The Hard Way

While he was flying 75 bombardment missions over Europe in World War II, 23-year-old Army Air Forces Pilot Roy Clark rose to the rank of major. But with peace, he faced reduction to first lieutenant in the Regular Army.

Major Clark decided on a different way of becoming a career officer. He resigned and got an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy--which had extended the entrance age from 22 to 24 for veterans of World War II. Last week, in West Point greys, ex-Major Clark was studying hard in the hope of emerging in 1950 as a shiny new second lieutenant.

He was not alone. While most of West Point's 1,200 ex-servicemen (total enrollment: 2,000) came from the ranks, 67 other cadets had also served as officers, in either the Army, Navy, Coast Guard or Marine Corps. Among them were two captains, 17 first lieutenants, 44 second lieutenants and four ensigns. Like ex-Major Clark, almost all had missed a college education, were convinced that by spending four years at the Point they would eventually further their careers.

They had surrendered not only rank, but swank. Like all West Point fourth-classmen, they answered to titles like "Mister Dumbjohn" and endured upper-classmen's humor. But as soldiers, most wore their ribbons. They were the gaudiest plebes in the Academy's history. On his grey dress coat, Cadet Clark sported pilot's wings, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 13 clusters, and an ETO ribbon with six stars.

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