Foreword

To understand the spirit of West Point one must understand the Bugle Notes of the United States Corps of Cadets, which were originally entitled the West Point Handbook. The 1947 edition was dedicated to those who joined the Corps in 1947 and urged the new members to; "Preserve the traditions compiled therein, they are your heritage."

I want to quote three items from the 1947 Bugle Notes that in my mind comprise the spirit of West Point as I have come to know it.

First, the Missions of the Military Academy:

(1) To instill discipline and a high sense of honor.

(2) To develop the powers of analysis so that the mind may reason to a logical conclusion, and

(3) To instruct and train the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate shall have the qualities and attributes essential to his progress and continued development throughout a lifetime career as an officer in the regular army.

Second, a letter to the new class from then Secretary of War, Robert P. Patterson; he said:

"With the perils of another war behind us, all Americans have renewed reason to be thankful for the spirit of West Point. We should never forget that in this imperfect world military strength still determines the destiny of nations. It is the work of West Point to give us military leadership in time of need. It also gives us, by the conduct of its graduates, a standard of valorous devotion to the nation's cause. West Point is the existing embodiment of the patriotism of its spiritual founder, the Army's first and foremost leader, George Washington."

Sincerely yours, Robert P. Patterson,
Secretary of War"

Third,