Prior to World War II the only way to rise as an officer in peace time in the military would be via a service Academy. That is just not true anymore. E.g. Colin Powell: City College of City University University of New York
Nearly 1,100 U.S. Army generals served at some point during World War II. They did not all attend the USMA. My point was those most responsible for the war effort went to West Point (not VMI, A&M, Norwich, The Citadel, etc). I suppose it's an unimportant point unworthy of debate