CLASS OF '46 - HISTORY

  CLASS HISTORY (Source, "USMA Class of 1946, A Chronicle of Duty, Honor, Country" and "West Point Revisited" both by John C. McWhorter, Jr.)

Cadet Days

       The Class of 1946 was a WWII class, entering West Point on 1 July 1943 when the US had been at war for eighteen months. It was a three year class. The Corps was at an increased wartime strength of approximately 2,500. The Class was the last where cadets were allowed to opt for air cadet training starting in April of the second year and graduate with pilot wings in the Army Air Corps. The Class was also the last to take horseback riding each year. Due to wartime transportation restrictions, '46 traveled to New York City on Hudson River steamers for football games in 1943 and 1944. The First Regiment cheered for Navy when the Army- Navy Game was played at West Point in 1943. In 1944, the Army-Navy Game was played in Baltimore and the Corps of Cadets traveled there in an Army Troop Transport ship with a six destroyer escort. Ticket holders for that game had first to buy a war bond. The total war bond sale for that game represented the highest total for a single event during WWII, $58,637,000. The Class of 1946 graduated 875; the largest class in West Point history until the Class of 1973 after the Corps was expanded . Graduation was 4 June 1946.

Branch Selection (Click here for numbers by branch)

       With the war ended, the Class was allowed to select from all the combat arms and technical service branches. The Air Cadets who received their wings went into the Army Air Corps. Twenty members were not commissioned for physical reasons.

 Korean War

       Obligated service for the Class of 1946 was three years so it was possible to resign from active duty after 4 June 1949. When the Korean War started on 25 June 1950, there were 751 members of the Class (88%)still on active duty. Of that number, 242 (32%) served in Korea during the war which ended 27 July 1953. Members of the Class distinguished themselves in combat. On 27 June 1950, an Air Force member shot down two Soviet made fighters. On 28 June, another Air Force member flew the first reconnaissance sortie of the Korean War and the first USAF combat jet reconnaissance sortie of all time. Another Air Force member was a flight commander in the first US Air Force squadron using jet aircraft in combat. On 4 September 1950, a member of the Class became the first pilot rescued from behind enemy lines by helicopter while covered by a rescue combat air patrol. An Army member was part of Task Force Lynch in the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter to link up with the US units from the Inchon Landing. He destroyed a North Korean tank with a bazooka team. Fifteen members of the Class of 1946 died in Korea, four Air Force and eleven Army. Three became POW's, two Air Force and one Army(he died in captivity.) Awards to members of the Class of 1946 for valor in combat: The Distinguished Service Cross(second highest award)-five awarded; Silver Star Medal (third highest) - thirty- five awarded; Bronze Star Medal for Valor - twenty- one awarded; Purple Heart Medal(for wounds in combat) -fifty awarded (one member received five Purple Heart Medals); Air Medal or Distinguished Flying Cross-fifty- four awarded(two to Army members); Soldier's Medal(for heroism not in combat) - two awarded.

Vietnam War

       The first member of the Class of 1946 to go to Vietnam went in 1954 to help train the French Army. An Army member of the Class(then a captain) was the first American killed in Vietnam in October 1957. Officially the war started in 1963 and the last American troops left in March 1973. During Korea, members of the Class of 1946 served as lieutenants and captains, while in Vietnam they served mainly as lieutenant colonels, colonels and brigadier generals. From 1954 to 1973, 326 members of the Class of 1946 were ordered into Southeast Asia, 271 Army and 55 Air Force. Thirty- five served two tours and five served three tours. Thirty- one Army members commanded battalions and seven Air Force members commanded squadrons. Thirty- six Army members commanded brigades, regiments, groups and division artillery in Vietnam. Three Air Force members commanded wings in combat. Six members of the Class of 1946 gave their lives in Vietnam, 4 Army( 1 captain, 3 colonels) and 2 Air Force(both colonels). Valor awards: Distinguished Service Cross-three awarded to two members of the Class; Silver Star Medal-thirty- five awarded; Bronze Star Medal for Valor-thirty- four awarded; Purple Heart Medal-sixteen awarded; Distinguished Flying Cross for Air Force members-thiry awarded; Air Medals-twenty- eight different Air Force members of the Class received them with up to eighteen awarded to one person.

Active Duty Profile

       One of the missions of the United States Military Academy as stated in the 1943 Bugle Notes issued to each member of the Class of 1946 was: "To instruct and train the corps of cadets so that each graduate shall have the qualities and attributes essential to his progressive and continued development throughout a lifetime career as an officer in the regular Army (and Air Force.)" Of the members of the Class of 1946 who received commissions, 593 (69%) either died on active duty, were retired for physical disability or retired with twenty or more years of active duty service. Mission accomplished! Of those who retired with twenty or more years active duty, nine were majors(5 Army, 4 AF); 147 lieutenant colonels(116 Army, 31 AF); 277 colonels(222 Army, 55 AF); twenty- three were brigadier generals(16 Army, 7 AF); twenty- six major generals(16 Army, 9 AF, 1 PHS); thirteen lieutenant generals(6 Army, 7 AF) and five generals(2 Army, 3 AF). One Air Force member of the Class became Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The last members of the Class to retire from active duty retired in 1982.

Educational Achievements

       Three members of the class of 1946 were Rhodes Scholars. Advanced degrees were obtained while on active duty, as a civilian and after retirement. While most degrees were Masters or higher, three members of the Class received specialized Bachelors degree. Five hundred thirty- seven members of the Class received additional degrees after graduation with one hundred twenty getting two or more advanced degrees. One member of the Class received three masters degrees and two PhDs. A total forty- seven members of the class of 1946 obtained PhDs. Fifty- two members of the Class received Law degrees.

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