Auburn has more than 150 years of history transforming college students into military officers. During that time between 14,000 and 18,000 young men and women have left The Loveliest Village on The Plains to become officers in our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force. Auburn University began its official military training program in 1872 as part of the Morrill Land-Grant Act. At the time, all males attending Auburn had to participate in the program for at least two years.
How many of those have died serving our country? No one knows because Auburn has no memorial nor record of their service. There is no wall or obelisk on campus remembering who they were, when they died etc. For more than 150 years, no one has put the effort into figuring out who they are, nor how to commemorate them.
The alumni association only memorializes those who were members of their association. Unfortunately, most young officers have many other things on their mind and many other financial obligations from their meager salaries, and few join the alumni association till later in life. If they live that long.
There should be a permanent memorial area on the campus in a prominent area where veterans of all wars are commemorated – especially those who died in service. Huntsville has a beautiful park of statues, plaques and other memorabilia that highlight that community’s connections to their veterans/servicemen and women. Auburn could do something similar.
Auburn should put some effort into honoring our military from the Auburn community who gave their lives in the line of duty. Auburn’s current “In Memoriam” web page on the Alumni Association web site only memorializes a military person if they are a member in good standing of the Alumni Association. Below are some people I know who are either alumni or from the community who died in the line of duty, and who Auburn has not remembered appropriately. All paid the ultimate price for our freedom. All were extremely proud of their time and connection to Auburn.
They are:
L/Cpl William John “Billy” Stelpflug, U. S. Marine Corps, of Auburn died in the Beirut Bombing Oct. 23, 1983. His mother, Peggy, was a professor at Auburn then. Stelpflug used to chat with me and another Marine in front of Haley Center before he enlisted. He was killed in combat shortly after graduating from recruit training.
Michael C. Hardcastle (Class of ’78), Lieutenant, U. S. Navy. Died while a student at Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent “Pax” River, MD on August 30, 1984.
Thomas L. “Tommy” Gibson (Class of '84), Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Killed while flying on a routine training mission in an F-14 “Tomcat” fighter over Arizona on January 27, 1989.
James N. “Trey” Wilbourn III (Class of '85), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps. Killed in Action (KIA) during a combat mission in his AV-8B “Harrier” jet over Kuwait during the first Persian Gulf war February 23, 1991.
Robert “Dana” Bartlett (Class of '84), Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. A Navy helicopter pilot aboard the guided-missile cruiser Yorktown was killed in the Line of Duty while on shore leave in St. Thomas, VI on June 15,1993.
John A. Brow (Class of '84), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Died in a MV-22 “Osprey” aircraft crash near Marana, AZ on April 8, 2000.
Jefrey M. “Hap” Arnold (Class of '86), Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. While attending Auburn, Arnold was “Aubie” Mascot number 7. He died in the Line of Duty in a civil aviation crash in 2007 near Norfolk, Va.
Sean M. Bowlin, (Class of '83), 1st Lt U.S. Marine Corps. Died on April 4, 2017. Bowlin was my sponsor to the NROTC Unit at Auburn when I joined in 1982. He was a kind soul and a good friend who lost his battle with addiction.
Johnny Micheal Spann, (Class of '92) Captain, U. S. Marine Corps and then CIA, killed in action, Qala-i-Jangi, Afghanistan, November 25, 2001. Spann was one of the first deployed in action after the 9/11 attacks and was the first American to die in action following our national response.
How many other Auburn service members are not mentioned or acknowledged by the university or Alumni Association? There should be a dedicated tab on the Alumni Association web page for “Those Who Died in Service” and there should be an area on campus or a park commemorating all members of all services who died in the line of duty.
These days, less than one percent of our nation serves in our military, about six percent of our population are veterans. If Auburn is going to tout and brag about their support for the military and veterans, they should honor all of those who died in service of our great nation, not just those who are paid up on their alumni membership.
Auburn should do better. If a man or woman leaves Auburn and dies in service to our country by combat, injury, disease, accident or anything else considered “in the line of duty,” we should honor them with a memorial on campus and on the Alumni Association web page.
Until then, our “Military Appreciation Game” and other efforts are just paying lip service to those who paid for our freedom with their lives. They deserve better.
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Michael Lennon is an Auburn graduate and retired Marine.
