Porcelain On Steel | Women of West Point's Long Gray Line
The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, admitted, for the first time, in 1976, female cadets. Porcelain on Steel is their story, and the stories of the hundreds of women who have graduated from there since.  It is a story of obstacles overcome that is unique in American education.In a straight forward manner, the author paints a stark picture of the prejudices encountered by the first women who attended, and how they coped. We are given a glimpse of their courage, and resoluteness.  The reader gets to know West Point, what makes it unique, and how it changed, for the better, as a result of a gender integrated corps. We see women who became all that they could be, and much more than they originally aspired to be as a result of their army experiences, which began as plebes in that intimidating establishment that has no equal in the vast expanse of colleges across the land.The book encapsulates stunning career success stories of many of these women graduates, both in and out of the military, and the reader's heart cannot help but be warmed by the unanimous, graceful, gratitude of these strong ladies for the chance that their West Point education and experience gave them.A professionally produced and published book, Porcelain on Steel is a captivating human interest read about a transition time in our military's history that changed the face of the army, forever.  Mostly in their own words, the very real personalities of these remarkable ladies are revealed in the pages of this book, and they are quite compelling. It is believable, because it is true, and few women in the history of our country have stories as unique as theirs.  Few women have contributed as much to the growth of our nation, none more. I wanted to stand up, and cheer when I finished reading.Review by Bob Flournoy, MWSA Reviewer (July 2010)-- Military Writers Society of America, July 31,2010As warriors, servants of the nation, members of a profession and leaders of character, West Point's women graduates have led impressive lives. In Porcelain on Steel, author Donna McAleer follows the paths of 14 women graduates to give an in-depth look into the challenges they faced and the impact they had on an educational institution that had long adhered to a traditional all male student body. From the first graduating class of 1980 to one of the most recent in 2007, Porcelain on Steel allows the reader to witness the evolution of coed education at West Point through individual narratives that personalize the experiences of women cadets.Having served as an admissions officer for the first two classes of women attending West Point in the 1970s, I have admired young women who are willing to enter an environment where they know in advance that every aspect of their character will be challenged to the nth degree. Porcelain on Steel only reinforced that admiration. I felt immense pride reading about each of these young women, some of whom I served with and know personally, and whose strength and courage I greatly respect.Kudos to McAleer for providing us with the opportunity to share the remarkable journeys of these women.A 1987 West Point graduate, McAleer does not take center stage, instead providing an astute introduction that frames the male-dominated context within which women first entered West Point in 1976. She does not bring the reader to the military school immediately but focuses, instead, on the world in which women found themselves in the 20th century. By taking this route, McAleer provides a larger, overarching commentary on the American feminist movement and the social stigmas women struggled to overcome. Thus the military--as an exceedingly male institution--functions as a microcosm within which the challenges facing women at that time can be examined.As McAleer notes, "Leaders of the women's and civil rights movements are not likely to mention West Point as an archetype of advancement on their behalf, nor would they probably point to the U.S. Army as an institutional model of minority progress and opportunity. But West Point and the Army have been microcosms where small battles and victories have led to fundamental social change."The challenges faced by the featured women graduates do not end at West Point. McAleer follows the graduates into their careers, where they continue to confront and overcome barriers. Some excel in military careers despite limitations and disadvantages, while others strive to reach professional and personal goals outside the Army. In all cases, these women display the values of integrity, perseverance and personal courage that led them to succeed at West Point and beyond.The stories of the women in Porcelain on Steel speak not only to those in uniform, but to society as a whole. Through firsthand accounts by women who experienced the profound transition in America's oldest service academy, McAleer's work demonstrates just how much is achievable by those determined to overcome the odds. In McAleer's own words: "Meaningful role models, both in and out of military uniform, reveal possibilities." This has never been truer than in the case of West Point's remarkable women graduates.--Major General Pat Hickerson, USA Ret. --Army Magazine, January 2011 (page 68)--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.