UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY = CLASS OF 1868
Portraits of West Point Graduates
By George Kendall Warren

Courtesy of Getty’s Open Content Program


“A company commander’s first object should be to gain the love of his men, by treating them with every possible kindness and humanity, enquiring into their complaints, and when well–founded, seeing them redressed. He should know every man of his company by name and character.”
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

VINTAGE PHOTOS


MUSIC

  • ES_Air From Suite No. 3 In D Major (BWV 1068)
    Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

  • String Quartet No. 8 In F Major, K. 168_ II. Andante
    Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  • Courtesy Of Epidemic Sound

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Discussion about this video

These got my attention, and not a square inch of skin below the face! Who are the older

men shown? Are they the officers in photographs preceding, thirty years later? I guess

these officers served their careers in a peace-time Army which was mobilized only for

the Mexican War and the suppression of the Native American rebellion?

In all my military education, I did not see the quotation of Baron von Steuben. That is a bit

embarrassing to admit. I agree with him, and although the definition of, love, is open to

interpretation, a leader earns the respect of the enlisted by showing them respect in

numerous ways. Discipline is not punishment, and treating one's subordinates as humans

is not weakness.

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Thanks for watching, Sam. I’m fascinated by the military…even though I’m no fan of war. But the fraternity and brotherhood, I’m a big fan of. As for the older gents, I believe they are the administrators and educators at the school, likely military officers. As for Baron von Stueben, no need to be embarrassed you didn’t know the quote. My guess is because of his un-American origin and sexuality, he’s been conveniently left out of most modern military stories. But I remember him…if not the quote. That I just found and fell in love with. Cheers!

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