Discharge from the USMA at West Point

Perception
Harvey Ellis was dishonorably discharged from the USMA at West Point because, violating the institutional rule that forbade cadets to marry, he secretly wed an actress.

Facts
This story began to circulate in print in the 1960s. The fact is that Ellis was academically ill-prepared for study at West Point and was only conditionally admitted after failing the entrance examination. During the first year incoming students concentrated on just two subjects, mathematics and French. Ellis was near the bottom of his class in mathematics, and he failed a final oral exam in French. He was among a group of fifteen cadets in the same class who were honorably discharged at the same time for similar reasons. Ellis's full USMA record--a dismal story--is documented in its archives.

....find details in Reconfiguring Harvey Ellis

....look for forthcoming posts

© Eileen Manning Michels 2009