Return to Pointer View home page June 4, 2004

Amazing Grace

By Spc. Eric S. Bartelt
Features Editor

One journey ended as another journey began when the white hats flew skyward Saturday at Michie Stadium and the Class of 2004 took a step toward a bright, but uncertain future.

This graduating class knows they have to be ready to help with the war on terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else they are needed. And one new second lieutenant said she is prepared to go wherever her future leads her.

Four years ago Grace Chung arrived at the U.S. Military Academy from Congers, N.Y. She freely admits she was an unorganized, nervous plebe. However, Chung worked on her faults, eventually becoming West Point’s Cadet First Captain. Her experiences here, good and bad, Chung said, helped strengthen her goals toward a lifetime’s worth of achievements.

“I had no idea what direction I wanted to go four years ago, but I visited West Point and saw this was a place that had a world of opportunities,” she said. “To get a top education, travel, meet people and, most importantly, serve our nation -- it was worth giving it a shot.”

The new second lieutenant completed all four years with a better than 3.5 grade point average, competed with the cadet parachute team and, of course, became only the second woman to lead the Corps of Cadets.

Chung doesn’t talk about the hard work that goes into succeeding at the academy. She just said she was glad she was “lucky” enough to experience what she did.

“Everyone earns what they get here, but, at the same time, there is a lot of luck that comes with it,” Chung explained. “To be on the parachute team and to have the privilege to serve as first captain has been an honor.

“I developed more as a leader by having these experiences and working with such great officers and cadets,” she added.

Grace will take her new lieutenant bars to Fort Rucker, Ala., as an aviation officer where she will go to flight school to learn to fly some the Army’s rotary winged arsenal.

It may take up to two years for her to learn the flying trade, but her previous experience soaring through the skies has prepared her for what it takes to succeed.

“The parachute team helped me with attention to detail and to be aware of what I’m doing,” she said. “I haven’t been out there in the Army, but I understand it’s important to pay attention to the small things as well as the big things.”

Parachute team officer representative, Col. Thomas Kolditz, said Chung’s future Soldiers will be blessed to have her as their leader.

“Grace has always been a quiet leader and has a remarkable capacity to keep groups of “Type A” leaders calm and on track,” Kolditz said. “She has showed quiet confidence every year I’ve known her and her excellence will be contagious among those who will serve with her -- Grace Chung is our Army’s future.”

A  future she’s been well prepared for, Chung said.

“We’ve had the fortunate opportunity to meet many junior officers who’ve come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and shared with us their combat experiences,” Chung said. “They told us about the tough decisions they’ve had to make.

“Young grads dying in combat wakes everyone up,” she added. “I think everyone in our class wants to be in the action and make a difference.”