The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-25
PIEEsE

When Ike arrived at West Point he was just another "Mr. Ducr0t, " Mfr. Dooghistle," or MT. DoO- willie" names applied to unknown plebes. He found himself in a world of ''sirs" where every upper classInan must be so addressed. He was put through the customary plebe catechism.
 These. or a similar ritual in many changing versions. according to the times, are but specimens Of what "plebe knowledge" is sup- posed to be.
 What do plebes rank? sir. the Superintendent's dog. the Com maEdant's cat. the walters in the Mess Hall. the Hell cats. and all the admirak in the whole blamed Navy"
 What time it it? sir, I am deeply embarrassed and greatly humiliated that due tO unioas seen circumstances over which l have no control, the inner workings and hidden mechanisIns of my clro- nometer are in such accord with the great sidereal movements by which time Is commonly reckoneo. that cannot with any degree oi accuracy state the exact time. sir; but without fear of being very far off, wiu state that it is so many minutes, So many seconds. and SC many ticks after the Xth hour"
 do not understand! Sir. ms craniuin consisting Of Vermont marble, volcanic lava and AfricaE ivory. covered with a thick layer Of case-hardened steel. forms an impenetrable barrier to all that seeks to impress itself upon the ashen tissues of my brain. Hence the effulgent and ostentatt0usly ef- feryescent phrases just nov de rected and reiterated tor my com- prehension have failed to pene- trate and peIIneate the sOnniCer- ous forces Of my atrocious intelli- gence. In other words, ! am very, very dumb and l do not under staId, sir"
 One of the current questions ip the catechism k. How many days On catalinep And the correct an' swer Is, x days and butt. Oh noble Cataline, and may the great God in heaven speed them more quickly by the great Corporal Jupiter. and may the coming days be more joyous. but not for me sir. May your classes be no Goirees and your sorrows neglible, anc on your leave may there be som' beautiful temmes, some conots, lot Of skags, full moons. and plenty o' Coca Cola; hot darn--but not toi me. sir!"
 The records Of West Point proy' l that this embryo military Benlul was not according 10 the glossary Of cadet slang a bone ttle,' siIgy' ing to beat his c0mraGes ip th' classroom. He was neither a max ltop rank in studies) TOT a goat ilp lower sections Of his class, II gas "hiyey" lquiek to leaIp) bu seemed to be satisfied to fenail with the engineers" "a cadet u upper sections tn academic work Book larniB'" did not appeal ai much to him as eoFDraeeship sne activity,
 An examination Of the scholar, ship ledgeTS gives Cadet Elsen' hover these ratings, AS a "plebe' in i9l2 he ranked 55ib in a clasl Of 2I2, In 1913 he vas Bist in thu ranks of TT members, In i9l1 hi climbed up to 65tb, He was gradu' aied iD 1915 as 6lst with i6s grad' uates, Thus he remained huddlec iD the center Of the upper section
 It vas in military tactics, strst' egy mathematics, historic cam paigns, battles, that he showed deepest interest, He TeVeled D problems Of maneuyer, 0fgaDlza' ton and movement Of armies, ths scientific rather than the academic ! we lha1 fisib " AFhl tNsAieNNts getting 1888 out Of R ipaxiMulD ol i5wiD practical military engineer Ing getting g0s out Of . maSimun Of lO Hls total proportional Fab gas 69704 out 0f Dlaximu0 Bt0 But all the while he was absorbing the bumaD kDOwledge Of solder; and warfare, contacts and relati0D' ships gith his fellogmeD in wbief he eEeelled,
 Strong diselpllnaTiaD that bi later became, tempered by kiDd' ness and q high EeDae Of justice Rllf loyalty, young Ike ebsfed under tlll rigid discipline of routine.
 These reactions make an lDtRF' esllng study ip the "SkiD shAets, 0T "9uill Book" jD tlle reeords Ri West P0lDt, AS 2 "beast,' or plela, in j91I, we find hin; "fstf io target formation 7;05; absent al e 2, m, drill formation; sundas 0Yer6ll0es not arranged as pre- seribed at retreat; lais at chapel: room In disorder afternoon iilsDees ton; late at guard mounting: tars nlshed bra6ses at inspection;