US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

The First Thirty Years 25
And for the future midshipman contemplating the relationship between
his efficiency and conduct while at the Naval Academy, with his future
success in the Navy, it should be noted that the midshipman in the Class of
1908 who stood number one in efficiency for his four years at the Academy,
Edward James Fey, was one of the 22 officers in the Class of 1908, who
‘became a rear admiral on the active list of the Navy. As for the midshipman
who ended up his four years in 1908, standing number one in conduct,
William Hurton Piersel, it was his misfortune to be found physically dis-
qualified upon graduation and to be required to submit his resignation.”
Midshipman Turner was a very busy young gentleman his First Class Year.
Besides the detailed tasks which any battalion commander has in controlling
and leading four hundred young Americans, he was editor of the Lucky Bag,
the annual of each Naval Academy graduating class. Because of this assign-
ment, he enjoyed “late lights, ” and the privilege of working after the
10 p.m. taps for “All Hands.”
To these duties were added the fun of managing the baseball team which
won nine straight games, but lost the important one to Army, 5 to 6. He soon
learned that there was always more to be done than the day permitted, and
the necessity of tying together the loose ends of every task before checking
it off in his mind, as a satisfactory completion. He also had a strong urge to
improve his academic standing, and this meant further intensive mental
work.’z
The effort was rewarded by a class standing of number 4 for First Class
Year, and number 5 for the four-year course.
The Academic Year was also one of constant physical change in the Naval
Academy as old classroom buildings on the prospective sites of new ones
had to be torn down, so that classes were shifted from here to there to meet
the day-to-day situation.
The Class of 1908 was the only class during the period from 1901 to 1908
to graduate as a unit in the month and year anticipated at the time of en-
trance of the class into the Naval Academy. During most of these years, the
muster role of the Regiment of Midshipmen and the midshipmen officers
therefore were as flexible and fast moving as an accordion.
Mid-term graduations took place in 1905 and there were two graduations
in 1906 and 1907, with the size of the Brigade and its midshipmen leaders
changing accordingly.
“ Piersel, now Commander, LENR (Ret.).
mTurner.