THE WEST POINT HYMN.
[Written by the Reverend Herbert Shipman, a former chaplain at West Point, and sung by the cadets at the dedication of their new chapel, June 12, 1910.]
THE CORPS! THE CORPS! THE CORPS!
The Corps! bare-headed, salute it,
With eyes up, thanking our God—
That we of the Corps are treading
Where they of the Corps have trod.
They are here in ghostly assemblage,
The men of the Corps long dead,
And our hearts are standing attention
While we wait for their passing tread.
We sons of to-day, we salute you,
You, sons of an earlier day,
We follow, close order, behind you,
Where you have pointed the way;
The long gray line of us stretches
Thro’ the years of a century told,
And the last man feels to his marrow
The grip of your far-off hold.
Grip hands with us now though we see not,
Grip hands with us, strengthen our hearts—
As the long line stiffens and straightens
With the thrill that your presence imparts.
Grip hands, tho’ it be from the shadows,
While we swear, as you did of yore,
Or living, or dying to honor
The Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.
A few years ago the first class was given permission to have a club and the First Classmen’s Club was duly organized. At first the club had a room on the ground floor in the Academic Building, but now it has fine quarters on the second floor in the new North Cadet Barracks where, when it does not interfere with duty, members may go at any time between 7:15 a. m. and 9:30 p. m. and until recall from the hop on cadet hop nights. The club provides, at its own expense, such periodicals, newspapers, chess, checkers, etc., as may be approved by the superintendent. Refreshments of all kinds, gambling, cigarette smoking, and deliberations or discussions having the object of conveying praise or censure or any mark of approbation or disapprobation toward any one in the military service, are prohibited. On the week-day immediately preceding the graduation exercises, the club gives a reception to the members of the second class to introduce them to the privileges they may soon enjoy.
The transformation that of late has been wrought in the architectural setting of West Point, the changes made in the method of teaching and in the disciplinary ideals, and the greater privileges granted to cadets all tend to bring the Military Academy closer to other educational institutions of the country.
As a school year closes there is much interest taken in the changes soon to be announced in orders.
Cadet rank is indicated by chevrons,[52] as follows:
For a Captain,[53] 4 bars.
For the Adjutant,[53] 3 bars and an arc of 3 bars.
For the Quartermaster,[53] 3 bars and a tie of 3 bars.
For a Lieutenant,[53] 3 bars.
For the Sergeant-Major,[54] 2 bars and an arc of 2 bars.
For the Quartermaster-Sergeant,[54] 2 bars and a tie of 2 bars.
For a First Sergeant,[54] 2 bars and a lozenge.
For a Company Quartermaster-Sergeant,[54] 2 bars and a tie of 1 bar.
For a Sergeant,[54] 2 bars.
For a Corporal,[55] 2 bars.
Commissions are not given to the cadet officers, i. e., the captains and lieutenants, and warrants are not given to cadet non-commissioned officers, i. e., the sergeants and corporals. Two of the sergeants are designated as color sergeants, the one carries a United States flag called the colors, the other marching on his left carries the Corps banner.
Cadet Captain’s Chevron
(Rear.) (Front.)
Cadets now wear gilt service straps on their coat sleeves as follows, to wit: Third classmen, one stripe; second classmen, two stripes; first classmen, three stripes.