Staff writer
Cadet Isaac Leihy, son of Tom and Monica Leihy of Hillsboro, has completed basic training at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point N.Y.
He is a 2009 graduate of Hillsboro High School. After graduating, he joined the Army National Guard and went through training in Oklahoma. Leihy attended Kansas State University before doing a nine-month stint as part of the Kansas Honor Guard. After Leihy was stationed in Djibouti, Africa as part of a search and rescue team for a year.
It was there he started taking classes and was encouraged by his commanding officer to enter West Point.
He entered West Point July 1. He plans to graduate from West Point in 2017 and be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army.
“He took the back door way to get in,” Tom Leihy said. “There’s a limited amount of spots reserved for active military members.”
He said his son had to complete preparatory classes before being officially accepted into West Point.
“They wanted to make sure he could handle the rigorous environment,” Tom Leihy said.
Leihy has completed the most rigorous physical portion of West Point and began his freshman year Aug. 19.
“He completed his basic training when he learned that my mom’s cousin also graduated from West Point,” Tom Leihy said. “Isaac said he was glad to be a part of that history.”
Neither Tom Leihy or his wife have military connections.
“It was his decision to join,” Tom Leihy said. “We were surprised because we don’t have any military background in our immediate family.”
Isaac is youngest of two boys, he also has three sisters. Tom Leihy said he convinced his younger brother, Sean, to also join the National Guard.
“Sean just won soldier of the year in the state of Washington where he is stationed,” Tom Leihy said. “We’ve got a lot to be proud of.”