894/899

That was John McCain's rank in his Naval Academy graduating class.

This isn't a flame post or anything like that. I just found it stunning.

How does someone turn it around after finishing in essentially the lowest 1-2 percent of his college graduating class and become a respected senator and party nominee for the presidency?

Late bloomer? Did his POW experience change everything?

 

Custer was last in his West Point class, and made it to General.

Too bad he wore an Arrow shirt.

 

"Mr. Blutarsky. Zero point zero"

 

Not to nitpick, but there have actually been some pretty notable military leaders who were "goats."

McClelland, Crittenden, Pickett, Heth, to name a few from the Civil War. There are others, to be sure, but I can't seem to find the list.

Honestly, though, ranking near the bottom at one of the academies isn't like finishing last at Dumbarton Mining College.

 

I wonder how many washed out from that class? Fifth from the bottom is never good, but given the rigors of academy life, it is a bit more tolerable than at Bumfuck State.

And thanks for sparing me the trouble of clicking on that banner ad.

 

Charlie Wilson was near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy, too. Ambitious people don't let little things like that get in there way.

 

Having a father and grandfather who are admirals doesn't hurt, either.

 

http://www.lastintheirclass.com/

 

AA, if you're referring to George McClellan, he finished second in his class (Class of 1846) at West Point.

That's notable in several ways, most prominently the fact that 10 members of that class -- including Stonewall Jackson, George Pickett (who finished last in the class of 59) and Cadmus Wilcox -- went on to become generals for the Confederacy. A.P. Hill was in that class, but got held back a year for something or other.

Meanwhile, besides McClellan, 12 went on to wear stars for the Union, including Darius Couch, George Stoneman and Jesse Reno.

There's a decent book about this: "The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox: Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and their Brothers.

 

Actually was referring to George C. McClelland (with a D). He was listed among the "goats."

 

More to the point, though...Jeff Davis was 23rd out of 32, U.S. Grant was 21st out of 39, Edgar Allen Poe was a washout, etc.

Folks, finishing near the bottom of ANY military academy class is much better than being near the top of a class at a smaller, less-respected and revered college. Trust me.

 

Hill contracted venereal disease from a woman of ill repute while on furlough. His illness along with lousy standing pushed him back.

His urethra was gangrenous when they performed his autopsy. He spent the war in fierce pain.