Purdue Army ROTC
History of Purdue and ROTC
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
Morrill Act
• Vermont Representative Justin S. Morrill
sponsored the Morrill Act which was signed
by President Lincoln on July 2, 1862
• The bill offered to sell public lands and
donate the proceeds to any state that would
establish and maintain a college to teach
agricultural and mechanical arts (A&M)
• The bill also directed that these “land-grant”
colleges would teach military tactics
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
Purdue University
• In 1865, the Indiana General Assembly voted
to use the Morrill Act and began to look for a
suitable location for the school
• In 1869 the General Assembly accepted an
offer by John Purdue for $150,000, $50,000
from Tippecanoe County and privately
donated land to start the college
• The General Assembly named the college
Purdue University in recognition of his
support
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
Military Training
• In 1876, Dr. Harvey W. Wiley formed a volunteer
infantry company at Purdue to meet the provisions of
the Morrill Act
• Dr. Wiley served as an infantry corporal during the
Civil War and had enough technical knowledge to
start the program
• Dr. Wiley left Purdue in 1881 and the corps of cadets
ceased to function (Dr. Wiley founded the Food and
Drug Act (FDA). Wiley Hall was named after him.
• In 1881, Lieutenant Wolff of the Swedish Navy
rejuvenated the training program
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
Military Training
• Purdue received its first Regular Army
officer as its Professor of Military Science in
1888 when First Lieutenant Abner Pickering
was detailed as the commandant
• 1LT Pickering drilled the 76 man infantry
company and 16 man artillery platoon from
a wooden building on campus
• The Purdue military department was
activated and deployed to fight in the
Spanish-American War in 1898
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
Military Training
• In 1902, Captain Ira Reeves reorganized the
419 man corps into a regiment of infantry, a
battery of artillery, and a forty piece band
• On the centennial of the Battle of
Tippecanoe, November 7, 1911, the Purdue
cadets reenacted the battle in front of 60,000
spectators
• On February 24, 1916, the old wooden
Armory burned down from an overheated
coal stove
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• The Reserve Officers Training Corps was
officially authorized by the National Defense Act
of June 3, 1916
• During World War I, a total of 3,868 Purdue
students, graduates, and faculty members
served in the military
• The Armory we are now in was completed in
1918 at a cost to the university of $200,000
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• ROTC was then re-established in 1919 and the
corps was organized into a motorized Field
Artillery unit to better fit in with the courses of
instruction offered at Purdue
• Purdue ROTC became primarily an institution
to train Field Artillery officers for the Army
• Purdue provided 1/8 of all reserve artillery
officers between the two World Wars
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• In 1941, just prior to involvement in World
War II, Purdue ROTC enrollment reached its
max at 2,354 cadets
• Throughout World War II, the War
Department established a number of training
programs for universities to train and recruit
both officers and enlisted men
• Purdue even had an Administrative Course
for the Women’s Army Corps
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• After World War II, Purdue’s ROTC
department changed to a branch immaterial
Basic Course with an Advanced Course for
Ordnance, Artillery, Air Corps, and
Transportation
• Frederick L. Hovde, who headed US rocket
development during World War II, became
president of the University in 1946 and
expanded enrollment from 6,000 to 34,000
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• In 1947, Purdue’s ROTC department added
specialized training for the Corps of
Engineers, Chemical Corps, and Signal
Corps
• In 1949, the Air Corps split into the Air Force
and the Air Force ROTC was created at
Purdue
• In 1957 the Purdue Honor Guard was
organized and met President Kennedy in
1962 as national champions
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• The Ranger Company was formed in 1965 to
expand cadets’ knowledge in infantry tactics
• Until the 1965-66 school year, ROTC was
mandatory for 17-21 year old males enrollment for the 1966 school year dropped
from 1,745 to 540
• The 1973 school year was the first year that
women were authorized to enroll in ROTC
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
ROTC
• The most distinguished ROTC graduate from
2nd Region in 1978 was a Purdue woman
cadet
• In 1989 and 1997, Purdue Army ROTC earned
the McArthur Award for the best ROTC unit in
the nation
• In 1998 Purdue Army ROTC reestablished its
Field Artillery roots by incorporating a cannon
squad to fire a cannon during football
games whenever the Boilers score
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
Boiler Heroes
• One of the first Chiefs of Staff of the Army,
MG Leslie McNair served as the PMS from
1924-1928
• In 1903, the first drill manual for ROTC units
was written by Boiler cadre member Captain
Reeves - this manual is now housed in the
Cadet Command museum in Ft. Monroe, VA
• Since 1974, the Hall of Fame has honored 120
Purdue ROTC graduates for outstanding
achievement in government, business, and
military leadership
Training to Lead
Purdue ROTC History
2LT Harry J. Michael
• Commissioned in December 1944 and sent to
Europe as an infantry platoon leader
• From 13-14 March 1944, personally killed more
than 12 enemy, captured 68, and destroyed or
captured at least 5 enemy positions in action
near Neiderzerf, Germany
• Killed by a sniper on 14 March 1945
• Awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions
• Armory Drill Floor named in his honor
Training to Lead