South Carolina military & veterans

Sally Garris met the man who would eventually become husband while attending Erskine College. He took an academic pause to serve in the U.S. military, and during that time, he and Sally stayed in touch not only by exchanging letters, but also through their shared love of the Atlanta Braves.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 16, 2026: we are post-sine die, but are in a rare extra session that has been called by the governor for lawmakers to continue the effort to change the state’s seven congressional districts at the behest of President Donald Trump. We, again, dedicate the pod to exactly what is happening because, unlike past redistricting efforts, the public has been shut out from this process as military and absentee ballots continue to be cast ahead of the June 9 primaries.

In 1967, Lee Cannon enlisted in the Air National Guard, where he served eight years as a navigator. In 2024, he sat down with his daughter, Leah, at StoryCorps to explain the unique nature of his job, and to fill in the gaps of a remarkable story he had once told her when she was a child.

Mark and Virginia Pulver of Greenwood, S.C., have been together for over 50 years. During that time, their military and humanitarian work has taken them around the world. They recently sat down to discuss some of their adventures and the occasional cultural differences they would encounter, including at mealtime.

After three months of explosive ordnance and heavy equipment training by the U.S. Army, 18-year-old Roger Thompson arrived for duty in Vietnam in March of 1968. During his service, he witnessed firsthand the terrors of war, which inspired his lifetime mission of helping fellow veterans who struggle with both the physical and mental effects of combat.

In 1976, the Cowpens, SC, Bicentennial Committee decided that the next town festival would be called the Mighty Moo Festival in honor of former crewmen of the USS Cowpens WWII aircraft carrier. Over the years since, many veterans who served on the ship during the war have attended the festival along with their families. Today, the town continues to celebrate the service of the carrier each father's day.In his book, The Mighty Moo: The USS Cowpens and Her Epic World War II Journey from Jinx Ship to the Navy’s First Carrier into Tokyo Bay, Nathan Canestaro tells the story of the ship and its untested crew who earned a distinguished combat record and beat incredible odds to earn 12 battle stars in the Pacific.Nathan joins us this week to talk about The Might Moo.

“D” is for Doolittle Raiders. On April 18, 1942, eighty Americans and sixteen B-25 bombers carried out the first attack on the Japanese Islands following Pearl Harbor. The participants began training for the mission in Columbia.

“D” is for Doolittle Raiders. On April 18, 1942, eighty Americans and sixteen B-25 bombers carried out the first attack on the Japanese Islands following Pearl Harbor. The participants began training for the mission in Columbia.

“D” is for Donaldson, John Owen (1898-1930). Aviator. In 1951 Greenville Air Base was renamed to honor John Owen Donaldson.

“D” is for Donaldson, John Owen (1898-1930). Aviator. In 1951 Greenville Air Base was renamed to honor John Owen Donaldson.