History of the Wake Forest Demon Deacon Battalion Army Reserve Officers Training Corps
Robert Hamilton History 310: Wake Forest Oral History May 13, 1997 A young cadet first sergeant dressed in a camouflage battle dress uniform snaps crisply to the position of attention. In a clear, baritone voice, he barks a prepatory command, "Battalion!" The two platoon sergeants follow suit and over their shoulders issue the prepatory command of "Platoon!" "Attenshun!" the first sergeant commands and the entire battalion simultaneously moves to the position of attention. A moment of silence, then seventy voices reply in unison with the battalion motto, "No fear!" Indeed, this program has little to fear. Throughout its forty-seven year history, the Wake Forest
Demon Deacon Battalion of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps has played a special role in the life of Wake Forest University. Like the university itself, the success of Army
ROTC directly relates to the individuals involved. From the unit's birth to the present, the story of the Wake Forest University ROTC Department reflects the evolving character of both the university and the United States of America.
The ideals of ROTC are rooted in the formative years of the United States of
America. In his 1801 presidential inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson spoke of "a well- disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and for the first moments of war." It became a principle that helped define what Jefferson called, "the supremacy of the civil over the military authority." 1 ROTC took another step towards operation as an actual organization in 1824. In that year, the United States Army detailed one of its regular officers to teach students "military theory and tactics at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland." 2
Though military instruction has long been a facet on college campuses, it was the National
Defense Act, signed into law on June 3, 1916, that actually established an Officers Reserve
1 Thomas Jefferson, First Presidential Inaugural Address. 1801. 2 Frank Burleson, "Double-Barreled Education In Ranks of College ROTC," Winston-SalemSentinel, 5 April 1964, Dl. Corps. The purpose of the Officer Reserve Corps, later called ROTC embodied the ideals of Jefferson's militia in a practical manner through the training of educated citizens for war on college campuses.
At Wake Forest, many adhered to Jefferson's concept of civilian supremacy.
Students and faculty believed it was important to live in a country with an Army comprised mostly of trained citizens. The roots of this Jeffersonian ideal at Wake Forest run back to the Calvin Jones. Jones, who sold the plantation on which the Baptist State Convention constructed Wake Forest College, served as adjutant general of the state militia for five years, including the period of the War of 1812. The three most significant wars in the life of
Wake Forest were the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Each war brought a new battle to keep the doors of Wake Forest College open and the school in operation.
With North Carolina's secession from the Union and alliance with the Confederacy,
"nearly all the students then in residence entered the War in one capacity or another ... as the number continued to dwindle the College suspended exercises in May, 1862."3 Because of the Civil War, the entire college ceased operation and did not hold another commencement until May of 1867.
The entry of the United States into World I in 1917 raised serious concern among colleges around the country. In particular, the selective conscription bill on April 28, 1917, created the prospect of a college losing all its students to war. Paschal notes in volume III of the History of Wake Forest College:
There was alarm in all in all the colleges lest their students would nearly all be drawn in the war when the act should go into full operation; but in a few weeks this alarm was measurably alleviated by express declaration of President Woodrow Wilson and members of his cabinet that so far as
3 Paschal, George Washington.,Hist01y of Wake Forest College. Volume I, 655. 1935.
page2 possible undergraduate students in colleges should continue in them ... in order to equip themselves better for future service.4
This promise only temporarily relieved the threat to the operation of Wake Forest. With the war escalating to a more critical level, the need to increase American support also grew during the 1918-1919 school year. Again, for Wake Forest and colleges around the country this mea_ntfacing the prospect of closing. According to Paschal, President Woodrow
Wilson himself a former president of Princeton University, again rescued colleges nationwide. Building upon the ROTC concept, Wilson sought for colleges to, "train young men ready for their classes who otherwise would be sent to training camps." 5 The government called the program the Student Army Training Corps or SATC. While no further evidence was available, the similarities in name, structure and purpose correlate well with the ROTC. SATC divided the students according to grade year and physical age and "The United States government provided them the cost of board and lodging and tuition fees, and a uniform and thirty dollars a month as pay." 6 This federal funding for training allowed colleges, including Wake Forest, to remain open during those turbulent years.
While economically it meant Wake Forest did not have to face closure as it did in
May of 1862, "there were some sticklers who contended that for the College to have a unit of SATC would be a violation of the Baptist principle of separation of church and state." 7
This issue raised, the program was still approved by the Trustees on July 9, 1918, however, the "sticklers" managed to attach stipulations to the plan. The most important read, "That
4 Paschal, George Washington, History of Wake Forest College. Volume 3, 86. 1943. 5 Paschal, George Washington, History of Wake Forest College. Volume 3, 88-89. 1943. 6 Paschal, George Washington, History of Wake Forest College. Volume 3, 92. 1943. 7 Paschal, George Washington, History of Wake Forest College. Volume 3, 89. 1943.
page3 this department shall not be permanent, but shall be abolished on the termination of the war." Wake Forest conducted the operation successfully until the end of the war after which Wake Forest faithfully "abolished" the program.
It is important to note two things about Wake Forest's involvement with World War
I. First, its operation depended on the government, specifically military support. Second, resistance to a military presence on campus almost thwarted the Wake Forest's operation.
The issue of separation between church and state prevented a ROTC unit from forming much earlier in the history of Wake Forest. Paschal notes that President Poteat, president of Wake Forest during World War I, "thought it out of place in a Christian college except in time of war and so long as he was president stood against all efforts to establish a
Reserve Officer's Training Corps at Wake Forest." 8
Slowly, however, this attitude expressed by Poteat began to change especially as
Wake Forest faced the threat of suspension with the country's entrance into World War II.
President Thurman Kitchen, Poteat's successor, again turned to the military for assistance and in August 1942, "the Government installed at Wake Forest an Army Finance School, under a contract favorable to the College." 9 All reports indicate that the operation and relationship between Wake Forest and the Army Finance Corps was excellent. From this event on, there was no significant resistance against military presence or involvement at
Wake Forest until the Vietnam war.
As previously stated, many at Wake Forest adhered to Jefferson's concept of civilian supremacy. One such man was Dr. Robert Helm, a Wake Forest College graduate and now professor of philosophy at Wake Forest University. The second faculty member to be
8 Paschal, George Washington,History of Wake Forest College Volume III, 96. 1943.
page4 named a Worrell professor, Helm has been an instrumental force and influence on the
Wake Forest ROTC program from its inception to present. Helm, upon his return from
service in World War II, created the forerunner to the present ROTC program at Wake
Forest College. Helm sought and received permission to form a reserve organization from
the Army. According to Helm, the branch known as the 366th Replacement Battalion and
its headquarters were in Gore gymnasium on the Old Wake Forest campus. 10 To garner
support and recruit participants, Helm turned toward his fellow veterans. He recalled, "I
started beating the bushes and going out to farms and stopping people in their plowing who
had military experience and asking them if they'd like to participate." Helm's bush
beating was successful Many joined and some eventually became general officers in the
regular Army. Despite the success of the 366th Replacement Battalion, Helm continued to
push for an ROTC program.
Two definitive forces drove Helm's pursuit of an ROTC program. His first reason
was philosophical. In an interview he stated,
In our country, citizens switch rather easily from military to civilian life and from civilian to military life. We live in a country, where no sharp distinction is drawn between civilian and military persons. For this reason, I believe academic institutions, other than the military academies, which serve a perfectly useful function, are extremely important to the life of the country and I didn't want Wake Forest to be left out. Second and less philosophical, "was the personal experience of having to enter the Army
at a level below what I thought what my qualifications would make appropriate for me." 11
Essentially, Helm believed an ROTC program would allow Wake Forest graduates to enter
military service at a level that maximized their talents and education. Though Helm desired
9 Paschal, George Washington,History of Wake Forest College Volume III, 452. 1943. 10No record of this organizationis in Bynum Shaw's History of Wake Forest College. 11 Dr. Robert Helm, taped interview in Winston-Salem,NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History
page 5 an ROTC program at Wake Forest, he confessed he did not "pull the strings" 12 that brought ROTC to Wake Forest campus. However, his evident interest, demonstrated by
th the formation of.the 366 Replacement Division, made him an excellent choice for the
ROTC Board. 13 Moreover, his preemptive work and continued participation has also earned Helm the affectionate title "Father of ROTC" at Wake Forest University.
Like many significant events in the history of Wake Forest University, the ROTC program was born during the administration of college president, Harold W. Tribble.
President Tribble who, during World War I, "spent several months in the Student Army
Training Corps at Richmond [College] and Plattsburg, New York," is credited with
"pulling the strings" to have an ROTC program. 14 Wake Forest did not simply decide to establish a ROTC unit on campus. In order to form a program, Wake Forest had to apply and compete with 300 other colleges and universities across the country. In early January of 19Sl, Tribble traveled to Washington, D. C. to attend conferences in hopes of strengthening chances that the Department of Defense would authorize a program at Wake
Forest. 15 Later that month, the Department of Defense did select Wake Forest and thirty- one other colleges to install programs. At that time all Army ROTC units were branch material, meaning that each program trained cadets for a specific branch of the Army. For
Wake Forest College that was the Army Chemical Corps.16
Collection. Notes in possession of the author. 12 Dr. Robert Helm. taped interview in Winston-Salem, NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection. Notes in possession of the author. 13 Though well past the age of retirement, Dr. Helm still sits on the board and remains active in the ROTC program. 14 Shaw, Bynum. The History of Wake Forest College. Volume IV, 72. 1988. 15 .. Tribble Seeks ROTC," Old Gold and Black, 8 January 1951. Unpaginated. In several articles Tribble uses the term Defense Establishmentin reference to the Department of Defense and the Anny. 16 The United States Army Chemical Corps is responsible for the use of and defense against chemical weapons in modem warfare.
page 6 When it formally announced the introduction of ROTC, Old Gold and Black enthusiastically ran a headline that ambitiously predicted "more than a 1,000" cadets would enroll in the program. 17 From the newspaper reports, circumstances insinuate that
President Tribble lobbied hard for the program. He claimed, however, ''There was no pressure brought to bear upon the committee in the making of these choices," in an interview with the Old Gold and Black. Instead, he contended two things were truly instrumental in the selection of Wake Forest. First, Tribble said, "It was a recognition of the type of school, the academic standing, and the size and quality of the Student Body that the job of producing chemical warfare was given Wake Forest." Second, "Although it is true that no political pressure was brought to bear, nevertheless Congressman C. B. Deane proved of invaluable assistance in bringing the matter to the attention of the Defense
Establishment ••• He was the key man in putting the assets of Wake Forest before the committee." Tribble's optimism for the program and the benefits it would bring to Wake
Forest College were evident from the beginning. Later, in the same article, he remarked,
"Wherever I have gone recently, in talking to high school seniors and parents they have asked me whether we would have an ROTC Unit here next year." "With great joy"
Tribble answered this question affirmatively. Tribble hoped this would both, "enable us to serve the country in the present emergency [Korean War] in a significant way and, at the same time, maintain our college program at something like a normal level."18
Later that spring, a visit to investigate "the proposed ROTC unit" was made by
Captain T.M. Holt, a U.S. Army officer stationed in Raleigh. In his investigation, he
17 "ROTC Unit To Be Established On Campus In September; May Enlist 1,000," Old Gold and Black, 15 January 1951. Unpaginated. 18 "ROTC Unit To Be Established On Campus In September;May Enlist 1,000," Old Gold and Black, 15
page 7 worked to establish offices on campus for "commanding officers and the non-commissioned staff, storage space for equipment, classroom space for instruction ... and drill fields. "19
After weighing several potential locations, the basement of the chapel was selected as the best available location for everything but the drill field. This location, however, only served as the temporary home of the unit until it moved into its permanent home on the new Wake Forest campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The formation of an ROTC unit before the move led "to the appropriation of proper quarters," on the new campus.
Immediately following the activation of the program, Dr. C. S. Black, chairman of the Chemistry Department was appointed by President Tribble as the military coordinator and chairman of the ROTC· Board. The ROTC Board was comprised of military personnel and at least three faculty members. Essentially, Dr. Black and the ROTC Board were to act as a liaison between the college and the War Department. 20 Aside from being the chairman of the Chemistry department, Dr. Black was a colonel in the Air Force Reserve and served for thirty-seven months in the chemical warfare service during World War II.
He also had acted as the Post Chemical Officer at Fort Benning and as an instructor in the
Chemical Warfare School at Edgewood Arsenal. 21 Given Dr. Black's position on the faculty, military experience, and noted enthusiasm, it was a logical move for President
Tribble to select him as the ROTC coordinator.
The ROTC Board's initial tasks were challenging. At the time of its formation, several tasks demanded the Board's immediate attention. First, it had to generate a military and academic program that would satisfy the college faculty and meet the criteria
January 1951. Unpaginated. 19 "Holt Examines ROTC Unit," Old Gold and Black, 5 March 1951. Unpaginated. 20 Now called the Department of Defense
page8 of the War Department Second, the board oversaw the selection and conversion of physical facilities for the department itself on the old campus. The third and most important task was to set the criteria for enrollment and participation. 22 Since the nation was involved with the war in Korea, the most sensitive component of this final task was to address deferments from the existing draft. 23
Originally, participation in ROTC was compulsory for all incoming freshman males although the Board exempted some freshmen. To gain exemption, male students stood before the ROTC Board and asserted conscientious objections to participation. Generally, exemptions were only granted to ministerial students and those who were physically unable to participate. Dr. Helm said, "We did generally excuse ministerial students, but frequently tried to persuade them that ROTC would be beneficial to their education." 24 In order to demonstrate the extremes some students would go to avoid ROTC, Dr. Helm vividly recalled a ministerial student's memorable response. When told that ROTC would be beneficial to his education and encouraged to participate, he responded with great conviction, "I didn't come to Wake Forest to get an education, I came to Wake Forest to preach!" Helm noted, "Sitting on the board can be very interesting" 25
21 "Blacks Heads ROTC," Old Gold and Black, 12 March 1951. Unpaginated. 22 See appendix #I. 23 A deferment allowed a student eligible for the draft to complete his college education before being drafted. Moreover, if drafted, the completion of a college education guaranteed that the student would serve his time as an officer, not as an enlisted man.Deferments were evaluated at the end of each year by the Board. The general factors that governed deferment were scholarship, adaptability and leadership. At the end of the department's first school year, 193 cadets, mainly juniors and sophomores, were deferred from the draft and allowed to continue their education. 24 Dr. Robert Helm, taped interview in Winston-Salem, NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection. Notes in possession of the author. 25 Dr. Robert Helm, taped interview in Winston-Salem, NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection. Notes in possession of the author.
page9 With the initial steps taken, the program met its scheduled opening date. 26 In the fall of 1951, with an enrollment of 275 cadets, the Reserve Officer Training Corps, as a branch of the Army Chemical Corps began at Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, North
Carolina. 27 Though not quite the 1,000 cadets estimated by the Old Gold and Black, it was an impressive number for a college of its size. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph S. Terrell was assigned as professor of military science (PMS) and the fledgling unit was given "four classrooms, offices, and supply cupboards in the basement of the Chapel." 28 Cadets were issued cotton uniforms and instruction began. New cadets quickly discovered that ROTC was by no means a trivial extracurricular activity. Adjustments to the rigorous discipline that ROTC demanded took time and work. Lt. Col. Terrell's goal for the unit was simple.
He explained, "The thing we try to teach here is the same thing the Army teaches a man in the field. He takes care of each day's work as it falls."
Consequently, before cadets were allowed to train in the field, a foundation about the military and its doctrine needed to be laid. The cornerstones of this foundation consisted of frequent quizzes on class lectures and Drill and Ceremony. Drill and
Ceremony, more popularly called D&C, was held on Gore Athletic Field every Tuesday afternoon. By October, Lt. Col. Terrell reported that the cadets were "Still a little ragged .•
•however, we (were] pleased with the progress." 29 Furthermore, a 27 man ROTC Band was formed, receiving instruction from Professor Thane McDonald and other faculty in the
Music Department. Fortunately, most of the men were also members of the Wake Forest
26 Military term for a deadline. 27 Record from the departmentdo not indicate the original enrollment and secondarysources conflict. One indicates 272 cadets, another 274, but the majority note 275. 28 Bynum Shaw, The History of Wake Forest College. Volume IVa 217. 1988. In Shaw's book has a brief synopsis of the Military Science Program.
page 10 Band, for the unit did not have long to rehearse. On November 13, 1951, the band led the newly formed unit in its first formal appearance in a parade to celebrate Armistice Day.
The fall 1952 saw a substantial increase in the participation in ROTC. Enrollment grew to 470 cadets and Terrell continued to push the unit towards excellence. One step towards excellence was the announcement of plans for the university to construct a rifle range fo the basement of Gore Gym. Following the announcement, Terrell appointed
Major Ivan J. Cooper, assistant professor of military science, to form and command a rifle team. 3°From over one hundred applicants, those attaining top scores were selected to fire against other schools. All who were interested in the program competed on some level. 31
On October 27, 1952 the MS IV, or cadets are classified as seniors by the university, conducted a mock trial. Organized and conducted like a real military court martial, the trial served as a practical method to incorporate the material learned by the MS IVs in a fourteen hour sub-course in military law and board. The hypothetical case involved
Private First Class (PFC) John Doe was accused of larceny, breaking arrest, and being
AWOL. 32 After the cadet prosecution and defense teams plead their cases before the cadet judge and jury, PFC Doe was found guilty on all counts. For his penalty, PFC Doe was dropped to the lowest rank, sentenced to hard labor for four months, and made to forfeit twenty dollars of his paycheck each month during his period of punishment. 33
29 L. M. Wright, Jr., "ROTC Plans Fonnal Drills," Old Gold and Black, 8 October 1951.Unpaginated. 3°Construction of the range was not completed until October of 1953 31 Originally, contests between schools were initiated by issuing and receiving challengesfrom other colleges. Due to expense of travel, competitionswere conducted by mail. Each team would fire at their own range and then mail their targets to a judge who scored the targets and determinedthe winner. 32 AWOL stands for Absent Without Leave. It is a common military term that refers to a soldier who is unaccounted for. 33 "ROTC Conducts Mock Trial," Old Gold and Black, 3 November 1952.Unpaginated.
page 11 More importantly, in the fall of 1952 Lt. Col. Terrell laid the foundation for the
Scabbard and Blade National Honor Society. In essence, the honor society paralleled other national college honor societies like Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa. 34
According to Terrell, the mission of the Scabbard and Blade National Honor Society was
"to raise the standards of military education in colleges, to unite the various military departments and foster qualities of good and efficient officers. ,,3s In order to establish a chapter of Scabbard and Blade on campus, Terrell first organized the ROTC Cadet
Officer's Club. This was a prerequisite to the formation of an honor society.
Consequently, the ROTC Cadet Officer's Club was founded and conducted under the same guidelines as the Scabbard and Blade National Honor society. All current cadet officers automatically became members and Cadet Billy Churm was elected the first president. 36
A year after its inception, the Cadet Officer's Club was replaced by a chapter of the
Scabbard and Blade National Honor Society. In October of 1954, Major T.S. Crockett, executive officer of the Scabbard and Blade National Honor Society, officiated the installation of the Wake Forest chapter. Cadet J.C. Turner was elected as the society's first president. Like the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, criteria for selection into the
Scabbard and Blade was based primarily upon academics. Cadets had to rank in the top ten percent of the ROTC program and in the upper third of their overall college class academically to be considered for admission.
As evidenced by the mock trial and honor society, the Wake Forest ROTC
Department sought to demonstrate its commitment to be both a progressive military
34 Omicron Delta Kappa recognizesexcellence in leadership and Phi Beta Kappa recognizesacademic excellence on the college level. 35 ''Top ROTC Cadets to Have Society,"Old Gold and Black, 20 October 1952. Unpaginated.
page 12 training program and a contributor to the academic growth of Wake Forest College.
Enrollment again rose for the third year in a row. Totaling 514 cadets, the cadet command was organized inte..three battalions with Cadet F. F. Hastings serving as the regimental commander. 37
During the school year, extracurricular activities flourished. The rifle team achieved a fourth place finish in the Southern Invitational ROTC Riffe tournament, the first recorded major placement of the team that won the North Carolina Invitational tournament in 1955 and 1957. On campus, the band marched in the annual Wake Forest
Fall Festival and played for a regular chapel service. Directed by music professor, Angelo
Capparella, the band performed Stars and Stripes Forever, Dizzy Fingers, Blue Tango, St.
Louis Blues March, and the Bunny Hop in the weekly non-religious chapel service. 38
Paid for by the government and valued at $450, the department unfurled its new unit Dag in 1954. Furthermore, due to changes in government requirements, the Wake
Forest ROTC program ceased its classification as branch material to the Chemical Corps.
Mandated by the Department of Defense, it reoriented to a General Military Science unit to
"accommodate military training in all fields and branches of the army."39 Adjustments were made in the ROTC curriculum for seniors who had been trained specifically for chemical warfare, but all other cadets ceased training specifically for service in the Army
Chemical Warfare Branch. The Old Gold and Black explained that another reason behind
36 "ROTC Gives Concert," Old Gold and Black, 26 October 1953.Unpaginated. 37 A.) Normally a battalion consists of four companies, however, breakdownsvaried in ROTC programs. B.) In ROTC two levels of commandexist. Level one consists of the actual commissionedofficers who run the program. The second level is comprised of a cadet chain of command that is designed to provide practical experience through simulation. 38 "ROTC Gives Concert," Old Gold and Black, 26 October 1953.Unpaginated. During this time, there were two weekly chapel services. The ftrst was worship oriented and the second (non-religious)entailed various lectures, pep-rallies, and performances.
page 13 the reorientation was due to changes in criteria of specialized branches in the Army. One such specialized branch at that time was the Chemical Corps. The Army decided to limit commissions to the Chemical Corps to cadets with majors in "chemistry, biology, physics, and mechanical arts and sciences." This reorientation occurred in ROTC programs throughout the country. Becoming a General Military Science unit meant cadets could other areas of Army service to fulfill their military service obligation. This change was well received by cadets in ROTC programs. Dr. Edwin Hendricks, a Wake Forest history professor, alumnus of Furman University and its ROTC program recalls the joy he felt when Furman ROTC changed from a Tank Corps program to a general military science in the fall of 1953.40
Equally important, ROTC became voluntary for freshman in 1954. Though no direct causation link can be drawn, the repeal of this rule correlates with the end of the
Korean War in 1953 and the end of its consequent draft. The speculation by Dr. Helm, however, presents a more plausible cause. He explained that due to the growing student body, Wake Forest felt confident that the ROTC department could maintain high numbers with voluntary participation. Though enrollment did drop to 459 cadets, it still remained high and was indicative of a strong program. Furthermore, Helm noted in his interview that mandatory requirements at Wake Forest were growing unpopular in general. 41 Shaw supports this idea, in volume IV of the History of Wake Forest College, when he explains the student dissatisfaction with compulsory chapel. He wrote, "One reason compulsory chapel was so widely resented was that the move to Winston-Salem had provided a broad
39 "ROTC To BecomeGMS Unit," Old Gold and Black, l March 1954.Unpaginated. 40 Personal Interview,Edwin Hendricks. (Professorof History) 41 Dr. Robert Helm, taped interviewin Winston-Salem,NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History
page 14 array of claims upon the students' time and attention.'"' 2 In 1955, Lt. Col. Peyton replaced
Lt. Col. Terrell as the professor of military science.43 Lt. Col Terrell transferred to the
Office of the Army Chemical Corps after serving three years and laying the foundation of the program. His replacement brought experience and insight from service in both World
War II and the Korean War.
The decade popularly known as the '60's was a decade of both growth and turmoil for the United States of America. From the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and
John F. Kennedy to the Great Society and the Vietnam War, Americans were radically forced to alter their view of the world. Amidst the great triumphs and defeats, Wake
Forest remained steady. As the red scare was heightened with the Ho Chi Minh's activity in
Vietnam, a new PMS took the helm and piloted the ROTC program safely into the decade.
Colonel John F. Reed came to Wake Forest in the fall of 1959 after turning down an assignment at his alma mater, Penn State. In the five years Reed served as the PMS at
Wake Forest, he witnessed the accomplishments of many new programs. 44
To begin the new decade, an Aviation course was added to the ROTC curriculum in the fall of 1963. Many applied, but only seven cadets met the physical and mental requirements. The U.S. Army authorized the extracurricular program and the $1500 fee.
Qualified ground and flying instructors at Central Piedmont Aero Flight School of
Piedmont Airlines, Inc. in Winston-Salem taught the cadets and in-flight instruction was held at Smith Reynolds Airport. At the end of the course, the cadets received their pilot's
Collection. Notes in possession of the author. 42 Bynum Shaw, History of Wake Forest College. Volume IV, 323-324. 1988. 43 The Anny normally rotates officers to a new assignment every two to four years. Therefore, this was a normal change. See Appendix 2 44 Colonel John F. Reed, taped phone interview in Winston-Salem, NC. 18 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral
page 15 license pending approval by the Federal Aviation Association. The Army used similar programs across the nation to acquire a good reserve pool of aviators. Each cadet was trained in one of.the branches of the Army where pilots were authorized. 45 The department strongly predicted success for this program. With the increased use of the
helicopter in the Vietnam War, Army Aviation was literally taking off and Wake Forest cadets were at the front to lead. 46
On May 2, 1964, the Wake Forest College ROTC Band finished tenth out of eighteen in the third annual National ROTC Band and Drum and Bugle Corps
Competition. The competition, in the Singer Bowl at the World's Fair in New York, was conducted in two phases, concert, marching, and maneuvering. "With 22 members, Wake
Forest fielded the smallest contingent of any competing. It was also the band's first appearance in national competition; in fact it was its first competition of any kind. "47
Two unique individuals within the band manifested two aspects of the decade
marched. The first was Cadet Floyd Higgins, the first African American cadet on record at
Wake Forest. The Twin City Sentinel reported that in New York, "A group of [local] Negro youths noticed [that) Wake Forest has a Negro member, Floyd Higgins, and one commented, 'Look there man, they got a Negro just like us.' 'Maybe they just painted him up like that for propaganda,' said another" 48 In the same band there was another unique individual. A nineteen year-old sophomore ROTC snare drummer, Alberto Rubio, had
fled Cuba in late 1960, just ten months after Fidel Castro took over the country. Following
History Collection.Notes in possession of the author. 45 At this time the main branches that used aviation were the Medical Corps and Field Artillery. It was not until 1983 that Aviation became a formal branch of the U.S. Army. 46 Bill East, "College Offering Aviation Course," Winston-Salem Sentinel, 18 December 1963.Unpaginated. 47 Ed Campbell, "Deacon ROTC Band 10th in Competition," Twin City Sentinel, 3 May 1964. Unpaginated.
page 16 his overthrow of the government Castro issued an edict stating that any Cuban not
returning to Cuba after six months would no longer be a Cuban. This, coupled with the fact Alberto did ·not have American citizenship literally meant he had no nation.
Regardless of the edict, Alberto continued to declare Cuba his home.49 These two individuals reflect not only the social situation of that decade, but also demonstrate that
Wake Forest was intimately involved in the monumental events that shaped the 1960's.
In 1964, amidst the outbreak of the Vietnam conflict, Col. Reed began his last year with the ROTC program, but not with Wake Forest University. Succeeded by Col. Julian
Boyles, a career chemical officer, John Reed retired from the Army, walked across Wingate
Road to Reynolda Hall and began his new job as head of the newly formed personnel and placement office. In that capacity, Reed served the university for next eleven years.
As events in Vietnam escalated, so did the anti-war sentiment in America. ROTC programs around the country came under serious assault and suffered from anti-war
protests. Their enrollment dropped and many ceased operation. While other programs struggled under the heavy anti-war sentiment, the Wake Forest ROTC program saw a steady increase of enrollment over the next five years. Many speculated the increase in enrollment was because students saw participation ROTC as a way to avoid service in the war. To Dr. Helm, avoidance of the war was not the sole reason enrollment in ROTC increased. In rebuttal to the cynics, he stated that "The very fact that the country was again involved in a war, brought the importance of the military establishment to the attention of
48 Ed Campbell, "Bandsmen Are Back And Are Glad Of It," Twin City Sentinel, 4 May 1964. Unpaginated. 49 Ed Campbell, "ROTC Drummer Has No Country," Twin City Sentinel. 30 April 1964. Unpaginated.
page 17 people .• .In a democratic society such as ours, it is up to the people to play this dual role
[citizen and soldier]. So I think patriotism was one the motivators for it."50
Though the Wake Forest ROTC program did grow during the Vietnam war, this does not mean it was completely immune from anti-war sentiment. In Tyler Stone's paper entitled, "Pro Humanitate, Anti War: 'A Distinct Wake Forest Observance' of the Vietnam
Conflict, 1969-71 ", he notes, "It was common practice for students to picket drilling exercises during the afternoon. In addition, one of the demands during the march on
President Scales' house was the abolishment or ROTC and war related contracts." 51 Unlike other universities, however, student protests "were peaceful and stayed within the character of the university and its student movement, usually consisting of people holding signs or placing flowers within formations. "52 Stone captures a testament to the relationship between ROTC cadets and student activists. He writes:
Protestors used to call their peers in ROTC to forewarn them of demonstrations. The cadets, who often had an important task or drill to perform, would then ask them to come at a more convenient time. As a result, the protestors, who shared a sense of being a part of the same university community, would reschedule their demonstrations around the ROTC agenda of the day.53
Wake Forest was involved in the anti-war protest. Although, barring the march on
President Scales' house and peaceful demonstrations during drill exercises, the existence of
soDr. Robert Helm, taped interview in Winston-Salem, NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection. Notes in possession of the author. 51 Stone, Tyler. "Pro Huamanitate, Anti War: 'A Distinct Wake Forest Observance' of the Vietnam Conflict, 1969-71". 16. 1996. See article for a more detailed account of the Vietnam anti-war protest march on President Scales' house. 52 Stone, Tyler. "Pro Huamanitate, Anti War: 'A Distinct Wake Forest Observance' of the Vietnam Conflict, 1969-71". 17. 1996. 53 Stone, Tyler. "Pro Huamanitate, Anti War: 'A Distinct Wake Forest Observance' of the Vietnam Conflict, 1969-71". 17. 1996.
page 18 ROTC at Wake Forest was not threatened to the extent it had been in World War I and
World War II.
By the fall of 1968, all five military instructors and the two master sergeants at the
ROTC Department had served in Vietnam. To the 302 cadets enrolled in the program, that meant ~ valuable insight into the war and motivation to train. In addition, that year saw the first recorded issuance of scholarships. Earlier, cadets were paid an allowance of forty dollars a month, plus summer encampment pay and advanced-course remuneration. No scholarships, however, were given. That year, the department handed out fourteen four- year and eight two-year scholarships. Each scholarship paid all tuition, fees, books and laboratory expenses plus a fifty-dollar a month allowance. Furthermore, a program for students who did not participate in the first two years of training was instituted. A student now could attend a six-week Basic Camp before their junior year to catch up with their peers and compete for a two-year scholarship.
The majority of ROTC's progress was upward until 1969. Col. Joseph H. Hoffman replaced Col. Hugh J. Turner as PMS of the program. More important than the change in command, was the decline in enrollment to 237 cadets. The decline in ROTC enrollment occurred across the nation. In a representative poll taken by the Associated Press of fifty- seven colleges and universities with an Armed Forces ROTC program: forty-four had declining programs, six reported increases, and seven reflected a mixed trend. The
Associated Press' national survey showed the major decline was attributed to the Nixon administration's plan to restrict the draft call-up to nineteen year-olds only. Officers at the
Wake Forest ROTC Department reported they believed the decline was due to the
page 19 "national climate," and "the slack in the draft." "Slack in the draft," meant more students were gambling that Selective Service would pass them by as draft calls decreased. 54
Given this decline in enrollment, the entire Reserve Officer's Training Corps was forced to change its recruiting strategy. In the spring of 1970 the departmental officers in charge of recruiting intensified their activities and focused their recruiting on local area high schools. To generate interest early, the military staff at Wake Forest began an outreach into the local Winston-Salem high schools and kept a running list of interested students. ROTC was undergoing its heaviest assault in history. Parades were disrupted, facilities burned or damaged, and members were subjected to taunting. Most educators saw the assault on ROTC as a protest against the Vietnam War and the military establishment itself. ROTC facilities proved accessible, easy targets for militant protesters.
Fortunately, "We did not have the troubles that a great many schools had." Dr. Helm stated in his interview. 55
The same article, which reported the declining numbers of ROTC cadets explained the national view of the U. S. Army:
The Army [was] convinced that the ROTC program will not grow--and possibly will not survive in the long run-if some grassroots work is not done continuously to interest students in the program. During the 1970 the enrollment declined from 150,000 to 109,000. Much of the decline was brought on as compulsory programs in the first two years at 49 colleges were made elective. In the case of upperclassmen the enrollment was not greatly affected. 56
54 Bill East, "ROTC EnrollmentDeclining At Wake Forest," Twin City Sentinel, 19 November 1969. Unpaginated 55 Dr. Robert Helm, taped interviewin Winston-Salem,NC. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection. Notes in possessionof the author. 56 Bill East, "Drive Started in SchoolsTo Boost ROTC Interest," Twin City Sentinel, 28 April 1970. Unpaginated.
page 20 Wake Forest ROTC began a joint studies program with Winston-Salem State
University between the years of 1970 and 1973. Winston-Salem State, was a predominately black university and this move provided an opportunity to better unify the academic communities and raise enrollment in the ROTC program. In 1973, females were allowed to enroll in military science subjects for credit at Wake Forest University. The decision to let women participate in ROTC was made nationally after a successful 1972 test program at
10 colleges and universities. For the first time, three female cadets began training at Wake
Forest. Each female had different motivations for joining. Anne Blalock age 18 knew what
Army life was like from experience with her father, Army Col. George Franklin Blalock.
Anne claimed her father's career was "part of the reason for becoming a 'first' in ROTC, but not the whole reason. I just wanted to do it." 57 Freshman Janie Pittman, age 18, first became interested in ROTC because of an interest in drilling and shooting and she "knew that in ROTC she could put them all together." 58 Glenda Barnett, 21, a junior from
Winston-Salem State joined ROTC through the joint studies program. She was interested in making the Army a career and knew ROTC was a strong step in the right direction.
Blalock said the reaction by male cadets to their new female partners was "just about like we'd expect." She elaborated, "First they look at you funny ••• but then they get friendly.
We have been accepted by everyone." 59 Both Dr. James Ralph Scales, the president of
Wake Forest at that time, and Major Joe P. Coffman, the acting PMS, stated they were glad to have women and hoped they completed the program. Their classwork was identical to male cadets as was the summer camp requirement in between the summer of their junior
57 "University's ROTC Opens To Women," Twin City Sentinel, 8 August 1973. Unpaginated. 58 "University's ROTC Opens To Women," Twin City Sentinel, 8 August 1973. Unpaginated. 59 "University's ROTC Opens To Women," Twin City Sentinel. 8 August 1973. Unpaginated.
page 21 and senior year. Also, they received the same $100 monthly stipend during their junior and senior years. The only difference in training between males and females was that females were not allowed to handle weapons.
The Wake Forest Army ROTC Demon Deacon Battalion still thrives and closely adheres to its motto of"No Fear." From 1973 to present, little is written or recorded about the program. It has maintained a strong enrollment and high rankings among college
ROTC programs in the North and South Carolina region. Through individual and collective successes and defeats, the program continues to demonstrate its commitment to embody Thomas Jefferson's goal of maintaining "the supremacy of the civil over the military authority." ROTC produces an educated militia that helps make war unnecessary. Moreover, ROTC proves to be more than an effective and practical way of discharging one's military obligation. Its challenges one to balance civilian and military obligations and equips young men and women to go beyond Dr. Robert Helm's second goal to maximize their potential in life.
Though successful, perhaps ROTC and our nation should fear. The obligations of citizenship are still under constant re-examination and the issues that and will trouble our democracy are intensified on the university campus. Former president Dwight D.
Eisenhower framed Jefferson's purposes in a more modern light during his presidential farewell address. In the address, Eisenhower reminded Americans about the danger of tremendous peacetime military expenditures and the integral role of the citizen. He said:
Yet we must not fall to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our
page 22 peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
It is this ideal of security .and liberty prospering together which is connoted by the consistent success of the Wake Forest Demon Deacon Battalion Army ROTC program. -
page 23 Appendix #1
Taken from "ROTC Program at Wake Forest Explained, Biblical Recorder, 1 April 19Sl. Unpaginated. Tle requirements were as follows: 1. Any male student in good physical condition who is accepted for admission to Wake Forest College is now already enrolled in ROTC regardless of the course of study contemplated or whether be enters in June, September, or January.
2. The first two years of ROTC are devoted to basic military training and the last two years to advanced instruction.
3. After an applicant bas completed the first two years of training the Army determines whether or not he is acceptable for the last two years of advanced training.
4. Completion of one semester in ROTC training is necessary for consideration of deferment.
5. Approximately sixty percent or more of the students in ROTC will be deferred from military service until the completion of their four-year course. However, deferments must be re-evaluated at the end of each year by a Board consisting of military personnel and at least three faculty members. Factors governing deferment are scholarship, adaptability and leadership.
6. Deferments granted students who subsequently fail to meet standards may be transferred to other ROTC students who are not in the deferred group.
7. Upon the completion of three years of ROTC the student goes to a six-week summer camp where he will receive special training in the fields of his major interest and aptitude, such as chemical warfare.
8. Notice of deferment which goes to the draft board automatically protects a the student from being drafted during the summer months.
9. The Army will provide uniforms for all ROTC enrollees. Third and fourth year ROTC students are paid ninety cents a day subsistence and a ninety dollar allowance for uniforms.
page 24 Appendix #2
Chronological list of all Professors of Military Science at Wake ,.. Forest University
LTC J. S. Terrell, Jr. Fall 1952-Spring 1956
LTC W. M. Peyton, Jr. Fall 1956-Spring 1960
COL J. F. Reed Fall 1960-Spring 1964
COLS. J. Boyles Fall 1964-Spring 1967
COL Hugh J. Turner, Jr. Fall 1967-Spring 1968
COL Joseph H. Hoffman, Jr. Fall 1970-Spring 1974
MAJ Joe P. Coffman Fall 1974-Spring 1976
L TC William A. Scott Fall 1976-Spring 1978
LTC Anderson H. Walters Fall 1978-Spring 1982
L TC Matthew P. Murray, Jr. Fall 1982-Spring 1985
L TC David F. Smith Fall 1985-Spring 1987
L TC Thomas A. Glenn Fall 1987-Spring 1990
L TC John P. Modica Fall 1990-Spring 1992
LTC Kenneth M. Walker Fall 1992-Spring 1995
L TC Donald J. Moser Fall 1995-Present
page 25 Bibliography
Burleson, Frank. "Double -Barreled Education In Ranks of College ROTC." Winston- Salem Sentinel, 5 April 1964, Dl.
Campbell, Ed "Bandsmen Are Back And Are Glad Of It," Twin City Sentinel, 4 May 1964. Un paginated.
~Deacon ROTC Band 10th in Competition," Twin City Sentinel, 3 May 1964. Unpaginated.
"ROTC Drummer Has No Country," Twin City Sentinel, 30 April 1964. Unpaginated.
East, Bill. "College Offering Aviation Course," Winston-Salem Sentinel, 18 December 1963. Unpaginated.
"Drive Started in Schools To Boost ROTC Interest," Twin City Sentinel, 28 April 1970. Unpaginated.
"ROTC Enrollment Declining At Wake Forest," Twin City Sentinel, 19 November 1969. Unpaginated.
Gatzke, Hans W. The Present in Perspective: A Look at the World Since 1945. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally & Company, 1960.
Helm, Robert. Taped interview by author. 24 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection.
Jefferson, Thomas. "First Presidential Inaugural Address." Significant Documents in United States History. 1801.
Paschal, George Washington. ffistory of Wake Forest College Volume I. 1935. ffistory of Wake Forest College Volume 11.1943. ffistory of Wake Forest College Volume III. 1943.
Reed, John F. Taped telephone interview. 18 March 1997. Wake Forest Oral History Collection.
Shaw, Bynum. The History of Wake Forest College Volume IV. 1988.
Wright, L. M. Jr •• "ROTC Plans Formal Drills," Old Gold and Black, 8 October 1951. U npaginated.
page 26 "Blacks Heads ROTC," Old Gold and Black, 12 March 1951. Unpaginated.
"Holt Examines ROTC Unit," Old Gold and Black, 5 March 1951. Unpaginated
"ROTC Conducts Mock Trial," Old Gold and Black, 3 November 1952. Unpaginated.
"ROTC Gives Concert," Old Gold and Black, 26 October 1953. Unpaginated.
"ROTC To Become GMS Unit," Old Gold and Black, 1 March 1954. Unpaginated.
"ROTC Unit To Be Established On Campus In September; May Enlist 1,000," Old Gold and Black, 15 January Unpaginated.
"Top ROTC Cadets to Have Society," Old Gold and Black, 20 October 1952. Unpaginated.
"Tribble Seeks ROTC," Old Gold and Black, 8 January 1951.
"University's ROTC Opens To Women," Twin City Sentinel, 8 August 1973. Unpaginated. http://web.mit.edu/armyrotc/files/history .html http:/ /web.mit.edu/eisenhower/memoirs.html
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