South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame inducts 14 at inaugural dinner

The South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame held its first induction dinner Saturday at Fort Jackson’s 1917 Club in Columbia, bringing together more than 380 guests and honoring 14 living veterans and 27 posthumous inductees. The ceremony highlighted Medal of Honor recipient Jim Livingston, former Vietnam POW Bill Austin and other military leaders as the organization expands toward future classes.

Why it matters: - The inaugural dinner marked a public milestone for the South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame, which was established in 2025 to recognize military service tied to the Palmetto State. - The Hall continues building a permanent presence in Columbia, where leaders say the organization’s recognition of veterans, ex-POWs, MIAs and historic military figures carries forward into future classes.

What happened: - The South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame held its inaugural dinner and induction ceremony Saturday evening, June 6, at Fort Jackson’s 1917 Club in Columbia. - More than 380 guests and VIPs attended the event. - The Hall inducted 14 living military veterans and 27 posthumous inductees. - The Class of 1776, which includes veterans of the American Revolution, is also part of the Hall’s recognition program. - Among the living inductees were retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jim Livingston, Medal of Honor recipient, and retired Air Force Col. Bill Austin, who was shot down over Vietnam and spent more than five years in an enemy POW camp. - Other inductees included Col. Bill Connor, Col. Steve Vitali, Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, Navy Capt. Ken Sullivan, Lt. Col. Christopher Yanity, Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Johnson, Sgt. Maj. James Moore, Dr. Brooks Herring, Craig Ostergard, Ronnie McClean, Charles Schulze and Dan Hennigan. - Living inductees also included several leaders with combat-command experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, including Vitali.

The details: - The Hall was established in 2025, but the idea had been discussed for more than a decade with the S.C. Military Support Foundation. - Jay Alverson, a former Marine, retired Air Force master sergeant intelligence analyst and former chair of the University of South Carolina Veterans Alumni Council, became executive director last year. - Under Alverson and the board, the organization secured nonprofit status and attracted sponsors including Coca-Cola Consolidated, USC, Clemson University and Pearce Bespoke-Charlotte. - Livingston is described by the Hall as the “founding Hall of Fame inductee” because of his leadership in helping establish the organization. - All South Carolina Medal of Honor recipients are automatically inducted into the Hall. - The Hall also recognizes historically significant military leaders such as Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, William Moultrie, Johann Baron DeKalb and Thomas Woodward. - All four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence — Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch Jr., Thomas Heyward Jr. and Edward Rutledge — are also included because they served in the American Revolution. - A letter from Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette congratulating the inductees, especially Livingston, was read at the ceremony. - Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr. presented the letter and delivered the Hall’s official prayer. - The event included a plaque recognizing American ex-POWs and MIAs for the Hall’s permanent site at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. - A framed concurrent resolution honoring the Hall, adopted by the S.C. House and Senate this year, was also presented. - Representatives from Quilts of Valor and the Military Women’s Memorial Foundation attended to recognize women veterans. - The Richland County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard presented the colors. - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, a 2025 inductee, led the department at the ceremony. - Alverson and board members, including retired Army Maj. Gen. Will Grimsley, presided over the dinner and ceremony. - Marine Recon leader Jared Evans, a Class of 2025 inductee, served as emcee. - Several 2025 inductees attended, including Brig. Gen. Hap Carr, Col. Kevin Shwedo, Col. Neil Pugliese, Lt. Col. Caroline Fermin, Maj. Lisa Yanity, Capt. Brandy Rogers, Command Sgt. Maj. Lamont Christian and Sgt. 1st Class Tim Frisby. - Col. Keith June and Lt. Col. James E. Smith Jr. could not attend. - The silent auction featured a football signed by South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer, a basketball signed by women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, a USMC K-Bar knife with free engraving from Northeast Trophies in Columbia, and a 50th anniversary rugby game ball donated by Kevin Shwedo. - Shwedo is also the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Emeritus and the cabinet-level executive director of the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.

Between the lines: - The turnout, sponsor list and state-level recognition show the Hall is moving quickly from concept to established civic institution. - The mix of living inductees, posthumous honorees and Revolutionary War figures suggests the Hall is positioning itself as both a veterans organization and a broader state military heritage institution. - The automatic induction of South Carolina Medal of Honor recipients gives the Hall an elite profile and helps anchor future classes.

What’s next: - Nominations for the Class of 2027 and beyond are open through the Hall’s screening process. - Not every nominee will be inducted, and only veterans who meet the bylaws’ criteria will be considered. - More information and the nomination form are available in the Hall’s nomination form. - The Hall plans to maintain its permanent physical site at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.