"The class the stars fell on" is an expression used to describe the West Point Class of 1915. In the U.S. Army, the insignia reserved for generals is one or more stars. Of the 164 graduates that year, 59 attained general officer rank, more than any other class in the history of the academy. When Colonel Herman Beukema (West Point professor) retired from the U.S. Army in the fall of 1954, he was advanced to brigadier general on the retired list, a fitting recognition of his long and distinguished service. With that promotion, Beukema became the 60th member of the West Point class of 1915 to attain general officer rank. Due in large part to the timing of World War II, two graduates reached the rank of five-star General of the Army, two became four-star generals, seven three-star lieutenant generals, 24 two-star major generals, and 25 one-star brigadier generals. I divided my current book, West Point Class of 1915: The Class the Stars Fell On, into two volumes set up in alphabetical order. Volume One contains thirty general officer biographies from Lieutenant General Aurand to Lieutenant General Leonard. Volume Two contains a batch of thirty general officer biographies from Major General Lester to Brigadier General Zundel.
