USMA grad, a Communist?

Well, this certainly explains why WP has done very little to stem the problem of theft of cadet property.
 
If this letter is found to be authentic (Haven't seen anything yet to say it's not) then this was a tough read, and sure to be a conversation starter.
 
I still can't believe that Lt. Rapone is real.

I had the same thought at first when I didn't see much coverage about him other then the Daily Caller, It seems Fox did pick up the story but it has been eerily quiet on most news outlets which is strange due to the fact that they are usually eager to jump on any story that comes out of one of the academies.

Searching through the web I haven't seen anything to claim this story is false as of yet, they're usually pretty quick in debunking stories like this if they are not accurate. On top of that it would be pretty involved to fake his postings and have a former congressman speak out about him, still I find it odd that this wasn't a story that would be flashed all over the CNN website or at least found it's way to someone's Twitter feed.

I'm with you, it's hard to believe someone like this is real and graduated West Point, I guess that make's all the worse.
 
https://medium.com/@UlisseRJ/open-letter-to-grads-from-ltc-ret-heffington-659dac71511f

Wow, you definitely get the feeling of pent up frustration...As outsiders with another frame of reference, I would like to hear from some of the exchange cadets (as OP's or thru one of us on the forum) who could weigh in on these allegations. Also I imagine there is some review (external of USMA) of the discipline process, # of honor trials, # on Ac Pro, etc. I would be interested in what that revealed. Lastly, these allegations may raise to the level that the Army's internal investigations unit would be called in. While I don't know their parameters, it would seem that some formal interviews may have to take place.
 
What I dont get is why he went to West Point, if it stands for everything he hates. Or was he just looking for a free 4 year college? I have to imagine there are similar ways of doing so
 
Maybe Rapone thinks that he could do more damage on the inside, than out. He's very upfront about his political beliefs.
 
Been following this news on facebook; it also now comes to light that he was written up several times by a WP faculty member for being verbally abusive and disrespectful but no action was taken. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but being an avowed communist is a violation of military standards and the oath of office, this idiot can count on a damning OER that will end his career fairly quickly.
 
"He perpetually needs a haircut..." Best line in the whole sworn statement...:)

That's exactly what I thought....before I saw the Che t-shirt...
 
What I dont get is why he went to West Point, if it stands for everything he hates. Or was he just looking for a free 4 year college? I have to imagine there are similar ways of doing so

Unless I'm wrong, I thought that Spenser Rapone was once a hardcore right-wing type whom served a four year tour as an enlisted soldier, including duty in Afghanistan. Then transformed into a Leninist, somehow.

He'd hardly be the first who transformed from political rightie to political leftie during military service - though admittedly the West Point angle is different.

The Vietnam War certainly pushed a lot of American servicemen from right-to-left (though I doubt many became actual communists).

Had Lt. Rapone not written such disparaging comments about the Sec of Defence & others (which cannot be tolerated in the ranks, ever, i.e. remember a handful of highly publicized cases of servicemen being discharged post-haste when they participated publicly in Obama "birther" rhetoric) he would still be qualified to serve as a junior officer. regardless of his communist beliefs, as long as they didn't negatively impact his ability to carry out his duty.

If Lt. Rapone been commissioned in a less electronic era, graduating from West Point in, say, 1977 rather than 2017, his personal political beliefs might have remained, well, personal. Maybe in a few years moderated. Maybe renounced completely. Maybe return to a right-wing viewpoint. Who knows?
 
Been following this news on facebook; it also now comes to light that he was written up several times by a WP faculty member for being verbally abusive and disrespectful but no action was taken. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but being an avowed communist is a violation of military standards and the oath of office, this idiot can count on a damning OER that will end his career fairly quickly.

Being a communist is no more disqualifying than being a democratic or republican or socialist or libertarian or even Nazi.

Being written up for abusive/disrespectful conduct, regardless of political persuasion, certainly should have been addressed prior to commissioning.

P.S. How many draftees, when questioned at induction centers across the US circa 1966-1971, openly claimed to be communist or homosexual only to be told "Tough luck, Madame Mao, you're in the Army anyway."
 
What happened to the statement? It's on the web, in an article. It's not secret anymore.

http://dailycaller.com/2017/10/04/e...was-reported-in-2015-for-anti-american-posts/

Clearly now-Lt. Rapone did & said a lot of things which would seem to have made him incompatible for commissioning as a US Army officer, based on the story quoted.

Someone dropped the ball in letting him proceed to graduation.

But if he had not made the outrageous (and arrogant, insubordinate and just plain rude) statements, would simply being an avowed communist be sufficient grounds for dismissal from the USMA???

From a legal standpoint, I don't think so. I'm not saying that's right.
 
No, as long as you don't air your political beliefs in connection with your service, advocate the violent overthrow of the government (or belong to organizations that do), or let your personal views interfere with good order and discipline, you can be of whatever political party you want.
 
Considering that it's a pretty good gig for a career that can actually be "over" before you're 40 years old, this guy isn't doing much for the size of his pension. O-6 pay is about 45 grand more a year than you'll ever get, forever-second-leuie-rapony!
He's a butterbar that won't be able to afford to buy butter. :biggrin:
 
I hope that he is discharged and forced to pay for all we have spent on his education. If it is determined that the leadership at WP knew of this subversive ideologue and allowed him to graduate and be given leadership responsibilities then they all should be fired.

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
 
But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men.

Relax Francis!
Not sure this applies to the loud-mouth baffoon, Lt. Rapone, who is neither sly nor does he whisper. He's more the fool who "carries his banner openly", "within the gate freely".
 
http://dailycaller.com/2017/10/15/communist-cadets-plebe-year-professor-told-him-to-resign/

"An active duty Army officer contacted by The Daily Caller, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed with the sentiments of Lieutenant Colonel Heffington and the former senior faculty remember. The officer said that criticism of the increasing civilian influence within West Point was entirely warranted. “I can assure you,” the officer stated, “there are a number of avowed communists [teaching at West Point].”

"The officer said he has “personally heard” two civilian professors claim to be communists. One in particular, he adds, was “quite proud of this fact.”

"According to the officer, the presence and influence of openly Marxist faculty members is partially to blame for the leniency that the academy showed then-cadet Spenser Rapone. “Why punish this Che-loving former cadet, Rapone, when we let senior faculty openly support such views?” the officer asked."
 
If it is determined that the leadership at WP knew of this subversive ideologue and allowed him to graduate and be given leadership responsibilities then they all should be fired.

I should have mentioned that I agree with the sentiment that the soldiers who run USMA, sitting in one of the most honored, privileged posts in the Army, didn't have the stones to run this kid out. Are they afraid of being sued? Don't want to be bothered? Fear of embarrassment that Rapone was ever even allowed in in the first place? Just washed their hands of him and pushed him through the system to be someone else's problem a la John Cardinal Law? You tell me.

"Why punish this Che-loving former cadet, Rapone, when we let senior faculty openly support such views?” the officer asked."

Because he called the Secretary of Defense, "Definitely the most vile, evil f*** in the current administration,” and the USMA had that information. Maybe, the anonymous "officer" should show the same intestinal fortitude as LTC Heffington.
 
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