He also told the 901 members of the class that "to lead soldiers, you must first become one -- in body, mind and spirit. You must know your job, set the example, lead from the front. Most of all, you must be a model of moral courage and integrity for your soldiers."

He talked to the class, some of whose members may have been thinking of the old West Point adage that says that a class that gets rained on during graduation goes to war, about physical courage.

"Courage comes in all ranks, in all shapes and stripes," Wolfowitz told the 758 men and 143 women of the class. "Look to your left. Now look to your right. You may well be seeing a hero."

Wolfowitz told the class that they will be tested in combat one day.

"And if you fail that test, the nation will fail, too. We are counting on you," he said.

He pointed out that their 47-month West Point experience has been the key to "anticipating the unlikely and preparing for the unfamiliar, to being prepared to overcome the surprises that are almost certain to come."

Those surprises will come while they are doing a job they can be proud of, the 28th deputy secretary of Defense said.

"Yours will not be a life of personal gain, but it is noble work," he said. "You will man the walls behind which democracy and freedom flourish. Your presence will reassure our allies and deter the enemies of freedom the world over."

To help prepare them for taking their places on those walls, he invoked the memory of one of the academy’s most illustrious graduates.

"Remember what General Eisenhower said to the American and allied troops before they were about to land on the beaches of Normandy," Wolfowitz said. "‘You are about to embark on a great crusade,’ he told them. ‘The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.’

"Today, as you, the Class of 2001, go forth on your own crusade, our hopes and prayers go with you," he said.