Standing tall at 6'5", Gus Russo, Oratory Prep Class of 2023, was the midshipman who made the final push up the Herndon Monument—replacing the plebe “dixie cup” hat and officially marking the end of Plebe Year for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Class of 2028. With the help of his classmates, Gus completed one of the Academy’s most iconic traditions on the morning of May 15.
The storied climb took 2 hours and 32 minutes as first-year midshipmen, known as plebes, worked together to scale the 21-foot monument—slicked with 200 pounds of vegetable shortening. Their goal: remove the white plebe hat and replace it with an upperclassman’s cover, signifying their transition to fourth class midshipmen.
The event comes on the heels of the grueling 14-hour Sea Trials, which test each plebe’s mental toughness, physical endurance, and teamwork. The highest-performing group, known as the “Iron Company,” earns the honor of initiating the Herndon Climb.
We are proud to celebrate Gus’s achievement and his continued display of leadership, perseverance, and Brotherhood on a national stage.