This West Point Military Graduate Is Going Viral For All The Right Reasons

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A photo of newly-commissioned US Army officer Second Lieutenant Alix Schoelcher Idrache shedding a stream of righteous tears at his commencement ceremony has gone viral and for good reason. The guy is the literal embodiment of the American Dream: He was born in Haiti and earned his US citizenship by enlisting in the US Army, Maryland National Guard, and eventually attending West Point.

From the DC Gazette:

“At this moment,” Idrache said about the photo, “I was overwhelmed with emotions. Three things came to mind and led to those tears. The first is where I started. I am from Haiti and never did I imagine that such honor would be one day bestowed on me. The second is where I am. Men and women who preserved the very essence of the human condition stood in that position and took the same oath. …The third is my future. Shortly after I leave, I will report to Ft. Rucker to start flight school. Knowing that one day I will be a pilot is humbling beyond words. I could not help but be flooded with emotions knowing that I will be leading these men and women who are willing to give their all to preserve what we value as the American way of life. To me, that is the greatest honor. Once again, thank you.”

It’s really difficult hard to get into West Point. The school has a 9% acceptance rate, and you need a letter of recommendation from a US Congressman. On top of that, Idrache graduated in the top 5% of his class and qualified for flight school, which as my dad keeps reminding me, is a big damn deal. This morning, I was late to Bio because I couldn’t find my shoes.

Knowing that there are people like this protecting our country, who have struggled so much and overcome so many challenges, is absolutely staggering. I feel incredibly proud of our military, and simultaneously really inadequate. It almost makes me want to get off my ass and devote my life to something meaningful.

But there’s beer in the fridge. Congratulations, 2nd Lt. Idrache. Go kill some terrorists.

[via DC Gazette]

Image via U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant

  1. AnimalMother

    Only in the United States could this happen. This is why I love this country. God bless this man.

    9 years ago at 9:28 am
      1. AnimalMother

        Yes, graduating as a cadet from West Point (and imo, the greatest military academy in the world) does in fact only happen in the U.S.

        9 years ago at 10:37 am
      2. Yes, but it is the story, emotion, and gratefulness is what made this man go viral. Do great stories like these, where a poor man can rise to be part of an elite group of military men only occur in the states? What about the Gurkas? Only in the states can one feel like this? Only at West Point?

        9 years ago at 10:53 am
      3. FratCop911

        Only in America would someone say something that dumb and try to defend it….

        9 years ago at 11:07 am
      4. StockWithFrock

        This thread acts as if the U.S. Is the only country with strong patriotism.. If you think that, you’re an idiot.

        9 years ago at 11:10 am
      5. AnimalMother

        This isn’t what anyone is saying Frock, and I respectfully disagree. But it is a proven fact that the United States military is by far the greatest in the world, and as such, the people that participate, as a whole, are considered more elite. From the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Navy SEALS and SWCC, MARSOC, and all the other forces that compromise Spec Ops, we blow everyone out of the water. Not to mention our “normal military members” are head and shoulders above all others in the world. We set the standard, and in doing so, gives me the right to have unbridled patriotism. Ya there are strong patriots around the world, but their countries simply can’t compare to the United States of America.

        9 years ago at 11:27 am
      6. Onationaltitles

        Couldn’t agree more. A good friend from high school is SWCC now. What a great guy, I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have representing our armed forces.

        9 years ago at 1:05 pm
      7. USAFratstar262

        My geed filter is overflowing at this point. As so many patriots on this site have insisted, please do us all a favor, chug bleach and kill yourself.

        Sincerely,
        – A member of the U.S. Military

        9 years ago at 4:27 pm
    1. Only in the States do feathers get ruffled from a differing opinion to the status quo and get slurred with “kill yourself” and “shut up”, sounds like something akin to something SJWs would do.

      9 years ago at 11:24 am
      1. AnimalMother

        “Only in the states” you clearly do not watch the news. This happens all over the world. I fucking hate pseudo intellectual people like you that bash on the US and champion other parts of the world because you always try to make others look stupid or inferior because you seem to think your world view is better. Also, you should know your audience, and this audience doesn’t want to hear about what you’re saying right now. So in short, kindly go fuck yourself.

        9 years ago at 11:34 am
      2. Where did I bash the States? I simply said no, stories like these happen all over the world. But “only in the states” is a pretty bold statement you made. Clearly I do watch the news to know stories like these happen all over the world. You clearly only watch Fox US News? I can make assumptions too.

        9 years ago at 11:38 am
    2. prenedecri

      I get paid £92 every hour from online jobs. I never thought I’d be able to do it but my friend Pamela Peavey is earning £10k /monthly by doing this job and she showed me how.R2Try it out on following website..

      ………….. http://www.aspire-jobs.com

      9 years ago at 11:33 am
      1. SomethingSomethingDangerZone

        The fact that all of you are shitting on him for expressing an opinion is asinine. Seriously, are your little fratty patriotic egos so fragile that you can’t handle someone pointing out simple facts? This place used to be fun but now this is just silly. We can’t handle a female intern and differing opinions on the comments section of a stupid fucking frat website. Jesus Christ.

        9 years ago at 8:47 pm
      2. wasting your time like trying to reason with a SJW amirite? weeee committing account suicide, is my only sick pleasure now that seeing people fail and debase themselves is on the chopping block.

        9 years ago at 11:37 pm
      3. JTadlock

        Fray bono is proving all of y’all wrong and y’all are just saying kys and lapping him. Get over yourselves.

        9 years ago at 4:04 pm
    1. Donnie Fratzoff

      Ideology doesn’t precipitate loving your country, divisive rhetoric hurts conservatives as much as liberals. America is the land of the free, no ideology or school of thought can claim her.

      9 years ago at 9:35 am
  2. Toon Squad

    Wish I could half the man that he is. Congratulations to him and all of his West Point graduates.

    9 years ago at 9:34 am
    1. HandSchaub

      Shedding a manly tear at fulfilling a lifelong dream you never thought possible RFM

      9 years ago at 9:53 am
      1. StoryTeller

        No fucking shit, you worthless fuck. I’d be happy to get out of a place that demands your undivided devotion 24/7 for 4 years. But I’d also be crying tears of joy at my accomplishment. Keep your opinions to yourself and go fuck yourself

        9 years ago at 10:07 am
      2. Onationaltitles

        Not to take away from the beauty of the story, but as a whole enlisted guys hate officers from the academies. They’re nicknamed Ring Knockers because they take every opportunity to let people know they graduated from the academy. Also, 4 years of misery seems to leave them with a copy of the rule book shoved up their ass. They usually get better but they drive enlisted guys nuts for the first few years.

        9 years ago at 1:42 pm
      3. StoryTeller

        So they talk about something amazing that they accomplished and they follow the rules in a rule driven organization? Sounds to me like they’re pretty standout individuals

        9 years ago at 3:08 pm
      4. 1_Rugey_Jentelman

        Weird shit… So, the graduates of a strict education are stricter; and the graduates of an open enlistment are more open to rule infringements. Am I still on the right track, Onationaltitles? Groundbreaking stuff. Definitely relevant to waiving your support for academy officers.

        9 years ago at 5:06 pm
      5. Onationaltitles

        No, you just seem really confused about the dynamic. Holding a standard and roasting some underpayed and overworked enlisted guy because you don’t think his shoes are shiny enough are two completely different things. I would think someone on this site would know the difference between the two. Remember, people in the service are exactly that, human beings. They’re no different than you and me. They just had the balls to sign a blank check in the name of freedom. Again, I’m not saying rules aren’t important, I’m saying Academy grads don’t tend to be as personable or well rounded as their ROTC peers.

        9 years ago at 7:15 pm
    2. Broties n Boatshoes

      Tell that to Alix. I’m sure he’d be happy to place your teeth in the back of your skull.

      9 years ago at 10:22 am
      1. Onationaltitles

        It’s a possibility, but it’s also been a possibility for the last 14 years in a row. I’ll believe it when I see it.

        9 years ago at 1:01 pm
  3. 144agemo

    My chapter gave a bid to a former army medic who was coming in off of the GI Bill last year in my first semester as pledge ed. Try standing in the basement, screaming at the army pledge who’s 3 years older than you. You don’t wanna get in his face; You wanna shake his hand and tell him thanks.

    9 years ago at 10:10 am
    1. VandyConservative

      Medics have nerves of steel too (not saying the rest don’t). Yelling at him must’ve been a formality at most, no way you said shit to affect him

      9 years ago at 10:24 am
      1. 144agemo

        He’d done a couple tours in Afghanistan and had seen some shit and shit accessories. Without sounding braggadocious, he was the only guy in both classes I took that I couldnt intimidate in his class.

        9 years ago at 10:49 am
    2. Sand_Hill_Alum

      A friend of my at my university is a former Marine who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a combat engineer. He’s a purple heart recipient and has been through hell and back. He joined a fraternity when he got to college and eventually became the pledge master. He makes life a living hell for his pledges like it was day one at Paris Island. After going through the pledge process that he leads them through, they end up as highly squared away and respectable young men.

      9 years ago at 11:32 am
      1. 1845

        ^this. And yet the administrations of today’s colleges call it “hazing”. Goddamnit it’s called character development and it works!

        9 years ago at 1:44 pm
  4. FratHoodTX

    Duty honor country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be what you can be what you will be. They are your rallying points. To build courage when courage seems to fail. To regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith to create hope when hope becomes forlorn

    9 years ago at 10:13 am
    1. JohnStamos

      Fuck you trying to get up votes after your previous comment failed so miserably and contradicts what you are saying now. You’re a piece of shit

      9 years ago at 10:25 am
      1. FratCop911

        FratHoodTX, I don’t think this Stamos douche understands the military origin of the cow reference. Tell Jodi to piss off

        9 years ago at 12:13 am