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CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS
Interview With Lisa Strine, Tong Vang
Aired March 16, 2002 - 08:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's keep talking about the Army, shall we?
The United States military academy at West Point, New York is marking its bicentennial, 200 years of educating military leaders for the U.S. Army.
Joining us for some personal insights about their West Point years are two guests in our New York bureau. Captain Tong Vang is a member of the West Point class of 1993 and Lisa Strine graduated with the West Point class of 1988.
Good to see you guys.
LISA STRINE, WEST POINT CLASS OF 1988: Good morning.
CAPT. TONG VANG, U.S. ARMY: Good morning.
PHILLIPS: Well, I'm curious, a quick reaction here, the Purple Heart ceremony today, we took it live at 7:00 a.m. Captain Vang, how did it make you feel? I saw that you were listening in on what Marty was saying and listening also to the soldier talk.
VANG: You know, I'm proud of them and I really hope that they can complete the mission and return safely. We all pray for them.
PHILLIPS: Lisa?
STRINE: Like Captain Vang said, it's just an honor. We have several graduates over there and actually the 10th Mountain Division is the same division that trains our cadets at West Point in summer training. So we watch that closely. We're proud. I have tons of yellow ribbons on my trees at home. We're very proud of the soldiers overseas.
PHILLIPS: This is exactly what the cadets or a lot of the cadets think about when they come to West Point, isn't that right, Captain?
VANG: That's true. They think about their service afterwards, because there's a five year commitment and sometimes it takes time to sink in, but we often remind them about their duties afterwards.
PHILLIPS: So since 9/11, I'm curious, are cadets and teachers thinking differently at all or shifting -- I'm just wondering if the curriculum has changed at all, what kind of, I don't know, personal, emotional and professional changes have been made since 9/11?
VANG: Well, perhaps the most obvious change is the increased security measures at the gates. You'll see that the guards are checking not only I.D.s, but they're inspecting vehicles, as well. And, in fact, instructors from all the departments have taken part in the duties as gate guards.
PHILLIPS: And when you teach, Captain Vang, are you doing anything differently in class? Are you incorporating 9/11 in this war on terror?
VANG: Yes. It's a great way to grab their attention. We often begin the class with announcements and it's a great way to relate what they're going to do after the academy to what they're doing inside the classroom.
PHILLIPS: Lisa, why did you go to West Point?
STRINE: That's a great question. It was an option for me. I was accepted at other universities and just the institution and what it stands for -- duty, honor, country; the leadership that you learn at this institution; the history from this institution. It was really, after a few prayers it was definitely the best decision I've made in my life.
PHILLIPS: Now, you work with the Association of Graduates there at West Point. Graduates and cadets, they're a hot commodity now, aren't they?
STRINE: Yes, they are. Especially -- unfortunately, after 9/11, you know, just the increase of patriotism and we were invited, the cadets were invited to the World Series, to the Mercantile Exchange when they opened up. Our glee club has been invited to several events. And even our instructors, our social science department, we are currently working with a graduate who feels that he wants to endow a chair on terrorism. He will give several million dollars so that our instructors at West Point can create a course for the cadets. Because as the president has stated, this war is not over in a month or a year.
Since 9/11 our lives have been changed.
PHILLIPS: Are these cadets coming to you, Lisa, and telling you any unique stories or any sort of personal feelings about how they look at duty and honor differently now?
STRINE: Yes. Actually, I work with a team called the Values Education Team at West Point. I work with a specific company. Actually, my company, when I was a cadet and we talked about values and honor and how important it is for us to be honest and accept responsibility, because you're accountable.
Those soldiers out there currently, they're accountable for the lives of their soldiers and they're giving reports back to air force and their reports have to be exact or lives will be lost. So it's definitely incorporated in all of the classes at West Point right now. PHILLIPS: Captain Vang, before we wrap things up here, 200 years of educating military leaders . It's the big celebration this weekend. What do you want people to remember as this takes place, this anniversary?
VANG: Well, you know, we've celebrated the bicentennial since the beginning of the academic year and we're going through graduation. I want them to remember that. We are celebrating the founding of West Point, but the history of West Point is really the history of the nation, as well, and when we celebrate the history, we are really looking to the future. And if anybody was there at the Carnegie Hall concert last night, you really got a sense of that. It was moving and powerful.
PHILLIPS: Captain Tong Vang and Lisa Strine, thank you so much.
STRINE: Thank you.
VANG: Thank you.
STRINE: Beat Navy.
PHILLIPS: Uh-oh, I'm going to have my Navy friends calling now. We've got to stay unbiased. Thanks to you two.
VANG: You're welcome.
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