Following the victory celebration over Lafayette, the Dean’s Staff gathered for the annual post game Lobsterfest. Adding on to the festivities, all had an opportunity to celebrate BG Sam Lessey’s 93rd Birthday. Lessey entered West Point in July 1942. He relied on the camaraderie he shared with fellow classmates to survive the difficult adjustments for first-year students attending a service academy. Lessey credits his peers as a vital resource during his time as a cadet, as well as throughout life after graduation. "I thought, if the cadet on my left can make it, and the cadet on my right can make it, I sure as heck can make it," Lessey recalls. "From an institution like West Point, there's a great loyalty and companionship in sharing everything with your classmates, which carries right on through your life."
Today, that loyalty and comradeship has expanded to the generations following his own. One of those next generations is Dr Jim Dalton, At the Dean’s Annual Lobsterfest, Associate Dean Dr. Jim Dalton presides. Known as Doc Lobsta, Dalton brings his own Maine family experience to the preparation of lobster tailgate. “Once you have the 50+ lobsters collocated with mussels, eggs, kielbasa, and fresh corn wrapped in seaweed, it is time to manage the fire” Using a strict forty minute mark, the fire team is directed, by Doc Lobsta, to keep up a perfect steam. “I have lost arm hair and come home with minor smoke inhalation,” reports fire team member Captain Ben Dalton. “But we never let the fire fall out of tolerance”, adds Bruce Blair. The end product is a new experience to some. “It’s tough seeing those lobsters swim before. But they do taste good after.” reports JIO Junior Heather Graham.
Cadet Manderfeld and all tailgaters had a great time with BG Lessey. “It’s amazing to know that BG Lessey was a member of the ski team and goalkeeper of the Army soccer team. Not many cadets do two sports today.” Upon graduation in June 1945, Lessey was commissioned in the United States Army Air Corps, which would become the United States Air Force on September 18, 1947. After service in Europe, Lessey graduated from Harvard Law School and taught Military Law at the Naval Academy. “This is a graduate that has served in every branch of service, worked on Wall Street, and led the Selective Service” states Cadet Jordan Isham ’17, “I like that, as a West Point graduate, BG Lessey had such a diverse and successful career.”
Although he has stepped down from a six year stint on the Academy Board of Visitors, Lessey continues to be active at West Point, often making the trip down from his New Hampshire farm. “My age is slowing my body down, but the mind is still sharp” states BG Lessey. During his trips to the Academy, Lessey applies his experience and sharp mind to the development of cadets of the Thayer Honors Program and West Point Cycling Team. "To know West Point is to love it." Cadet Manderfeld reflects, “I will carry our sessions together to the leadership of my first platoon.” The new and old traditions of the Long Gray Line continue.