1818
Admitted
1813 – 2
1814 – 97
1815 – 7
Graduated
23
Time at West Point:
When the class entered West Point, the Academy’s purpose was to train young men in ordnance, artillery and engineering. The
admissions requirements, operating regulations and academic programs were unstructured. Cadets varied from teenagers to men
in their late 30’s. President James Madison and his Secretary of State James Monroe recognized the need for a professional military
university and a professional army. Thus Sylvanus Thayer was sent to Europe to study the professional armies of the Napoleonic Era
and the French military education system. In 1817 President James Monroe appointed Sylvanus Thayer Superintendent. The move
toward a more structured education and development system began. The move was not easy. In 1817, 194 cadets denied they could
be tried by court martial. Fortunately Secretary of War John Calhoun upheld Thayer’s premise. One could surmise this contributed
to such a low graduation rate in 1818. The Class of 1818 was the first class graduating under Sylvanus Thayer. They were the first
class to be ranked.
The United States position as a nation was tenuous when the Class of 1818 entered West Point. The War of 1812 was ongoing
with Britain, particularly in the Northeast. The Creek War with several Indian tribes continued to simmer. The Mexican War
of Independence was raging, including the Battle of Rosillo Creek in Bexar County, TX which resulted in a draft declaration of
independence. The first of three Seminole Wars in the South began. In Europe, Napoleon continued his conquest attempts until
1815 at Waterloo.
During their cadet years, peace came to Europe. The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 and began the Era of Good Feeling
with Britain. The Creek War ended. The military hero of the time was MG Andrew Jackson (Creek War in 1814, Battle of New
Orleans in 1815 and the First Seminole War in 1818). Most remaining signatories of the Declaration of Independence died as did
Paul Revere.
Environment upon Graduation:
During their cadet time and careers/lives that followed, the country grew from 18 to 38 states. The expansion south and west
continued. The Class served in the Second and Third Seminole Wars, the Mexican American War, and the Civil War.
Career Highlights:
The “hive” of the class was Richard Delafield from New York who would become the Superintendent, Chief of Engineers, brigadier
general and Civil War brevet major general. The “goat” of the class was John Taylor Pratt from Kentucky who would become a
Kentucky politician, a Kentucky Militia major general, and for four years was the oldest living graduate of West Point. He was also
the only member to serve in the War of 1812 (as a private). Other graduates who distinguished themselves include Horace Webster
from Vermont who taught in the Department of Mathematics (1818-1825), became the first President of the City College of New
York and was a key participant in the formation of the Association of Graduates. Samuel Ringgold from the District of Columbia
served in the artillery until he was killed in Mexico City during the Mexican American War. He has been called the Father of Modern
Artillery. Upon request in 1838 he created the first horse artillery battery making artillery much more mobile. COL Hartman Bache
from Pennsylvania (Civil War brevet brigadier general) was the Chief Topographical Engineer until his retirement in 1867 (and the
last member of the class to retire from active duty). In addition he designed many lighthouses in the United States. COL Harvey
Brown (Civil War brevet major general) served with distinction in the Mexican American War and the Civil War. John Jay Jackson
from Virginia was a Virginia Militia brigadier general and a distinguished Virginia politician. A notable non-graduate was William S.
Hamilton, politician, miner and son of Alexander Hamilton. Graduates from the class came from Connecticut, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Coastal Artillery
was the initial branch of eleven members of the class.
®
125996 Affiliation Class Placques 24x30.indd 1
7/5/16 12:38:14 PM
1868
Cor Unum, Viae Diversaer
(One in Heart Though Our Paths Are Divided)
Admitted
1863 - 7
1864 - 69
Graduated
54
Time at West Point:
When the class entered West Point, the Civil War was raging. In April 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated. The Civil
War ended less than a month later and Reconstruction began. William Sherman led a war on the Plains Indians, the 13th and
14th Amendments ending slavery and guaranteeing citizenship to African Americans were ratified, the current Capital Dome
was completed, Tennessee became the first state readmitted to the Union, Nebraska became a state, Alaska was purchased from
Russia, and shortly before graduation President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House.
Environment upon Graduation:
The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) saw Congress and President Andrew Johnson divided on its objectives and administration.
On 1 July 1868, the first elevated railway in the United States became operational In Manhattan. In Japan, the Meiji Period was
declared by the Emperor after his defeat of the Tokugawa Shogunate in year-long fighting. From their cadet days and careers/
lives that followed, the country grew from 34 to 48 states (the last being Arizona in 1912). The expansion west continued and
conflicts with American Indians grew and then subsided. The Class served in the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War and
the Philippine Insurrection. Eight members served in the Civil War prior to their appointments to West Point
Career Highlights:
Six members of the Class retired as brigadier generals. One member (Charles Roe) retired as a major general in the New York
National Guard. He also led the first troops to arrive at the Valley of the Little Big Horn after George Armstrong Custer’s
defeat. Thirty-nine of the fifty-four graduates were career officers. Interestingly, the first eight entered the corps of engineers,
the next ordnance, the next fifteen artillery, and the last thirty split between cavalry and infantry. The first graduate (Albert
Payson) became the president of the Northwest Pacific Railroad. The only ordnance graduate (Henry Metcalf ) invented the
first detachable magazine for small arms. Robert Fletcher became a professor and then director of the Thayer Engineering
School at Dartmouth. Two (Eugene Fechet and Chancellor Martin) served in the Egyptian Army. Four were sons of graduates.
Richard Savage became a well-known novelist. William Marshall (son of Chief Justice John Marshall) became the last Civil
War veteran Chief of Engineers. Edgar Bass essentially spent his career at West Point and retired as Head of the Department
of Mathematics. . George Harris was killed in action in the Modoc Indian War in Northern California and Southern Oregon
in1873. The Modoc War led to a more militant approach to Native Americans. William Hall retired as a brigadier general,
was the Adjutant General of the US Army, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions at White River War (Colorado)
28 October 1879. BG John Hoskins was the last living member of the Class when he died in 1937. One member of the class
who did not graduate (Phillip Reade) retired as a brigadier general.
®
125996 Affiliation Class Placques 24x30.indd 2
7/5/16 12:38:14 PM
1918
June 1918
Admitted
1914 - 5
1915 – 173
Graduated
173
November 1918
Admitted
1915 – 8
1916 – 311
Graduated
227
Time at West Point:
When these classes entered West Point Europe was engulfed in World War I as was Russia in its revolution. Originally these were the
Classes of 1919 and 1920. Due to our entry into World War I, graduations for these classes were accelerated. The Class of November
1918 curriculum was called the War Emergency Course, dominated by military instruction.
During their cadet years, the House rejected a bill giving women the right to vote. Poncho Villa attacked in New Mexico and John J.
Pershing led a force into Mexico in search of him. Woodrow Wilson was president when the class entered and was narrowly reelected.
The RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat and the US rejected an offer by Germany of money for each American lost on
the Lusitania. President Wilson addressed the Senate on 22 January 1917 to appeal for “Peace without Victory”, but just over two
months later (6 April 1917) asked Congress to declare war with Germany.
Environment upon Graduation:
World War I ended 10 days after the graduation of the Class of November 1918. Several members of both classes served immediately
in the occupation forces, a difficult task as they were leading soldiers with combat experience in an occupation role. Morale was low.
Most members of November 1918 attended various schools within a few years to complete their educations. Many members of both
classes carried out observation tours of Europe after World War I. The first thirty-seven members of June 1918 and the first twentyseven from November 1918 were branched into the Corps of Engineers without their input.
Career Highlights:
Although neither class participated in the Allied Expeditionary Forces, graduates were well positioned to serve their country in
leadership roles in World War II. The Class of June 1918 provided one general, one lieutenant general, twelve major generals, ten
brigadier generals and one brevet brigadier general (Ken Wang in the Chinese Army). GEN Lucius Clay had a distinguished career
and was considered the “Hero of Berlin” for leading the Berlin Airlift of supplies to that blockaded city. LTG Samuel Sturgis was
the Chief of Engineers. MG Eugene Caffey was the Judge Advocate General of the US Army. Members of the class received four
Distinguished Service Crosses, twenty-five Distinguished Service Medals and eleven Silver Stars. One member was Elmer Oliphant
who was the first cadet to win fours A’s in four major sports. In 1969 Elmer was named to the Early All Time All American Football
Team.
The Class of November 1918 provided the Army with three lieutenant generals, thirteen major generals (including MG Linson
Dzau, Chinese Army) and twenty-eight brigadier generals. Member of the class received five Distinguished Service Crosses, twentysix Distinguished Service Medals, and twenty-four Silver Stars. LTG Leslie Groves is known for overseeing the construction of the
Pentagon and directing the Manhattan Project which developed the atomic bomb. LTG Paul Kendall commanded I Corps in the
Korean War. Two were on the Bataan Death March (Wade Cotham, Jr., who later died on a POW ship going to Japan in 1945 and
Eustaquio Baclig who was executed by the Japanese).
125996 Affiliation Class Placques 24x30.indd 3
7/5/16 12:38:14 PM
1968
No Task Too Great
Admitted
3 in 1963
987 in 1964
Graduated
706
Time at West Point:
In November 1964 Army beat Navy (led by Roger Staubach, the 1963 Heisman Trophy winner). In December 1964 the Class
of 1968 celebrated the holiday season away from West Point, the first class to do so as Plebes. When the class entered West
Point on 1 July 1964 (the first “West Point expansion class” ordered by President John F. Kennedy), Vietnam was a relatively
minor action involving Special Forces and advisors. In fact, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed just two months after the
class took its oath on the plain. Concurrently, East-West tensions and incidents in Europe between NATO and the communist
Warsaw Pact dominated world attention. By graduation major elements of the military were engaged in an unpopular war in
Vietnam that became the primary focus of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the military. The Civil Rights Movement and
race riots added to the counterculture of the 60’s, as did opposition to the Vietnam War. On 4 April 1968 Martin Luther King,
Jr. was assassinated. Only two months later Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated shortly after midnight on the Class of 1968’s
graduation day (5 June 1968).
Environment upon Graduation:
Following graduation nearly all of the class attended Ranger School. In August 1968 Russia invaded Czechoslovakia which
continued East-West tensions. Initial assignments for many were in Vietnam after attending Basic Branch School and serving
in a stateside unit for four months. Others had longer initial assignments in Europe, Korea, and the United States. Within four
years, however, most served in Vietnam, a defining personal and career point for every member of the class. Twenty classmates
were killed or died from wounds incurred in Vietnam. The advancement of technology and major discoveries had accelerated
during their cadet years and many more were to follow such as space travel, computers, digital communications, autonomous
flight weapons, unmanned aircraft, and the World Wide Web.
Career Highlights:
Those who left active duty following Vietnam and the five-year service obligation enjoyed successful careers in medicine,
dentistry, law, engineering, education, writing, business, finance, religion, and other fields of endeavor. Those who remained
on active duty served their country well. Several participated in the first Gulf War. The class included four lieutenant generals,
six major generals and three brigadier generals. LTG Larry Jordan became the Chairman of the Association of Graduates.
BG Dan Kaufman served as Dean of Academics. COL Jim Orahood served as Commandant of the US Military Academy
Preparatory School. COL John Calabro served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Association of Graduates and is recognized
in the annual John Calabro Night of the Arts event. Choosing a different course, Jim Locher served as the Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. John Wing, CEO of several corporations, gave significantly
of his time and resources to the Army and West Point. Among numerous other awards, members of the class earned two
Distinguished Service Crosses, sixty-three Silver Stars, eighteen Distinguished Flying Crosses, and one hundred fifteen Purple
Hearts. Several members served as CEO’s and presidents of corporations of various sizes. As an indication of the level of desire
to serve others, the class counts at least forty doctors, nine dentists, one Catholic priest, and several others clergy in other
Christian churches.
125996 Affiliation Class Placques 24x30.indd 4
7/5/16 12:38:15 PM
2018
Admitted
1223
Graduated
TBD
Time at West Point:
When the class entered West Point, President Barack Obama continued his second term. As the Class of 2018 entered the
Academy, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan involved a much lower level of American military participation than during
the previous decade. Tensions with Russia grew to heights not seen since the end of the Cold War. Commercial space flights
began. The Class of 2018 exemplifies diversity: 14 foreign cadets, 115 Hispanics, 169 African Americans, 264 women, 212
USMAPS graduates, 119 high school class valedictorians and 17 combat veterans.
Environment upon Graduation:
The members of the Class of 2018 can look forward to their future service and contributions to our nation. In 2068, this will
be a robust and meaningful narrative. The Class of 1818 during their lives experienced westward expansion, the move from
muskets to repeating rifles and the beginning of electronic communications. The Class of 1868 saw electricity fundamentally
change life, the creation and use of aircraft on the battlefield, and the use of motorized vehicles. The Classes of 1918 and 1968
saw space exploration, man on the Moon, mapping of our solar system, and the beginning of the computer age, change from
the initial color televisions to digital media, cell phones, and fundamental changes to the battlefield by technology. What will
the Class of 2018 see?
Career Highlights:
The Classes of 1818, 1868, 1918 and 1968 provided military leaders, national leaders and business leaders to our country. The
members of the Class of 2018 can look forward to their future service and contributions to our nation. To be written – in 50
years!
50 Year Affiliation Program:
The Class of 1968 is actively participating with the Class of 2018 during its four years at the Academy. Seen below is the
exchange of the flag from one class president to another at the conclusion of Yearling summer training. Class interaction began
with the USMAPS Class of 2018 and has included or will include interaction at the R-Day Reception, New Cadet Oath
Ceremony, A-Day Parade, Crest Unveiling, Cow Affirmation, Ring Weekend, Branch Night, and Graduation. Although not
an official part of the Affiliation Program, the opportunity to participate in various Professional Military Education classes and
the Inspiration to Serve tour have been rewarding for both the Class of 1968 and 2018.
125996 Affiliation Class Placques 24x30.indd 5
7/5/16 12:38:17 PM