World War II

Happy 100th Birthday to Colonel Beverly “Ben” Skardon!

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Technology has permitted us to capture history in the words of those who lived it!  I first met COL Ben when I was a cadet at Clemson.  I first heard his “Ring Story” firsthand from his own mouth.  It added significantly more weight to the ring I wear daily on my right hand.  On his 100th birthday, I can think of no more fitting tribute than sharing his story, in his own words.

COL Skardon is a national treasure, and I am humbled to be following in his footsteps as part of the “long orange line” of Clemson officers.

IYAOYAS! An Aviation Ordnanceman in the middle of Japanese Attacks

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The Good Conduct Medal was named to Robert E. Barnhart and dated 1942, and came on a mounted medal bar.  The regulations and history of the medals themselves tell both the story of the medals and when and how the recipient earned the medal.  But, who was Robert Barnhart?  And if the medals and ribbons a service member receives tells the story of their service, what story does this medal bar tell?  The story that follows takes us to the early days of World War II in the Pacific, and a man whose life these events swirled around.

Barnhart_Medals_Front

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