Gen. Walter “Skip” Sharp, USA (ret.) and current member of MOAA's Board of Directors, has been named a 2019 recipient of West Point's Distinguished Graduate Award.

The West Point Association of Graduates presents this honor each year to “West Point graduates whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: Duty, Honor, Country.”

(Gen. Walter Sharp - U.S. Army)

Gen. Sharp graduated from the Unites States Military Academy in 1974, and would go on to lead the United Nations Command, Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command and troops in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also served four assignments on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. For MOAA, he currently serves as chair of the Finance & Audit Committee and as chair of the MOAA Foundation Board. In November 2020 he will become Chairman of MOAA's Board of Directors.

Sharp is one of five West Point Graduates who will be honored on May 21 at the Academy. The other 2019 Graduate Award Recipients are retired:

(Gen. David A. Bramlett - U.S. Army)

Gen. David A. Bramlett, class of 1964 and MOAA Member, who served as the Commandant of Cadets at West Point and Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command.

(Col. Victor Garcia, MD - Courtesy of Cincinnati Children's)

Col. Victor F. Garcia, MD, class of 1968, completed his medical residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1978 and served as Walter Reed's General and Pediatric Chief of Surgery. He is also the founding director of Trauma Services at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

(Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp - U.S. Army)

Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, class of 1972, served as the Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 52nd Chief of Engineers. He also served as the commanding general of U.S. Army Accessions Command and was an instructor for the Mechanics Department at West Point.

(Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. - U.S. Army)

Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., class of 1975, retired as the 59th superintendent of West Point in June 2018. He was among staff at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks, and re-entered the building to help search for wounded and help reverse the air conditioning system to remove smoke from the building.

Katie Lathrop is the Digital Content Specialist at MOAA and the daughter of a currently serving Army Officer. Follow her on twitter @Katie.F.Lathrop.

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