Return to Pointer View home page May 20,  2005

AOG names seven distinguished graduates

Compiled by Irene Brown
Editor

The Association of Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy will honor seven of its members as “distinguished grads” Tuesday during the alumni exercise and review ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. on the Plain.

First awarded in 1992, the AOG selection committee picks the awardees from nominations filed by presidents of West Point societies and classes. Their final determinations are based on several factors including service to the nation and support for the academy. The committee selected the following alumni as this year’s distinguished graduates:

Frank A. Camm -- A West Point Class of 1943 graduate, retired Lt. Gen. Frank A. Camm began his 34-year career as an engineer officer with the 303rd Combat Engineer Battalion. He served in three wars, fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, commanding the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion in Korea and helping to install the “McNamara Line,” in Vietnam. When he retired in 1977, Camm continued his service to the nation as deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency for collection, followed by two years as associate director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Neal Creighton -- Retired Maj. Gen. Neal Creighton graduated from West Point in 1953 as an armor officer. He began his 31-year military career patrolling the East German border during the height of the Cold War. Creighton took part in seven battles during the Tet Offensive in 1968 and later commanded the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized). After his retirement, Creighton served as, among other things, executive director of the World War I Liberty Memorial and Museum project and campaign director for the National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Michael W. Krzyzewski -- A 1969 West Point graduate, Michael W. Krzyzewski, a former captain of the Army basketball team, turned his love of the game -- and his West Point experience -- into a career. Krzyzewski resigned from the Army in 1974 and, in 1975, returned to West Point as head basketball coach, where he achieved an overall record of 73 wins and 59 losses. In 1980 he left the academy to become the head coach at Duke University. Over the last 25 years, Krzyzewski has achieved a tremendous record of 721 wins and 246 losses. In 2001, he was enshrined as a coach in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

R. James Nicholson -- A member of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1961, Nicholson had a diverse career as an Airborne Ranger in Vietnam, chairman of the Republican National Committee and, currently, as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In 2001, the president appointed Nicholson as ambassador to the Holy See in Rome. Nicholson orchestrated and arranged the three visits between President George W. Bush and Pope John Paul II.

Dave R. Palmer -- Retired USMA ‘56 grad, Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer, served the nation for more than three decades. He finished his career as USMA’s 53rd superintendent. Palmer worked on changing West Point’s fourth class system during his tenure as head of the academy and is credited with guiding far-reaching and enduring advances here. Palmer is also an accomplished author whose book “The River and the Rock: The History of Fortress West Point, 1775-1783,” is recognized as the “definitive history of the Hudson River and its West Point bastion during the War of Independence.”

Sam S. Walker -- A 1946 USMA graduate, retired Gen. Sam Sims Walker received two Silver Stars – one for heroism during the Korean War, the other for heroism under fire in Vietnam. Walker served in a variety of command positions throughout his career, including U.S. commander of Berlin and commander of the Allied Land Forces Southeast. After retiring in 1981, Walker was named the 11th superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, where he reformed the fourth class system.

John A. Wickham, Jr. --Named by “Army Times,” as one of the 10 leaders who most changed the Army, Wickham graduated West Point in 1950. During his career, he served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Wickham implemented the Joint Warfighting Doctrine and oversaw the creation of the Aviation and Special Forces branches. He is also credited with setting up the Army Family Action Plan that ensures military families receive proper care and support.

Editor’s note: The above article includes information from the Association of Graduates of USMA.