One month ago tonight an American detachment held a high hill above the Faid Pass in Central Tunisia. It was commanded by Johnnie Waters, a West Pointer of the Class of ‘31. He was ordered to hold that hill. He then had been engaged for three months in almost continuous battle, in every hour of which he lived up to the glowing prophesies made concerning him from the first day that he began his career at West Point.

At first light on February 14th, the enemy poured in around his flanks and quickly he was surrounded by hostile mechanized forces. Undismayed, he carried on. For two nights and days he repulsed every attempt of the Hun to dent his position. Then the Corps Commander directed Waters to bring his troops back through the darkness to join the main American force. Efficiently and rapidly he organized for the withdrawal. His troops came out with 150 prisoners and joined the main body, while Johnnie Waters - as you would expect - stayed with a small detachment to cover the retirement. His devoted men wanted all to stay until he himself should depart, but he had made them soldiers that obeyed orders instantly.

Since that moment we have not heard of Johnnie Waters and his men. Wherever he is, whatever his fate, his example and his whole career typify the kind of service that West Point has a right to expect of her graduates. He knew his job and he devoted his full energies and his whole spirit to its execution. If that spirit and example are characteristic today of West Pointers in every duty to which assigned, then our Alma Mater is a shining symbol of that Americanism that will win this war - definitely and conclusively. If there could be granted to me now an answer to just one prayer, it would be this: “God let me, in my post, do my duty to my country as well as Johnnie Waters did in his.”