Tom Hanks: Military Academy canceled honor

Oscar winner Tom Hanks (69) was supposed to receive the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award of the US military academy West Point on September 25th. But nothing will become of it for the time being. The alumni association of the famous military school canceled the ceremony at short notice – apparently for political reasons.

The retired colonel Mark Bieger (56), President of the West Point Association of Graduates, informed the decision in an email to the faculty ,. The reason: The academy should concentrate on its “core mission”, “to prepare for preparing, to fight, fight and win as officers of the most deadliest force in the world, the US Army.”

In June, the alumni association had recognized Hank’s merits in detail about the presentation of American soldiers. The 69 -year -old was praised for his roles in films such as “The Soldier James Ryan”, “Forrest Gump” and “Greyhound – Battle of the Atlantic” as well as as a producer of the World War II series “Band of Brothers – We were like brothers” and “The Pacific”.

Hanks also campaigns for veterans: he was a leader in building a World War II monument in Washington DC, supported a national memorial for President D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and headed a million dollar donation campaign for a world war museum in New Orleans. “Tom Hanks did more for the positive representation of American soldiers than many other Americans,” said Robert McDonald (72), former veteran minister, at the announcement in June.

But Hanks’ political activities during the bid administration seem to have become doomed. In 2020, the actor took part in an election campaign event for Joe Biden (82), who displaced Donald Trump (79) from the office. After the storm on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Hanks even moderated a television program called “Celebrating America” ​​as part of bidens inauguration.

He also parodyed Trump supporters in “Saturday Night Live” sketches and spoke of “deep divisions and worrying bitterness” in the USA. As early as 2016, Hanks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his acting and social engagement in 2016.

The cancellation of the Hanks ceremony is part of a series of political changes at the Akademie West Point since Trump’s return to the White House. In January, the President ordered the abolition of diversity and inclusion programs at the military academies. Courses were canceled, interest groups for cadets such as the National Society of Black Engineers were dissolved.

A portrait of the controversial General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) was recently hung up again-a West Point graduate who fought for the Confederates and openly defended slavery. The painting was initially stored in 2022 at the instruction of a congress commission.

Author Jason Dempsey, West Point graduate and military expert, sharply criticizes the decision. He heard “zero public outcry” against Hanks’ award and believe that a “vast majority” of the alumni and cadets support the honor. “It is the perfect example that someone is good for the military, but does not match current party priorities perfectly,” Dempsey told the Washington Post.

It remains unclear whether Hanks will receive the award at a later date. Neither the academy nor Hanks’ spokesman said to ask.