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Logo of the Military Academy

The United States Military Academy (USMA) is an undergraduate college in West Point, New York with the mission of educating and commissioning officers for the United States Army. The Academy was founded in 1802 and graduated its first class in October of the same year. It is the oldest of the five American service academies. It is also called "The Academy", "The Point", and "West Point".^[1] The Academy graduated its first cadet, Joseph Gardner Swift, in October 1802. Sports media refer to the Academy as "Army" and the students as "cadets"; this usage is officially endorsed.^[2] The football team is also known as "The Black Knights of the Hudson".^[2][3][4] A few graduates each year are given the option of entering the United States Air Force, United States Navy, or United States Marine Corps. Before the founding of the United States Air Force Academy in 1955, the Academy was a major source of officers for the Air Force and its predecessors. Most cadets are admitted through the congressional appointment system.^[5][6] The curriculum emphasizes the sciences and engineering fields.^[7][8]

The list is drawn from non-graduate former cadets and cadet candidates. It is not unusual for the service academies to have high dropout rates. Of the original 103 cadets in the Class of 1826, only 43 graduated.^[9] Non-graduates of the Academy have entered a variety of fields. Notable non-graduates include Edgar Allan Poe (literature), James Abbott McNeill Whistler (art), Maynard James Keenan (music), Adam Vinatieri (football), and even the military: Jacob Zeilin, Lewis Addison Armistead, and Courtney Hodges.

Non-graduates

As these alumni did not graduate, their class year represents the year they would have graduated if they had completed their education at the Academy.

Name Class year Notability Reference Barrow, AlexanderAlexander Barrow 1820 U.S. Senator from Louisiana, lawyer; attended the Academy 1816–1818 [10] Fannin, JamesJames Fannin 1823 Texas War for Independence; entered the Academy as "James F. Walker" in 1819 but resigned in 1821 from the Academy due to poor grades, absences and tardiness [11] Zeilin, JacobJacob Zeilin 1826 First United States Marine Corps general officer, Commandant of the Marine Corps (1864–1876); part of Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan; discharged due to low grades [9][12] Campbell, John ArchibaldJohn Archibald Campbell 1830 Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; left the Academy after three years to care for family's affairs after father's death [13][14] Poe, Edgar AllanEdgar Allan Poe 1834 Served as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army 1827-1829; author who excelled in language who was expelled for neglecting duties. [15] Armistead, Lewis AddisonLewis Addison Armistead 1839 Confederate Brigadier General killed at Gettysburg; expelled for a fight in which he broke a plate over the head of fellow future Confederate general Jubal Early; later commissioned in the Regular Army, which he left as a major to join the Confederacy [16] Robinson, John ClevelandJohn Cleveland Robinson 1839 Left the Academy after three years but joined the Army one year later; Major General in the American Civil War; awarded the Medal of Honor for valor in action in 1864 near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia; Lieutenant Governor of New York (1873–1874); served two terms as the president of the Grand Army of the Republic [17] Tompkins, Charles HenryCharles Henry Tompkins 1851 Dropped out of the Academy after two years for unspecified reasons; Brigadier General; recipient of the Medal of Honor for twice charging through the enemy's lines on July 1, 1861 near Fairfax, Virginia, making him the first Union officer of the Civil War to receive the Medal of Honor b[›][17][18] Green, Wharton J.Wharton J. Green 1854 Confederate officer; U.S. Congressman (1883–1887); dropped out before graduation [19] Whistler, James Abbott McNeillJames Abbott McNeill Whistler 1855 Artist; discharged for academic and disciplinary problems after three years [20] Houston, Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson Houston 1875 U.S. Senator (1941); son of Sam Houston; dropped out [21] Whittaker, Johnson ChesnutJohnson Chesnut Whittaker 1881 Born into slavery; expelled after board of inquiry and court-martial convicted him of staging an assault on his own person; Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker by John Marszalek popularized the case and led to his posthumous commission in 1995 [22][23] Gilchrist, Albert W.Albert W. Gilchrist 1882 Governor of Florida (1909–1913); found deficient in experimental philosophy after three years at the Academy [24] Fredendall, LloydLloyd Fredendall 1905 & 1906 Lieutenant General in World War II; expelled for poor grades in mathematics and poor general deportment; readmitted following year and expelled again; later received a direct commission in 1907; relieved of command after the Battle of the Kasserine Pass and reassigned to training commands [25] Hodges, CourtneyCourtney Hodges 1909 General in World War II; dropped out after the first year because "found deficient" in mathematics, as was his second-year plebe classmate George S. Patton who graduated in 1909; Hodges then enlisted as a private and became the second person to rise from private to general; Instructor at the Academy after World War I [26] Yarborough, RalphRalph Yarborough 1923 U.S. Senator from Texas (1957–1971); leader of the Democratic Party of Texas; dropped out after two years to become a teacher; enlisted in Texas National Guard; Lieutenant Colonel in World War II [27] Cagle, Chris KeenerChris Keener Cagle 1930 Professional football player; played football at the Academy during the 1926–1929 seasons; resigned in May 1930 after it was discovered he had married in August 1928 [28][29] Leary, TimothyTimothy Leary 1943 Counterculture icon, LSD proponent; dropped out [30] Daly, Michael J.Michael J. Daly 1945 Captain; dropped out of the Academy after one year to enlist so he could fight in World War II; received a battlefield commission; awarded the Medal of Honor for assaulting several enemy positions [31][32] Donlon, RogerRoger Donlon 1959 Dropped out of the Academy for personal reasons; Captain, later Colonel; recipient of the Medal of Honor for repulsing a much larger attack [33] Gardner, James A.James A. Gardner 1962 Did not graduate; First Lieutenant; recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions leading his platoon in the relief of a company that was engaged with a larger enemy force [33] Hatch, RichardRichard Hatch 1986 Winner of the first Survivor; dropped out [30] Looper, Byron (Low Tax)Byron (Low Tax) Looper 1987 Politician convicted of murdering his Tennessee State Senate opponent Tommy Burks in 1998; attended the Academy from 1982 to 1985; discharged due to a serious knee injury [34][35] Keenan, Maynard JamesMaynard James Keenan 1988 Singer in the bands Tool and A Perfect Circle; would have been part of the Class of 1988 but he never started at the Academy as he was accepted to West Point in 1984 while he was a cadet candidate at United States Military Academy Preparatory School but decided to complete his term of active duty enlistment [36] Vinatieri, AdamAdam Vinatieri 1995 National Football League placekicker for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts; left the Academy after two weeks [37] Hinote, DanDan Hinote 1999 Professional National Hockey League (NHL) ice hockey player; dropped out in 1996 when he was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche; first NHL player ever drafted from West Point [38]

Edgar Allan Poe James Whistler Timothy Leary Roger Donlon Maynard James Keenan Adam Vinatieri

References

United States Military Academy alumni Main alumni list · Academics · Astronauts · Athletic figures · Confederates · Engineers · Medal of Honor · Superintendents · Non-graduates

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