Service runs in the family

Dec 06, 2006 01:12:49

Sister joins older brother at West Point November 28, 2006 BY JUDY MASTERSON News-Sun "The Long Gray Line" includes many of the nation's greatest leaders -- Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Norman Schwarzkopf. And now it counts among its more than 200 years of military tradition two members of a Mundelein family: Matthew and Claire Heid, who are both students at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Mary Jane Heid said the oldest of her four children approached her about West Point in his sophomore year at Carmel Catholic High School in the far north suburbs. An Eagle Scout, former captain of his high school cross country and track teams, and summa cum laude Carmel grad, Matthew Heid, 20, said West Point stood out from the other schools that pursued him. "I was looking for a challenge and discipline," said the junior cadet. "I'd always challenged myself in high school, and I wanted to continue to do that." Mary Jane Heid, a nurse, wasn't surprised when her next-oldest child, Claire, 18, also pursued admission to West Point. Like her brother, Claire Heid was a Girl Scout with a high GPA, class rank and test scores. The first female graduate of Carmel to attend West Point, she is considering a career as an Army doctor. Just 10 percent of West Point cadets are women. Claire Heid worked hard to "keep up with the guys" during basic training last summer. "We wore these big backpacks with all our gear, about 50 pounds," said Heid, a 5-foot-2, 110-pound freshman cadet. "You just have to show you can hold your own. By the second half of summer, it was fun." Source: Sun-Times News Group