GOLD STAR FAMILY RECOGNITIONFLYOVERPARACHUTERSGAME SPONSORCAPTAINSHERO OF THE GAMEMEDAL OF HONORPROFESSOR & STAFFER OF THE GAMEMILITARY LEADERSPURPLE HEART HOMESFOLDS OF HONORUPSTATE WARRIORSHALFTIME CEREMONYSCROLL OF HONOR TOUR WITH COL. SANDY EDGESTUDENT-ATHLETE THANK YOU CARDSOHT BOX SURPRISE FOR STUDENT VETERANS
PA Read: The jumpers are performing a free fall jump from 6,500 feet. The jumpers are out and the smoke is on. The team leader is looking at the opening point and adjusting for free fall drift. Each jumper is falling at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. The team leader has waved off, indicating to each parachutist to activate their main parachutes. And there you have the varied colored parachutes of the special forces association parachute team. Watch each jumper as they use their controls to steer their canopies allowing them to descend into football field.
Ladies and gentlemen, the flag being jumped today may touch the ground; no disrespect is intended—the forward speed, size, and weight attached to the flag prohibit anyone from even attempting to catch it. The flag will be recovered as quickly as possible, with the greatest care, ceremony, and respect possible.
PA Read: Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is a proud partner of today’s game. Please turn your attention to the West EndZone where retired Navy Commander Paul Watters, joined by Patriots Point’s executive director Larry Murray, is accepting today’s game ball on behalf of all of our veterans. Commander Watters flew UH-1 Huey gunships in Vietnam before finishing out his Navy career at the Naval War College. Please give a round of applause for commander Paul Watters.
PA Read: It’s now time for today’s hero of the game. Captain Mykle Stahl was serving in Vietnam on January 21, 1968. While maintaining a combat outpost, his company came under enemy attack. After the defensive positions were penetrated by enemy, Captain Stahl, although having received shrapnel wounds, led eight Marines to safety. He then launched a one-man assault, enabling several wounded Marines to be evacuated. As he advanced further up the trench-line, Captain Stahl encountered enemy soldiers who tried to capture him. Although receiving bayonet wounds and having his M-16 rifle malfunction he was able to get the upper hand which allowed the evacuation of more wounded Marines. Captain Stahl continued his attack and although wounded for the third time, continued directing suppressive fire into the attacking enemy forces. By his bold courage and steadfast dedication, Captain Stahl received the Navy Cross, the United States military’s second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. Ladies and gentlemen, a true hero, Captain Mykle Stahl!
PA Read: Our military recognitions continue with our Medal of Honor spotlight.
Major General Patrick Brady served in the Army. On January 6, 1968, Brady was serving in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot…He was supposed to be off-duty that day. However, there was an extraordinary situation that required his help. He rose quickly and, despite warnings that the mission was impossible, set out to rescue the injured. On two occasions, his aircraft were hit by enemy fire, and were damaged by an exploding mine on a third. Two crew members were wounded and by nightfall his three aircraft had over four hundred holes in them. Most notably, Brady and his crew had rescued nearly a hundred wounded soldiers. Brady and his crew extracted soldiers from areas where others had failed. In his two tours in Vietnam, Brady flew over 2,000 combat missions and rescued over 5,000 injured soldiers.
For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon, America’s highest and most prestigious personal military decoration! Please welcome Major General Patrick Brady!
PA Read: Joining Provost Jones and Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations Tony Wagner on the field today is Professor of the Game, Dr. Johnny McGregor, professor of dairy product processing and quality management in the college of agriculture, forestry and life sciences. Dr. McGregor teaches courses like dairy foods processing and dairy product evaluation. He also serves as the advisor for the ’55 exchange, a student-run enterprise that designs, manufactures, sells and serves Clemson ice cream and other products.
Also being recognized is Staff Member of the Game, Amy Cobb. Amy has been with Clemson University police department since 2017 and was promoted to a Sergeant this summer. Her career has included multiple stints in law enforcement as well as 21 years of service in the U.S. Army reserves and with the Louisiana Army National Guard. She was a military police officer and achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class while serving deployments to Iraq in 2004 and 2010.
Help us thank Dr. McGregor and Amy Cobb for their service to Clemson!
PA Read: Ladies and gentlemen, as our recognition of the military continues, we are honored to be joined by some of the nation’s top military leaders here in Memorial Stadium today and we would like to introduce them to you:
PA Read: Sergeant Jeffery Rohletter fought in two wars, the 1st Gulf War in the Air Force in 1991 and in the Army in Afghanistan in 2009-2010. He was in local law enforcement for 17 years between his combat tours. In November of 2010 during a 6-day mission, Jeffery was conducting counterinsurgency operation as a gun truck commander in Afghanistan, he was hit by an IED and was medevaced to forward operating base shank. Jeffery was medically discharged because of his severity of his wounds and was unable to return to law enforcement because of these injuries. He received nine awards including the humanitarian service medal. Ladies and gentlemen, Sergeant Jeffery Rohletter.
Clemson University is proud to partner with Purple Heart Homes and play a role in assisting with Sergeant Rohletter’s renovations. We would like to offer a special thank you to Operation Hat Trick along with our other supporting partners who are joining us on the field today! Please welcome:
Joe Keane, ’47 brand
Trent Demore, Colosseum USA
Chrysta Bayliss, CLC
Ginny Stiles, CLC
Shawn Costigan, Fanatics
How about a round of applause for this great group!
PA Read: Since 2007, the Folds of Honor has carried forth a mission: to provide scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service-members. The Clemson Women’s Golf team has partnered with Folds of Honor to carry a golf bag in each competition this season to honor Captain Mark Stubenhofer who was killed in the line of duty in 2004 when his unit was attacked by small-arms fire while conducting dismounted operations in Baghdad. Capt Stubenhofer was a Clemson grad and his daughter Lauren is a current student at Clemson. The bag will be auctioned off at the end of the season and the proceeds will go to Folds of Honor.
At this time, Head Women’s Golf coach Kelley Hester is presenting a bag to Lauren Stubenhofer in honor of her father and his incredible sacrifice to our country. How about a big round of applause!
PA Read: Upstate Warrior Solution is a non-profit organization that connects warriors and their families to resources and opportunities, leads them through the process of self-empowerment, and inspires the community to embrace local warriors and their families as valued neighbors and friends. Clemson University is proud to partner with UWS in support of our veterans in the upstate. It is especially fitting today at our military appreciation game that Ashley Holebrook and Tommy Preston are here to present upstate warrior solution with a check for $185,000. The Boeing company is proud to invest in organizations that assist upstate veterans and their families reach their full potential in their civilian careers. Upstate Warrior Solution is grass root organizations assisting veterans and their families here in the upstate.
PA Read: Ladies and gentlemen, we ask that you please rise. Today we remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, especially remembering those gold star families who are with us today.
Now please direct your attention to the east 10 yard line where the Clemson University Ranger Club is placing a soldiers cross display to honor the fallen.
Today’s 21 gun salute will be conducted by the Pershing Rifles.
Today we honor the 493 alumni of Clemson University who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country – those who died while performing their military duties and are memorialized on the scroll of honor just outside the east side of memorial stadium. As Tiger Band plays “Amazing Grace”, keep you eyes on our veterans in the West Endzone as they hold up 493 stars!
To conclude our military appreciation day half-time, Tiger Band plays the Official March of the United States of America… ”stars and stripes forever.”
And now, in a salute to our veterans, current military personnel, Tiger fans here in Memorial Stadium, and Tiger fans everywhere, it’s the song that shakes the southland, Tiger Rag!
Photos by Ken Scar
