Clemson's Hallowed Ground
Nested between Tillman Hall and Bowman Field, the Military Heritage Plaza is another landmark on Clemson University’s campus that pays special reverence to Clemson’s rich military heritage.
Military Heritage Plaza was made possible by the donations and efforts of the alumni of Clemson classes of 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1953. It was designed to honor Clemson University’s history as a military college with an all-male corps of cadets. Funds raised for the plaza exceeded its goal of $485,000; the excess funds were used for an endowment to maintain the plaza. Lt. Gen. Paul Blackwell, who would be one of the founding fathers of Clemson Corps, and Col. Ben Skardon, World War II hero and Bataan Death March survivor, were the guest speakers at the ceremony. Both men were Clemson alumni.
The plaza was carefully designed to depict the passage of a Clemson cadet through his four academic years when Clemson was a military college, represented by four descending terraces. Between each terrace are sets of steps with words inscribed that represent the values vital to Clemson’s cadet corps. In total, there are 18 words inscribed on the steps at Military Heritage Plaza. These steps lead to Bowman Field, where the historic corps of cadets used to march and practice drills.
Between the first and second terrace are the steps: discipline, teamwork, confidence, humility, equality, courage. 
On the second terrace, there is a military formation of 41 footprints of Clemson military alumni, representing the corps of cadets.
Between the second and third terrace are the steps: respect, responsibility, perseverance, honor, pride, esprit de corps.
The third terrace features a twin mold of the model Clemson cadet, depicting how Clemson would mold and shape a cadet into a man prepared to face life with a determination to achieve his goals, be a model citizen, and make a positive impact to society.
Between the third and fourth terrace are the steps: leadership, integrity, success, loyalty, life, duty.
On the fourth and final terrace is the statue of the senior cadet, confidently marching towards his duties in life.
Military Heritage Plaza serves to perpetuate and commemorate Clemson’s rich military roots and its corps of cadets. It is considered hallowed ground by Clemson’s military community.
Silver Dollar Salute
The Silver Dollar Salute is a time-honored military tradition where a newly commissioned officer receives their first salute from an enlisted servicemember, usually a mentor or family member. It signifies the mutual respect and trust between the noncommissioned officers and commissioned officers that form the backbone of the military. Upon receiving their first salute from the enlisted servicemember, the commissioned officer will return the salute and give them a silver dollar to commemorate the occasion and thank them for their service to the country.
It is tradition for Clemson University’s newly commissioned Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps Officers to receive their first salutes at Military Heritage Plaza after the commissioning ceremonies.
Military Medals
Military Heritage Plaza also proudly displays numerous rows of military medals awarded to Clemson alumni who fought for our nation in times of war.
From left to right: Army Distinguished Service Medal; Navy/Marine Distinguished Service Medal; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star.
From left to right: Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Army Soldiers Medal – Heroism.
From left to right: Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Air Force Achievement Medal; Prisoner of War Medal; Air Force Combat Readiness Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Army National Guard Components Achievement Medal; Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal.
From left to right: Navy Expeditionary Medal; Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; American Defense Medal – WW II; American Campaign Medal – WW II; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal – WWII; European – African – Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Merchant Marine World War II Victory Medal; World War II (WW II) Army of Occupation Service Medal (awarded for 30 days consecutive service while assigned to: Germany (excluding Berlin) between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955; Austria between 9 May 1945 and 27 July 1955; Berlin between 9 May 1945 and 2 October 1990); World War II (WW II) Navy Occupation Service Medal; Navy China Service Medal (awarded to U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard personnel who: 1) served ashore in China or who were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of the operations in China between July 7, 1937, and September 7, 1939; or 2) served ashore in China or were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of operations in China between September 2, 1945 and April 1, 1957); National Defense Service Medal (awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States military during a designated time period).
From left to right: Korean Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Navy Reserve Medal; United Nations (UN) Korean Service Medal; French Croix De Guerre Medal – WWII; Philippine Defense Medal – World War II; Philippine Liberation Medal – World War II; Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm; Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal; Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait.
From left to right: Army Distinguished Service Cross Medal; Navy Cross Medal; Congressional Medal of Honor; Air Force Cross Medal; Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
Medals from left to right: Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal.
Rededication
On April 21st, 2022 the Military Heritage Plaza was rededicated in a ceremony revealing many refurbishments to the plaza. These refurbishments include the display of additional medals earned by Clemson veterans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Army Lt. Col. (ret.) Jimmy Mullinax, chairman of Clemson Corps from 2021-2023, thanked donors and the help of many people who contributed to fund the endowment that paid for the plaza’s ongoing maintenance: “Today marks a special moment in the continuation of Clemson’s remarkable military heritage. This plaza links our founding as a military college to the current cadets and marine candidates that will graduate and commission into our United States military.”
Navy veteran Tony Wagner, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Finance at Clemson, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. He reminded the audience of Clemson’s extraordinary military history.
“In World War I, the entire class of 1917 enlisted in the military – 1,500 in total. Thirty-two of them perished,” said Wagner. “In World War II, it has been said Clemson supplied 6,500 men to the U.S. military and 90 percent of these men were officers who commissioned through our ROTC program. Clemson was just a small A&M school at the time, but it was second only to West Point and to Texas A&M. Three-hundred seventy-six gave their lives, at least 30 in the invasion of Normandy and the invasion of Europe.”
The rededication and ongoing maintenance of the Military Heritage Plaza allow the continuation of Clemson’s rich and remarkable military heritage. It will forever serve as a permanent reminder of our founding as a military college, the values our community cherishes, and the qualities of military servicemembers Clemson molds to serve our nation.
