J. M. Patton and I were plebes together at West Point in the summer of 1969 with the Class of 1973. It was then called Beast Barracks. We owe everything we are or hope to ever be to our First Detail Beast squad leader. The service academy experience is unique and hard to describe. J.M. has done just that in his novel “West Point”, and it reads like a thriller. This novel should be read by anyone that attended a service academy or is connected with the military. It is humorous. It is uplifting. It is a fun read. I know this is one of those books I will read many times over, and I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy. —— Wayne Springer