Report to the Secretary of the Army By the Special Commission on the United States Military Academy, regarding the Honor Code (with) Extensive Annotations By Col. "Red" Reeder, Letters and Notes

[West Point] United States Military Academy [Borman, Frank]

Published by USMA, West Point New York, 1976

About this Item

A scathing & pithy commentary on the Borman Report on the state of affairs at West Point by Colonel Russell Potter "Red" Reeder, Jr. (1902 - 1998) United States Army officer, a highly decorated veteran of W.W.II and author. The Borman Report was an investigation of the West Point system of Honor and its Code. Frank Borman was a West Point graduate who joined the Air Force and commanded the Apollo VIII and Gemini VII missions. At the time he was asked to chair this "Blue Ribbon" commission, he was the chairman of Eastern Airlines. The Academy was under scrutiny for reported abuses and scandals involving cadets. Col. Reeder, for 20 years the respected Athletic Director of the U.S.M.A., was asked to comment and his copy of the report is annotated on almost every page. There are also letters to and from Academy and Department of the Army personnel, including one where he recounts a conversation with Eisenhower about the Honor Code. Col. Reeder cites specific instances where the code and its application had been either abused or misinterpreted by less-than-caring Point administration, often resulting in unfair, foolishly judged and downright poor treatment of cadets. Throughout, Col. Reeder's approach is one of humanity and good sense and is especially potent, given that his entire life was spent within the U.S. Army under one aspect or another and his years of experience with the men and boys under his command gave him insight that would be difficult to surpass. At the front is stapled-in a note on Reeder's letterhead, stating ".There will be moans abt. this report. Some at U.S.M.A. think nothing is wrong. But in 30 years there have been two cadet honor dismissals, involving abt. 100 cadets each, plus one "Scandal" that was swept under the rug. U.S.M.A. should expect some outside changes because they were not cleaning up internally." Loosely inserted are several letters & carbon copies of letters, one from Reeder to Frank Borman, wherein Reeder tells of meeting with General of the Army Eisenhower who specifically had asked Col. Reeder about the cadets' adherence and loyalty to the Code and his concerns, Reeder noting that now more than ever is there need for paying attention to the good structure of the Academy since enrollment was nearly 4 times the size as when Eisenhower was a cadet; with a note to Col. William J. Taylor Jr. regarding the report and Taylor's grateful reply after reading it and Reeder's comments and recommendations. Evidently, Reeder had sent the annotated report to several respected colleagues as well as the commission, as there are notes that Lt. Col. Dale Hruby as well as Brig. Gen. Harvey Fraser had been in communication, list in reviewing this document (their names both on the front cover as being forwarded the report). 91 pages, with handwritten marginal notations, underlining for emphasis in red and blue and references to other internal notes and incidents by him. Stapled on the side, some edge tips wear, soiling to cover sheet and back cover, which is loose, laid-in materials with light wear and contained in the original manila envelope titled in Reeder's hand (worn with tears); overall, in very good condition; a very interesting annotated report and group of correspondence, a unique archive of material concerning the U.S.M.A. at West Point during a particularly troublesome time of upheaval and self-examination, especially as coming from the knowledgeable pen of the prominent Col. Reeder. Seller Inventory # 15715

Bibliographic Details

Title: Report to the Secretary of the Army By the ...

Publisher: USMA, West Point New York

Publication Date: 1976

Binding: Staple-Bound

Condition: Very Good