LTC Brian L. Baker, Professor of Military Science at MIT told of the goal set by him and his colleagues Captain Robert D. Holland, Professor of Naval Science at MIT and COL Paul M. Rojko, Professor of Aerospace Studies at MIT to double the number of Harvard ROTC students from the current 50 to 100. Referring to President Summers he said "thank you for your unwavering leadership as we chart our course for tomorrow" and noted that Harvard has already "made great strides in advancing student access to ROTC".
President Summers spoke of Harvard graduates serving in Iraq and said "we are free because we are strong" and that we must "support those who contribute to the strength that maintains our freedom".
Secretary Roche reflected on being at Harvard during the strike in 1969 and said "There were times when I actually felt safer in the Tonkin Gulf than I did here". He related that he came to today's commissioning to "show solidarity with a great academic leader and commission a young friend". "Our officer corps needs graduates of Harvard to make it what it ought to be ... our fight is far from over" and said it was up to the officer corps to set the high ethical standards to which we hold our military.
Colonel Jerome J. McDonald '54 USA (Ret.) noted that two thirds of his class served in the military. He related the experience in his career that made him really feel like an officer, describing to the new officers the first time in which "rank compelled me to act, even though I didn't feel like acting".
Leaders of Advocates for Harvard ROTC and the Harvard ROTC Alumni Fund presented a special award to Emil Fleischaker '42 for his leadership of the alumni fund and support of Harvard's ROTC cadets and midshipmen.
Receiving commissions were Army Second Lieutenants Raphael S. Cohen, James S. Foreman, Samuel K. King, Daniel R. Klinger, George M. J. Morris and William C. B. Taylor, Air Force Second Lieutenants Adam C. Aviles and Jamin B. Wilson, and Ensigns Stephen P. Bosco and Daniel R. Walker. Their assignments range from military intelligence to the military police corps.
(click photos for more detail)
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