Absolutely American

Four Years at West Point

David Lipsky

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9780547523750
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

New York Times Bestseller: A "fascinating, funny and tremendously well written" chronicle of daily life at the US Military Academy ( Time ). In 1998, West Point made an unprecedented offer to Rolling Stone writer David Lipsky: Stay at the Academy as long as you like, go wherever you wish, talk to whomever you want, to discover why some of America's most promising young people sacrifice so much to become cadets. Lipsky followed one cadet class into mess halls, barracks, classrooms, bars, and training exercises, from arrival through graduation. By telling their stories, he also examines the Academy as a reflection of our society: Are its principles of equality, patriotism, and honor quaint anachronisms or is it still, as Theodore Roosevelt called it, the most "absolutely American" institution? During an eventful four years in West Point's history, Lipsky witnesses the arrival of TVs and phones in dorm rooms, the end of hazing, and innumerable other shifts in policy and practice. He uncovers previously unreported scandals and poignantly evokes the aftermath of September 11, when cadets must prepare to become officers in wartime. Lipsky also meets some extraordinary people: a former Eagle Scout who struggles with every facet of the program, from classwork to marching; a foul-mouthed party animal who hates the military and came to West Point to play football; a farm-raised kid who seems to be the perfect soldier, despite his affection for the early work of Georgia O'Keeffe; and an exquisitely turned-out female cadet who aspires to "a career in hair and nails" after the Army. The result is, in the words of David Brooks in the New York Times Book Review, "a superb description of modern military culture, and one of the most gripping accounts of university life I have read.... How teenagers get turned into leaders is not a simple story, but it is wonderfully told in this book."

All photographs are by the author unless otherwise noted.

Upperclassmen stare down freshly shorn new cadets during the first day of their West Point careers. For most cadets, this is the worst day they’ll experience at the Academy.

Cadet Chrissi Cicerelle, in BDUs, or battle dress uniform, developing her “violence propensity.”

© Mark Seliger

Major Jim DeMoss of Company G-4 inspects a lunch formation. Cadet Eliel Pimentel stands at attention at right.

© Mark Seliger

Washington Mess Hall, where four thousand cadets eat at once. The mural depicts General George Washington’s military exploits.

© Mark Seliger

The Goodfellas, in the class-B uniforms they’ll wear in the Army. Left to right: cadets Don “Whitey” Herzog, Brian “Suppy” Supko, John Mini, and Antonio “Iggy” Ignacio.

© Mark Seliger

Cadet George Rash during his yuk, or sophomore, year. A name tape is affixed to his bed frame, polished shoes are arranged underneath.

© Mark Seliger

Cadets Jake Bergman, standing, and Trent Powell in their home away from home, the Arvin Gym weight room.

© Mark Seliger

Colonel Joseph W. Adamczyk, nicknamed “Skeletor” by cadets, in an official portrait. As the brigade tactical officer, he’s in charge of assuring that the Academy’s exacting standards of dress and vehavior are enforced.

Courtesy of Joseph Adamczyk

Lieutenant Colonel Hank Keirsey (then a major) in Iraq, Operation Desert Storm, 1991. Charged with instilling in cadets the skills and attitudes they’ll need as warriors, he is the embodiment of “huah.”

Courtesy of Hank Keirsey

Cow, oro junior, Mike Ferlazzo salutes in his as-for-class uniform.

© Mark Seliger

An exceptionally tidy West Point room.

Every morning at 0655, rain or shine (or darkness), the entire corps of cadets gathers on North Area f...