Evening star., 1947-06-03
Eisenhower Speaks
As West Point Class
.0f 311 Graduates
BY The Assoeiated Pres.

+ WEST POINT, N. Y, June. a.
Gen. Eisenhower today told 311H
cadets being graduated from the
United Military Academy that @the
true soldier of America is a leader
for world cooperation"
The Army Chief of staff said the
cadets special and. pressing obliga-
ton" was national security, but
added it could never be achieved 'in
the absolute sense, unless all other
peoples feel equally safe"
Relative security only is possible
through strength of arms" Gen.
Eisenhower said. "The true soldier
OF America, therefore, Is a leader
for world cooperation, knowing
that to serve best the security Of his
country he must work for the cause
Of peace. Here is lasting chal-
lenge to your breadth of under
standing no less than to continuous
professional development"
900 Alumni Return.
Gen. Eisenhower told the cadets
receiving their commissions as Sec
ond lieutenants and bachelor of SCI
ence degrees that they do not in
herit greater share than your cit
izen brothers of courage, endurance
and fortitude -.
Neither does your commission
confer upon you distinctive right or
privilege. But you are set apart
professionally that you may better
fit yourself for the particular and
exacting role in preserving our
American heritage of human dig
nifty and justice for all. To measure
up to that responsibility, no field of
knowledge nor enterprise within your
economy is alien to your interest"
Taylor Introduces Eisenhower.
! The Chief Of Staff was introduced
by Maj. Gen. Maxwell Taylor,
academy commandant, who said
Gen. Eisenhower has walked with
kings but has never lost the Amer
lean touch"
The traditional graduation GER
emonies, held in the academy field
house, were attended by an estimated
5000 persons.
Among the graduates stepping
forward smartly to receive their
diplomas were three famed academy
football players, Felix A. Blanchard
of Bishopville. s. c., who graduated
296th in the class and plans to enter
the air forces; Glenn w. Davis of
Claremont, Calf, 305th, who will
enter the infantry, and Arnold
Tucker of Miami, Fla, 231st, enter
ing the air forces.
| Nine hundred alumni of the acad-
emy returned yesterday for the ira
ditional Alumni Day exercises, the
largest number ever to assemble for
the program.
The long line of onetime cadets
marched to the monument of Syl-
vanus Thayer, Father of the Acad-
emy" where a wreath was placed
by 92-year-old Col. George H. Nor
gan, retired, the schools oldest liv-
ing graduate.
| Col. Morgan wears the Congress
sional Medal of Honor for gallantry
in Indian warfare.
Three Army Leaders Watch.
Watching from the reviewing
stand were Gen. Eisenhower, Gen.
Joseph T. McNarney and Gen. Mark
| w. Clark. who joined their respec-
tive Academy classes as the gray
clad corps of cadets passed in re-
view
Less than an hour after receiving
their commissions, IA members of
the class will be married on the
academy grounds. Eight others will
take brides the following day.
One hundred and twenty five
graduates will be assigned to the
Air Forces, So to the Infantry, 81 to
the Engineers, "a to the Armored
Cavalry. q to the Field Artillery, IL
to Ordnance, seven to the Signal
Corps, five to the Quartermaster
Corps and one to Chemical Warfare
Service.
Nine cadets will not receive COM
missions because of physical disabil-
ity and a tenth because he Is q citi-
zen of Ecuador.
Col. Chauncey L. Fenton, retired,
class of 1904, was elected president
of the Association of Graduates,
succeeding Maj. Gen. Robert M.
Danford.