Page "Charles Young (United States Army)" Paragraph 3

While teaching, Young took a competitive examination for appointment as a cadet at United States Military Academy at West Point.

He achieved the second highest score in the district in 1883, and after the primary candidate dropped out, Young reported to the academy in 1884.

He was not the only black student in the academy, ( John Hanks Alexander entered West Point Military Academy in 1883 and graduated in 1887, Alexander and Young shared a room for three years at West Point ).

Young made some lifelong friends among his classmates.

He had to repeat his first year because of failing mathematics.

Failing an engineering class later, he passed after being personally tutored during the summer by George Washington Goethals, a brilliant engineer and assistant professor who took an interest in him.

( Goethals later directed construction of the Panama Canal.

) It was not unusual for candidates to require additional help in some subjects.

Young's strength was in languages, and he learned several.