I had the honor of mentoring a Senior ROTC Cadet from South Carolina State. He was a member of the school’s high stepping band. And, he took a lot of pride in marching. Me, I was kind of a Kelly’s Heroes lieutenant. Not much into the spit and polish aspect of soldiering. But the young man was infectious and the men of my platoon picked it up real smart while he was with us. For Junior ROTC Cadet Ben Carson to have reached Executive Officer of Detroit City is a real credit to him. Combine this with his genius level of intelligence, and I have no doubt General Westmoreland would have encouraged him to apply to West Point and may have verbally said to him, knowing the cut-off points for admission, that he’d be accepted if he applied. Carson may be embellishing on that encounter, but what 18 year old wouldn’t be impressed by Westmoreland? Another thing that comes through from this story, is that Carson was proud to be associated with the Medal of Honor winners at the meeting with Westmoreland. That says something to me.
they are reporting now that Westmoreland wasn’t even in Detroit for the date of that supposed “dinner” with the MOH winners.