Wesley Douglas Pike of Richmond receives Army commission

2017 May 30

Wesley Douglas Pike of Richmond received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army in a May 10, 2017, ceremony at Clemson University.

Pike majored in Financial Management at Clemson.

At the joint ceremony, 15 students received commissions into the U.S. Army and 11 students received commissions into the U.S. Air Force.

The ceremony featured guest speaker Maj. Gen. James B. Linder, commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Linder received his commission as a field artillery officer from Clemson University in 1983 and has served the majority of his 34-year career in Army Special Forces.

Following the commissioning ceremony, the newly appointed lieutenants participated in a Silver Dollar Salute ceremony at Clemson's Military Heritage Plaza. The ceremony marked the first salute the officers received from an enlisted member. As a sign of mutual respect, the officer presented the enlisted member with a silver dollar.