Keepers of the Spirit: The Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M College, 1876-2001 (Centennial Series of the Association of Former Pupils, Texas A&M University)
New in paperback “ . . . skillfully analyzed hundreds of primary supply documents and integrated contemporary political, social and cultural factors in bringing to light the values, customs and controversies which have formed the Corps’ 125
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No Reason To Go To A&M If You Don’t Join The Corps,
This is one of the two best books about the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, the other being “The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band” — both infinitely better than honorable efforts such as “Hey Aggies, You Caught That Damn Old Rat Yet?” and “The Corps at Aggieland.” In addition to Corps organization charts that trace the organization’s structure from its earliest chronicled times, Adams’ account is rich with anecdotal and archival material about an established and unique Texas institution.
I was in the Corps at A&M, two classes after the author, so I recognized his descriptions of those times as wholly accurate and illuminating.
I did not want to be in the Corps. I thought it was a bunch of puerile stupidity. My parents insisted I try, giving me permission in advance to quit, if I wanted to do so. After about a week, however, the challenge and the spirit captured me completely, and — despite the extremely difficult, peculiar environment — I determined that nothing could make me quit. An upperclassmen, one of Adams’ contemporaries, advised one evening: “If you quit this, you will find that quitting is easy, and you will make it a habit. It’s the worst habit you can form.”
The habit of not quitting, for which I fully, wholly, completely credit the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, enabled me to complete the Army’s Airborne and Ranger Schools while I was a cadet in the Corps, then later overcome numerous difficulties in my ensuing mainstream career.
Adams’ book makes a fine gift for anyone thinking about going to Texas A&M, anyone presently attending A&M, anyone who ever went there, and all the folks who wish they had. The Corps of Cadets is the embodiment, the vanguard, the foundation of the Spirit of Aggieland, and is responsible for making Texas A&M a university worth attending.
If you go to Texas A&M and you don’t join the Corps, you might as well have gone to Texas, TCU, San Marcos or any of the numerous other plain old vanilla fraternity/sorority schools in the state. The Corps of Cadets is what makes A&M the best college Texas has to offer. Period.
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|Great book for Aggies and those who love Aggies,
This book is full of great information about the University and the Corps. Best compilation of data I have seen and written in a captivating manner. Several humorous stories help to bring the history to life. Amazing how more things changed over the years, the more they actually stayed the same.
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|The Best Book Ever Written on the History of the Corps,
I was captivated when I read the book. I just couldn’t put it down. Dr. Adams has written one of his best books ever. It really captures what it was like in the Corps at Texas A&M throughout its long and proud history.
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