West-Point.ORG, The West Point Connection

Friends and family are mourning the loss of a man they describe as "an elite officer" and "exemplary student," they said Thursday. Albert Song, 24, of Cerritos, died Monday afternoon, perhaps from injuries he suffered during a fight at Icon LA Ultra Lounge June 1. The cause of death was blunt-force head and neck trauma, according to the coroner's office. Song’s friends, who did not want to speak on camera, described him as a popular, energetic man who "stood out in a crowded room." He was a cadet at West Point Military Academy and graduated in 2011, the school confirmed. Song, pictured below, also had many friends at Whitney High School in Cerritos, where he was very involved in sports.

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West Point grad, former Army officer, and war veteran Antonio Buehler is a rock star of a police accountability activist in Austin, Texas. To these ends he founded thePeaceful Streets Project. It’s a few weeks old now, but I came across this video of him confronting Austin PD during a routine traffic stop that belongs in the all time best police accountability videos. The Peaceful Streets Project is an all-volunteer, grassroots effort to end state-sponsored institutionalized violence. The project aims to support communities in understanding and exercising their rights through education and non-violent direct action. In this encounter Austin Police pulled over a Peaceful Streets Project team that was observing police activity, something officer Brown insisted was obstructing an investigation.

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Legislation approved in the House of Representatives includes $42 million for construction and renovations of barracks at the US Military Academy at West Point. Work is expected to begin this coming September. Cadets are currently living in overcrowded and outdated facilities, some dating back to 1895. Last year, $192 million was approved for the project. Earlier an appropriation of $86 million was secured.

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The U.S. Military Academy at West Point needs volunteers to stand in as cadet candidates before the next class of plebes arrives on campus. Rehearsal Reception Day is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 28 on the grounds of the historic academy on the banks of the Hudson River. Volunteers will experience what the 1,200 incoming cadet candidates will go through as they begin the change from civilian to military life.

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Secured within the United States Mint facility in West Point, New York are nearly 4,300 gold bars worth more than $2.3 billion. It is a sight to see, something this collector will never forget. The facility has the second largest gold holdings. Only Fort Knox has more. At 400 ounces a piece, or about 28 pounds per, the stacks of 99.99% pure gold bars make quite a picture. When visiting the West Point Mint on June 4, 2013, a single bar was worth almost $560,000.

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A chlorine leak at the Lusk Water Treatment plant in the vicinity of Stony Lonesome Road at West Point early Thursday afternoon led to the evacuation of the immediate area. Traffic around the location was also rerouted. No injuries were reported in the 12:30 p.m. incident, according to West Point spokeswoman Theresa Brinkerhoff.

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Col. Michail S. Huerter will assume command of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning from Col. Jeffrey Fletcher during a change of command ceremony at 8 a.m. June 14 on York Field in front of McGinnis-Wickam Hall. Huerter, a native of Topeka, Kan., is a graduate of the United States Military Academy.  He is also a graduate of the United States Army War College, where he earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies in 2012. An Infantry officer, his military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Airborne School, Ranger School and the Command and General Staff College.

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Vincent Viola, the chairman and CEO of Virtu Financial, knows the importance of acquiring information and having a strong team of advisers. That's why it's no surprise his decision to buy a stake in Freedom Child, one of the leading contenders for Saturday's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, appears to have been a good one. "(Our Thoroughbred racing operation) is a business," said Viola, whose company specializes in electronic market-making and financial technological services. After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1977, he has gone on to a diverse career which has included achieving the rank of major in the United States Army Reserves, being an energy trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange, serving as the NYMEX's chairman, and buying a stake in the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets) and the Atlantic Yards project.

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Vendor will assess, analyze, design and install security enhancements for (3) Child Development (CDC) Facilities, identified as Stony CDC, Bldg #1207, Lee CDC Bldg #140, Washington Road CDC Bldg#693. The work will include adding Velocity CAC readers to the existing post wide Hirsch Velocity Access Control System. (This system has been installed with proprietary rights on the velocity software which was written specially for United States Military Academy, West Point, NY by an authorized representative of Hirsch Electronics). Vendor will also provide (3) video intercom system at the identified 3 Child Development Centers to allow for communication with and the viewing of the visitor at the main entrance.

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Col. Joseph I. Pierce will assume command of the 197th Infantry Brigade from Col. Michael W. Rauhut at a change of command ceremony at 11 a.m. June 13 at Doughboy Stadium. A native of Nashua, N.H., Pierce was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994. Pierce's first assignment was at Fort Campbell, Ky. Since that time he has served around the world in both command and staff positions. He has been serving as the deputy commander of the 197th Infantry Brigade since 2012. Pierce has served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as deployments to Kosovo and Haiti.

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