Since opening its doors in 1893, Clemson had been an all-male military college with a proud and long-lasting tradition of military service. Despite Clemson being a military college, Clemson men largely aspired to become engineers or work in agriculture, never aspiring to make careers in the military. Nonetheless, when America entered World War I in 1917, Clemson men answered the nation’s call. 1,549 Clemson men in total fought in WWI. 32 of these brave men gave their lives. Unfortunately, the “war to end all wars” did not result in a permanent peace.
In the late 1930s and 1940s, America watched the world with growing concern as Nazis invaded Poland, France, and the Soviet Union, and the Japanese invaded Southeast Asia. Like most young men in American, Clemson cadets hoped that the United States would abstain from entering the global conflicts. This all changed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. 4 days later, Germany declared war on the United States, and the nation was drawn into the war.
These tumultuous events awakened Clemson cadets to the reality that they could no longer idly stand by and allow the world to disappear under Axis rule. The majority of the Clemson cadets did not enlist in the war due to age limitations, but by 1943, nearly all of Clemson’s juniors and seniors were mobilized to fight. Clemson’s graduating class of 1944 had just 13 graduates. Clemson led the way in producing military officers to fight in World War II, second only to West Point and Texas A&M.
In total, 6,475 Clemson alumni and former students served in World War II. 90 percent of these men were commissioned officers from Clemson’s ROTC program. At least 376 of these men paid the ultimate sacrifice. They are forever remembered on the Scroll of Honor.
And Then There Was War
To commemorate Clemson’s significant role in producing top-notch military officers to fight in WWII, the “And Then There Was War” memorial was created. This memorial is situated in front of Mell Hall, between campus and downtown Clemson. The statue depicts a Clemson man in 2 different period of his life: before war and during the war. 
The man on the left represents the Clemson man during his life as a student. The man on the right represents the Clemson man during or after fighting in war. This memorial symbolizes the dichotomy of Clemson men who fought in defense of our nation and reminds us of the horrors of war and the bravery of the Clemson men who serve our nation.
The memorial is dedicated to the Clemson class of 1944, of whom there were only 13 graduates. In the center is the inscription:
“We were just boys, mere boys, and then there was war and half of us were dead or wounded.”
Flanking either side of this inscription are the names of the deceased members of the class of 1944.
