Congratulations to the Class of 2026 and our more than 250 new Student Life Members!

May 8, 2026

🚨 LAST CHANCE! 🚨 📢 Class of 2026 Parents, Family & Friends! 📢 ⏳ TOMORROW is the FINAL DAY to lock in a Life Membership for your cadet/student at the discounted $400 rate! 🎓✨ ✅ Purchase now: citadelalumni.org/product-category/membership Select New Life Membership (Current Student) option 🔹 Membership must be paid in full by the end of Commencement Day! 🔹 Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity! 🎁 A Life Membership in The Citadel Alumni Association makes the perfect Graduation Gift! ⏳ Act now—time is running out!🎓🔥

May 7, 2026: One day and a wake up

With May as a month of remembrance—culminating in Memorial Day, when we honor those who died in service to our country—we also take this time to remember some of our alumni who served and have passed away since the beginning of this year. Today we honor the life of LTC L. Lamar Bennett, USA, Ret., who passed away on February 28, 2026. A South Carolina native and 1964 graduate of The Citadel, Bennett was commissioned into the U.S. Army and served a 24-year career. He was an Army Ranger, Ranger School instructor, combat infantryman, and Army aviator, completing two combat tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Aviator Badge, and Parachutist Badge. Following his military service, he retired to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1988 and began a second career in real estate as a broker, business owner, and manager. He remained active in outdoor pursuits throughout his life.

On May 6, 1966, 2ndLt Joseph C. Missar was killed in action by a mine in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. A member of The Citadel Class of 1965, he is memorialized alongside 1LT Frank Monroe “Skip” Murphy, USA, '65, with a bronze statue at Johnson Hagood Stadium. This statue honors the memory of all Citadel alumni who gave their lives in the Vietnam War — a lasting tribute to their courage and sacrifice.

May 5, 2026

As we continue our May tributes, we highlight several alumni who served in the military and have recently passed. Today we remember the life of LTC Royal (Sonny) W. Fyfe, Jr., USA, Ret., who passed away on March 11, 2026. While Memorial Day honors those who died in military service, in the weeks leading up to that day we also recognize members of our community whose lives reflected a continued commitment to service and country. Fyfe was a 1954 graduate of The Citadel and was commissioned into the U.S. Army Active Reserve upon graduation. He served a 20-year military career, retiring in 1974. During his service, he held assignments including Small Arms Advisor to the King of Thailand, commander of a light infantry regiment during the Tet Offensive, and Commander of the Southeast Asia Theater Field Calibration Agency during the final years of the Vietnam War. He was also uniquely trained as a commissioned officer to repair the Minuteman missile system. Following his military service, he returned to Beaufort, where he worked in construction, served as Deputy Coroner, worked as a firearms instructor and law enforcement officer with the Port Royal Department of Public Safety, and later founded an ammunition company. He remained active in civic organizations and community service throughout his life.

May 4, 2019: The first class of nursing students graduated from The Citadel. today.citadel.edu/first-nurses-graduating-from-the-citadel/