriotic attitude. Pretty much, 'Go give 'em hell, son.' And my mom, on the other hand, she is a mother and she doesn't want to put me in harm's way," said cadet Bernard Gardner.

Finally, much of the history that is taught at West Point is made by the people who went to the Point.

"I am more proud than ever to join the heritage of the line that came out of West Point," Rhodes said. "They freed nations and literally liberated the oppressed, and we are going to get the opportunity to do the same thing. And I am extremely proud of that."

 
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