Due to the University’s small size, Carolina was able to keep track of the over 500 alumni serving in the war, creating a University Service Flag that hung in Rutledge Chapel during the war.  Each star sewn on the flag represented a Carolinian in the service of his country.  Surviving University records do not indicate what happened to the flag after the war.

Twenty-eight alumni died while in the service of their country.  Samuel Turteltaub, who left before completing his degree in 1916, was killed in battle in France on September 29, 1918, and cited for the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism displayed.  John M. McIntosh (Class of 1916) was described in the 1916 Garnet and Black as follows: “…in his work he succeeds well, doing in his own quiet way the thing that has to be done.”  He died on September 12, 1918, while leading his men against a machine gun nest.  He was posthumously cited for bravery.  Other alumni in the service succumbed to diseases, including the influenza pandemic that struck in 1918, which killed several of Carolina’s SATC students and forced the University to be quarantined for a week. 

In the years following the war, Carolina welcomed back many students who had withdrawn from school to serve their country.  Other veterans entered USC for the first time, including Richmond H. Hilton (Class of 1924), recipient of the Medal of Honor.  In leading an attack on a machine-gun nest, Hilton advanced well ahead of his men and personally killed 6 of the enemy and captured 10.  The wounds he received during this action resulted in the loss of an arm.  After graduating from USC, he practiced law in Camden until his death by drowning in 1933.  A number of the USC veterans were destined to be leaders in South Carolina government, including future governor Olin D. Johnston (Class of 1924).