VERMILLION, S.D. — The University of South Dakota football team will honor the United States Army's 24^th Infantry Division in their annual Military Appreciation game in this weekend's contest against the Indiana State.

"We are excited to honor Coach McLeod and the 24^th Infantry Division. There are many members of the University of South Dakota faculty, staff, and broader family that have served in various branches of the military," noted Deputy Athletic Director Corey Jenkins. "This will begin a new tradition of honoring one of those USD community members with each future Military Appreciation game."
 
The Coyotes will honor head strength and conditioning coach Clete McLeod who served as an Airborne Infantryman in the U.S. Army from 1992-95 at Fort Benning (Ga.) (renamed Fort Moore).
 
McLeod served in Echo Company, 1^st Battalion, 18^th Infantry 3^rd (Sledgehammer) Brigade, 24^th Infantry Division (inactivated in 1996).  
 
"I don't think anyone ever signs up for service so they can be honored. I appreciate what the opportunity did for me at a point when I no longer had sports to keep me focused, and still lean on that experience to this day," commented McLeod. "Much like military service, I love that our players get to develop as men and create bonds that will last a lifetime through shared experience, adversity, and accomplishment. I'm grateful for my time served with my teammates and being a part of the Coyote family as well."
 
In honor and recognition for his service to the country, the USD football staff will wear sweatshirts with the unit patch of the 24^th Infantry Division on one arm and the American flag on the opposite arm.
 
The football team will represent the division with the division decal on the helmets, also featuring the USD Flag Paw as the main helmet decal.
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 24^TH INFANTRY DIVISION
What would become the 24^th Infantry Division was constituted in February 1921 in Hawaii as the Hawaiian Division. It would be reorganized in October 1941 as the 24^th Infantry Division during the Second World War.
 
The 24^th was the first American division to take up arms against the enemy following Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
 
Following WWII, the division has seen combat in the Korean War and different operations in Southwest Asia.
 
SOUTH DAKOTA MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT (24^TH INF.)
The state of South Dakota also has a Medal of Honor recipient hailing from the 24^th Infantry. Woodrow Wilson Keeble (1917-1982) of Waubay, Day County, South Dakota was a Master Sergeant belonging to G Company, 2^nd Battalion, 19^th Infantry, 24^th Infantry Division during the Korean War.
 
Keeble was posthumously cited the Medal of Honor for his "distinguished acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his live above and beyond the call of duty in action" on Hill 765, near Sangsan-ni (Korea) for actions on October 20, 1951.
 
Former U.S. President George W. Bush awarded Keeble the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 3, 2008. You can read more about Keeble's gallant actions on the battlefield on the U.S. Army's Medal of Honor page for Master Sergeant Keeble, linked above.
 
Tickets are still available for this weekend's game against the Sycamores at GoYotes.com/Tickets (linked above). Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. from the DakotaDome.