South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame

08/21/2026

This past week our own Col. Kevin Shwedo, S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2025), was in Chapel Hill spending time with his UNC Tarheels as a VIP attendee at football practice, enjoying one-on-one time with Head Coach Bill Belichick, and later getting a mention on the official UNC Football twitter page. A UNC Letterman, Kevin was a defensive back for the Tarheels in the mid-to-late 1970s. He’s pictured here with Coach Belichick this year (L) and last (R).

08/15/2026

Tomorrow, August 16, is NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY. Many of our S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductees – both living and deceased – have earned either the coveted silver U.S. Army Airborne (parachute) wings at varying levels, or, if Marines or sailors, they’ve advanced to earn their gold jump wings. Regardless, all who’ve done-so have an additional job description requiring their being capable of parachuting behind or near enemy lines. Some parachutists and paratroopers among our number have also earned foreign Airborne wings. AATW!

08/14/2026

TWO of three U.S. ARMY TANKS, part of a static armor display in front of the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum on Fort Jackson, S.C., stand vigil over the POST FLAG and the still-being-developed Centennial Park, directly across the road from the museum. A small brick courtyard is at the base of the historically significant flagpole (which was once the largest – tallest – flagpole in the state). Among the newly installed bricks at the flagpole are those engraved with the names of at least THREE inductees in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame – Sheriff (Maj. Gen.) Leon Lott, Col. Kevin Shwedo, and Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr. – all members of the Class of 2025. We’ll have more about Centennial Park and the famous post flag.

08/12/2026

DID YOU KNOW: Captain Thomas Lynch, a Class of 1776 inductee in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame, is one of South Carolina’s ‘only’ four signers of our nation’s Declaration of Independence. A captain of Infantry who served as both a S.C. militia officer and a captain in the Continental Army, Lynch was born and raised in Georgetown County on the North Santee River. Pictured [along with his portrait] is Lynch’s boyhood home at Hopsewee Plantation. Lynch’s fellow S.C. signers – Hall of Famers all (and also Class of 1776 inductees) – include Capt. Thomas Heyward Jr. (artillery, S.C. militia; captured by British forces), Capt. Edward Rutledge (artillery, S.C. militia; also captured; became S.C. governor), and Arthur Middleton (S.C. militia; also captured). Every South Carolinian should remember their names.

08/11/2026

DID YOU KNOW the brightest star in the ill-fated Battle of Camden, South Carolina, was Maj. Gen. Johann Baron DeKalb who was mortally wounded as he attempted to rally his men on that terrible day, 246 years ago this very month. As DeKalb lay dying – shot through three times and with multiple bayonet wounds – Lord Cornwallis rode up to him and said: "I am sorry, sir, to see you [like this]. I’m not sorry that you are vanquished, but I am sorry to see you so badly wounded." Cornwallis then had his own surgeons attend to DeKalb. There is much more we’ll share before the end of August about the great DeKalb, a Class of 1776 inductee in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame. [Pictured here is his statue at Annapolis.]

08/10/2026

DID YOU KNOW? Hilton Field at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, is the namesake of the late U.S. Army Sergeant Richmond Hobson Hilton, a WWI recipient of the Medal of Honor. Sgt. Hilton’s remains are interred in the historic Quaker Cemetery in Camden about 35 miles northeast of the now-famous field named in his honor. Hilton's grave is next to that of U.S. Army Cpl. John Cantey Villepigue. Both men were posthumously inducted into the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame this year as part of the Medal of Honor Class. More later.

08/10/2026

https://www.gofundme.com/f/major-james-capers-legacy-project?modal=share&source=fundraiser+sticky+footer&utm_source=sms

The SCMVHOF is proud to help the Lee County Veterans Museum and South Carolina Cotton Museum, in their fund raising effort for the Major James Capers Legacy Project. This project will fund a life-size bronze sculpture of Major Capers and the associated display costs. The sculpture will be displayed in the Veterans Park in downtown Bishopville, South Carolina, which is the Major's hometown.

This fundraiser is just getting started, and sharing helps so much in the early days. Even if you can't donate, a quick share can help it reach people who may be able to support.

The Major James Capers Legacy Project aims to honor a true hero from Bishopville, SC, with a life-size bronze sculpture in Veterans Park. Major Capers' story of courage and sacrifice, especially during his service in Vietnam, deserves to be remembered and celebrated.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a real impact. Even just a few dollars can help move this project forward.

Please consider sharing this to help spread the word—your support means a lot! Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. 🇺🇸✨

Hello everyone, my name is Dr. Carl Whetsel. On behalf of the Lee County Veterans Museu… Carl Whetsel needs your support for Major James Capers Legacy Project

08/09/2026

Friends, family, supporters, and inductees; please take a moment and help support (share with others and donate yourselves) the Maj. James Capers Legacy Project. A 2026 recipient of the Medal of Honor, Maj. Capers was inducted into the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame earlier this month. Now, the Lee County Veterans Museum and S.C. Cotton Museum are jointly raising money to fund a life-size bronze sculpture of Major Capers to be displayed in Veterans Park, downtown Bishopville, S.C., his hometown.

Hello everyone, my name is Dr. Carl Whetsel. On behalf of the Lee County Veterans Museu… Carl Whetsel needs your support for Major James Capers Legacy Project

08/07/2026

Today is National Purple Heart Day. Many of our S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductees (and our existing nominees for induction) are recipients of this decoration which has evolved from Gen. Washington's simple heart-shaped "medal of merit" to the humbling WIA-or-KIA significance it holds today. The Purple Heart reflects a “marked-level” of physical sacrifice during armed combat. Thank you to all recipients of this very old, truly significant, easily recognizable, aesthetically beautiful decoration.

08/04/2026

Great story about Medal of Honor recipient James Capers being enshrined in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame. He’s pictured here with Hall of Fame Executive Director Jay Alverson who's quoted in the story. Also quotes from Steve Vitali and W Thomas Smith Jr. THE NATIONAL LAW REVIEW has the story, as does MARINE CORPS NEWS TODAY and many other newspapers, magazines, and broadcast media companies, nationwide. We’ll have more. In the meantime, see – https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/medal-honor-recipient-james-capers-inducted-hall-fame