Greenwood, S.C. — Community Lecture Series 2024-25 Kicks Off

Greenwood, S.C. — Community Lecture Series 2024-25 Kicks Off

The eagerly awaited 2024-25 Community Lecture Series, jointly hosted by Lander University and the Arts Center of Greenwood, opens on Tuesday, September 3. The first lecture will feature Dr. William Ramsey, a history professor at Lander, who will present a session titled, “Fighting Infamy: A Marine Fighter Pilot’s Epic Stand at the Battle of Wake Island.”

About the Lecture

Dr. Ramsey’s lecture dives into the heroic actions of Marine pilot Henry T. Elrod during the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941. This battle coincided with the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor. Elrod, who had flown an F4F Wildcat fighter, exhibited remarkable courage and skill in defending the tiny Pacific atoll against overwhelming Japanese forces. His valiant efforts spanned over two weeks. Ramsey’s work draws from his newly published book, “Wake Island Wildcat,” which is currently available for pre-order on Amazon and other major book retailers.

Event Details

The lecture, free and open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. at the Arts Center of Greenwood. Complimentary refreshments and a cash bar will be available starting at 5:30 p.m., enabling attendees to mingle and discuss the topics beforehand.

Henry T. Elrod’s Heroism

When Elrod arrived at Wake Island, he was part of a twelve-pilot fighter squadron. On December 10 and 11, Elrod engaged in two of the most notable days of aerial combat. He faced off against twenty-two Japanese planes, downing two, and later bombed the destroyer Kisaragi, sinking it with all hands aboard. Remarkably, this was the first instance during World War II in which an American pilot sank a warship using small caliber bombs delivered by a fighter plane.

As the American aircraft were too damaged to continue flying, the pilots transitioned to ground combat, where Elrod took command of a beach sector. He steadfastly led the defense against persistent Japanese assaults until he was ultimately killed on the last day, shortly before the Americans were forced to surrender. Despite the loss, the brave stand by the defenders of Wake Island gave a significant morale boost to the American public during a difficult early phase of the war. For his bravery, Elrod—nicknamed “Hammerin’ Hank“—was posthumously promoted to major and awarded the Medal of Honor.

Dr. William Ramsey

William L. Ramsey, an esteemed historian and poet, also serves as a professor of history at Lander University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Tulane University in 1998 and has previously taught at Tulane, SUNY Oswego, and the University of Idaho. Over the years, he has received multiple accolades for his dedication to civil rights and historical scholarship, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award in 2005 and the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2007.

His scholarly articles have been featured in respected journals such as the Journal of American History, Georgia Historical Quarterly, and the South Carolina Historical Magazine. Ramsey’s first book, “The Yamasee War: A Study of Culture, Economy, and Conflict in the Colonial South,” received the 2008 George C. Rogers Jr. Award for best book on South Carolina history.

Event Information

For more details and to confirm event times and venues, please visit Lander University Events. If you have any questions, you can contact Interim Assistant Provost Dr. Mark Rollins at 864-388-8563 or via email at mrollins@lander.edu.