New York Military Academy - Shrapnel Yearbook (Cornwall on Hudson, NY)

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PM Xl l z 5 YW' In July, 1938, the Academy embarked upon another ex- tensive building program-construction of eleven houses as residences for married members of the faculty. The brick apartment building on the campus had been used for this purpose for many years, but had become over-crowded and out-moded. It was therefore decided to erect modern indi- vidual houses fronting on Route 9W, west of the main buildings. The entire project was completed in May, 1939, at a total cost of about 35100,000. The cosmopolitan character and far-flung prestige of the Academy was demonstrated by the large enrollment of 356 cadets when the school term began in September, 1938. This registration was six more than the supposed maximum capacity. There was cadet representation from twenty-six states of this country as well as from Belgium, France, Philippine Islands, South America and China. An important development, during the past year, in the courses of military instruction offered was the establish- ment of a field artillery unit at the Academy. Four 3-inch guns were obtained from the government and Battery E was formed under the direction of Captain George B. Barth. Nineteen cadets were assigned to the battery and William A. Nelson, of New York, was appointed Cadet Captain. It is planned to increase the size of the artillery unit until it is on a par with the three existing infantry com- panies and the cavalry troop. Elementary instruction will be given in this branch of the service, thus providing a well-rounded military training for all cadets. The present equipment is supposed to be horse-drawn but four special trucks have been acquired so that the battery is motorized in keeping with the general trend in regular army tactics. Since 1939 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the found- ing of New York Military Academy, comprehensive plans were made and carried through for the proper observance of the occasion. School authorities staged a number of special events during the year and at the commencement exercises, which were attended by a record number of alumni and parents of cadets. Highly active and cooperative in this observance of half a century of progress was the Alumni Association. The Association not only sponsored and aided materially in the compilation of this Golden Jubilee Book but worked hard to bring together the Old Boys . Thus, the largest encampment of alumni in the history of the school re- visited their old haunts when the class of 1939 was gradu- ated. The future of New York Military Academy will unfold under the guidance of Colonel Pattillo. Although he has served only three years as active head of the school, cer- tain broad phases of his educational philosophy have al- ready begun to appear. Without sacrificing the military discipline upon which the life of the Academy is founded, he has attempted to place more emphasis upon the educa- tion of the individual boy. He seeks not only to add new courses to the regular curriculum but to add to the already numerous extra-curricular activities. His object is to de- velop every boy along the lines most suited to his inherent characteristics and personal inclination. Frequent meetings between cadets and faculty members on a social, as well as scholastic, basis have been his aim. Keenly aware of the responsibility which is his, Colonel Pattillo is planning always for the future. He has seen the completion, in three short years, of many projects close to his heart, which are of infinite value to the Academy and the cadets. He is quietly confident of effecting further improvements and forsees a future for New York Military Academy as brilliant as its progress has been over the past fifty years. The fifty-year history of New York Military Academy is the history of fifty years of progress-progress parallel- ing that of the country in which the school has helped to prepare more than 4,000 young men for citizenship. In its physical aspects New York Military Academy has grown from an abandoned wooden hotel on thirty acres of ground to a completely modern plant set in almost 400 acres of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Enrollment has increased by more than five times the origi- nal registration, there were more cadets in the graduating class of 1939 than there were in the entire school in 1889. The faculty and administrative staff has increased from a handful to fifty men and women. Nor has the growth been physical only. Behind the name of the Academy there lie those more intangible as- sets of rich tradition, high prestige and unfailing loyalty, which are the soul of any institution. There is an esprit de corps which, instilled into the youngest cadet soon after his arrival at Cornwall, pervades the ranks of the cadet bat- talion and the thousands of alumni in all parts of the world. A part of youth given to only a select few to know, there are a handful of men who in their hearts can para- phrase the poet: lf there be a place for me When life is blown away I want it to be N.Y.M.A. On a sun-filled, june-clad day. Page Thirty-nine

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1 . i TSC i' shooting Tournament at Travers Island, N. Y. Alfred Murphy, '40, won the event with a score of 191 x 200 and Kenneth Cashin, '39, was runner-up with 189 x 200. The outstanding feature of the Parents' Day program, however, was the military review for three veterans of Troop D-Caesar, Cora, and Apache-in honor of their retirement from active duty. The three horses stood with the officers on the reviewing line while the entire corps passed by at salute. Following the review Troop D drew up before the line and its officers dismounted and re- moved saddles and bridles from the veterans. Thus re- leased, the horses trotted to the head of the column and led their comrades back to the stables. The following orders were published during the re- view: HEADQUARTERS, CORPS OF CADETS NEW YORK MILITARY ACADEMY CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, N. Y. General Orders No, 2 May 8, 1937. The retirement of the following members of Troop D is announced: CAESAR . . . . . .Age 34 years CORA ......... .... A ge 30 years APACHE ............,.... Age 25 years CAESAR was at all time equal to the important, re- sponsible duty in which he was placed during his twenty years of service as a member of Troop D. A superior animal in every way, he will continue to hold the respect and admiration of all who knew him. His broad understanding and patience has been of inestim- able value to Troop D and N.Y.M.A. CORA's service in Troop D has been one of high attainment and marked achievement, as this faithful animal performed duties of ever-increasing responsibility. During her entire active service she has at all time displayed the Finest qualifications for a troop horse, loyalty and devotion to her duties, which has won the commendation of all those with whom she served. APACHE was presented to Troop D by General Davis, and for over 15 years was the Troop Captain's horse, leading all parades, drills, and formations. In addition to being an outstanding troop horse, Apache was a jumper of outstanding ability. During the past few years Apache has been used for a spare mount due to injuries. In appreciation of the loyal and faithful service of the above Troopers it is directed that they be retired to pasture for the duration of their lives, never again to he required to perform duty of any kind. By Command of General Davis Official: Frank A. Pattillo, Capt. U.S.A. CRet'dJ, Superintendent Commencement of 1937 was marked by a new depar- ture. Recognizing that certain former cadets, who had not been graduated from the Academy, had since carried on in their own lives the traditions of the school, it was de- cided to present honorary diplomas to five men for dis- tinguished service in military and business life . The five so honored were John G. Shattuck, '05, B. Winthrop Pizzini, '16, Robert H. R. Loughborough, '14, Bradford M. Manning, '07, and Harry S. Clark, '05. The 1957 football team, captained by johnny Bath, '58, had visions of immortality until they were blasted in the very last game of the season. The Academy players swept through their first five games, not only undefeated but un- scored upon and came upon the annual classic against Admiral Farragut Academy with high hopes for comple- tion of the greatest season in more than thirty years. The Little Army-Navy Game was staged in Munici- pal Stadium, Philadelphia, before 40,000 spectators, but N.Y.M.A. was defeated, the score being 51-0. Basketball was revived during the following winter as a varsity sport and the team made a fair showing in view of its inexperience in interscholastic competition. It won four games and tied one in an eight-game schedule. Bill Nelson reigned as captain. A group of cadets became picture-minded during the year with the result that a new organization found a place on the campus. George Gregg, instructor in mathematics, took charge of the Camera Club activities. A pall was cast over late spring activities in 1938 by the death of General Davis on May 51. He had been associated with the Academy, first as superintendent and then as president, since 1909. General Davis had the interests of the Academy always at heart and was respected and loved by hundreds of alumni as well as the cadets and faculty. General Davis' civic contributions and honors were many. He was Vice-President and Director of the Corn- wall National Bank, member of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, President of the Hudson Val- ley Federated Chamber of Commerce, President of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States, Vice-President of the Orange County So- ciety of New York, National Counselor of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Fellow of the Na- tional Geographical Society, member of the Army-Navy Clubs of Washington and New York, member of the Camp Fire Club of America, the Explorers' Club, the Ends of the Earth Club, The Players, Lambs', Companion Foreign Wars, and Companion Society of Indian Wars. Inclement weather on Commencement Day made it im- possible to present commissions and warrants under the Guardian Maple, as had been the custom for many years, and this part of the program was transferred to the Davis Memorial Chapel. The largest crowd in history attended both this and the actual commencement ceremonies in the gymnasium, however, and heard John G. Shattuck, '05, de- liver a stirring address to the graduating class. Pu ge Thirty-eight

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iris PM --?-i-- if 1+ . HEAD EW YORK MILITARY ACADEMY offers many medals and other awards for preeminence in various types of activity at the school, but the highest honor in the gift of the school is the Head Boy Gold Medal. This honor is awarded each year at commencement to that member of the graduating class who has won his diploma in either the Latin Scientific, Technical, or Academic course, and who has attained the highest record in scholarship and conduct. This was the first major award established at the Acad- emy. It was founded by Colonel Charles jefferson Wright during the school's opening year ,and has been given an- nually since that time. Absence of any requirement of athletic excellency makes it open to every boy, regardless of any physical deficiency, and there are now fifty names on the large plaque which hangs in the main hall of the academic building at the Academy. The first Head Boy was joseph A. Green, '90. Green studied law after being graduated from N.Y.M.A. and is still a practicing attorney at Ossining, N. Y. Col. Rutledge Gibson, Head Boy in 1892, retired from the Army, is re- siding at Monterey, Cal. Only once in the history of the Head Boy award has a single family won more than once. Malcolm Stuart Sten- house, of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., was Head Boy in 1929 and his brother, Gordon Conover, achieved that honor in 1931. .-.-.ia BUYS Malcolm conducts the guest ranch at Flagstaff, Arizona, Gordon is studying medicine at Duke University. Nowhere is the broad educational background provided by the Academy so emphasized as in the variety of pursuits now followed by Head Boys in all parts of the country. William Maurice Alfelder, '22, is a physician at Mt. Ver- non, N. Y., Seth Gerson Hess, '11, and Gerald Staats Rine- hart, '07, are civil engineers in New York, Harold Ward Sibert, '10, is professor of mathematics at the University of Cincinnati. john Louis Magee, '96, Frederick William Lewis, '19, and Loren Oswald Graves, '01, are presidents of their own companies-Magee is in the importing business and Lewis in lumber, Graves is in manufacturing. Arthur Standish Moore, '97, is vice-president of Hearst Maga- zines, Inc., in New York. Most of the more recent graduates are continuing their studies in college. Harvey Cohen, '36, is preparing to enter Harvard Law School, and Edward Underhill Murphy, '38, is a student at Princeton, where he is taking a pre-medical course. The 1939 winner of the Head Boy medal was Arthur Stuart Hollander, of Paterson, N. J., who served on the Ramble and Shrapnel Boards, was a member of the Inter- fraternity Council and captain of the tennis team. He will enter the University of Pennsylvania. Page Forty