On Fork Union Military Academy's main page on Facebook early this past Sunday evening, alumnus Bill Willoughby posted what he described as an "open letter" to today's cadets. In this remarkable testimonial, Mr. Willoughby looks back on his experience as a cadet in the 1969-70 academic year from his vantage point now at age 60. We share his words below.
An open letter to the cadets of Fork Union Military Academy:
Forty-six years ago I was living the life you are now. I was a first time cadet at FUMA. My father dropped me off one morning and I stood there in the circle confused, scared, angry and lonely. Slowly I began to find my way in the world of a cadet. The year was 1969.
That was the year Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon, the Woodstock Music Festival had ended just weeks before, The Beatles recorded Abbey Road, their final album together, The United States instituted the draft lottery to determine who would be inducted into The United States Armed Forces for the Vietnam War, Charles Manson and his family killed five people, the first ATM was installed in the United States, Colonel “Red” Pulliam was an omnipresent figure on campus, Captain Fletcher Arritt was a basketball coach and my science instructor, I was in Band Company along with members of the band, Asylum.
At the time I was a poor student and my parents were at a loss as to what to do with me. They finally packed me up and shipped me off to FUMA. The One Subject Plan was going to “save” me in their eyes. And so they were told by the admissions office. It didn’t happen. I was still a poor student when the year ended.
But what I learned far transcended the academics that year. I became aware of myself and the world around me. I learned discipline and respect. I learned about pride, in myself and my country. I learned to work as a part of a unit and put the selfish me aside. It shaped the future me and at 60 years of age I still remember the lessons I learned at Fork Union.
I was only there for one year and when I left in the spring of 1970 so many things had changed; The Beatles broke up, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin passed away, George C. Scott starred in Patton and I was a stronger, more self-assured person.
I found out at the age of 40 I have ADD. The psychiatrist that tested me put me on Ritalin and I went back to college for the fourth time. I graduated 18 months later with an Associate’s degree with a 4.0 GPA. I enrolled in a Bachelor’s program majoring in psychology and now I work at one of our nation’s Veteran’s Administration hospitals serving our retired military men and women with pride.
The point of all of this? I urge you to take hold of all that FUMA has to offer you. Make it yours. Just by being where you are you are an unique person. The lessons that you learn there will serve you for a lifetime. Coach Arritt once said, "Be proud of that uniform. You'll always be something special while you wear it. Once you take it off, you're just another person walking the streets." I disagree. Once you take the uniform off, and if you heed my advice, you will ALWAYS be something special.
Bill Willoughby