Staff Report

Col. Harvey Shackelford, second from the right, is shown receiving the Palmetto Military Academy Distinguished Alumni Award. He was an honor graduate of PMA Class 1 in 1951. His brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Carey Shackelford, also a graduate of PMA Class 1, is second from the left. At right is Lt. Col. Byron Williams and at left is Lt. Col. Larry Saunders, president of the Palmetto Military Academy Association.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_alumniawardshackelford.jpgCol. Harvey Shackelford, second from the right, is shown receiving the Palmetto Military Academy Distinguished Alumni Award. He was an honor graduate of PMA Class 1 in 1951. His brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Carey Shackelford, also a graduate of PMA Class 1, is second from the left. At right is Lt. Col. Byron Williams and at left is Lt. Col. Larry Saunders, president of the Palmetto Military Academy Association. Courtesy photos

Col. James Lander, middle, receives the Palmetto Military Academy Distinguished Alumni Award during a ceremony held Aug. 15 at Fort Jackson. Lander, who retired in 1985, is a former state senator and served as the state’s comptroller general from 2003 to 2007. At right is Lt. Col. Byron Williams and at left is Lt. Col. Larry Saunders, president of the Palmetto Military Academy Association.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_alumniawardlander.jpgCol. James Lander, middle, receives the Palmetto Military Academy Distinguished Alumni Award during a ceremony held Aug. 15 at Fort Jackson. Lander, who retired in 1985, is a former state senator and served as the state’s comptroller general from 2003 to 2007. At right is Lt. Col. Byron Williams and at left is Lt. Col. Larry Saunders, president of the Palmetto Military Academy Association. Courtesy photos

NEWBERRY — James (Jim) Lander and Harvey Shackelford were recently recognized as Distinguished Alumni of the S.C. Army National Guard’s officer candidate school, Palmetto Military Academy, for overall lifetime military and civilian achievement.

The awards were presented Aug. 15 during graduation ceremonies of Palmetto Military Academy’s Class 66 at the guard’s McCrady Training Center on Fort Jackson. Lander and Shackelford are both retired colonels, Shackelford in 1984 and Lander in 1985.

Shackelford was an honor graduate of PMA Class 1 in 1951, and Lander was an honor graduate of PMA Class 3 in 1953. They are charter members of the PMA Hall of Fame.

During their careers of more than 30 years in the S.C. Army National Guard, they served in command and staff positions of increasing responsibility.

Later assignments included executive officer of the 218th Heavy Separate Brigade, State Plans/Training/Operations Officer, Chief of Staff of the SCARNG in the Office of the Adjutant General of South Carolina where they were the principal advisor to the Adjutant General on issues relating to the Army National Guard.

They were full-time Army National Guard officers for the greater portion of their careers, Lander for 21 years, including five on active duty with a tour in Vietnam and Korea, and Shackelford for 25 years.

They are recipients of numerous military awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. They were awarded the Order of the Palmetto. Lander is also a recipient of the Bronze Star.

They have been active in their community as members and presidents of civic clubs and as deacons and Sunday school teachers in the First Baptist Church of Newberry. They are members of the American Legion and several military associations.

Following retirement, Lander served as the commander of the S.C. State Guard for several years with the state rank of Major General. He was elected to the S.C. Senate in 1994 and served there until elected Comptroller General (2003-2007).

After retirement, Shackelford was the executive director of the National Guard Association of South Carolina. During his 10-year tenure, membership tripled to 8,000, and the association established a scholarship foundation that has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for college scholarships to members of the S.C. National Guard and their dependents.

He was awarded the Distinguished Medal of the National Guard Association of the United States.