Perry McLeod with Ronnie Huff

Students at Richland Northeast High School continue to bridge generations and pay homage to local veterans through their oral history project entitled Our Local Greatest Generation.

The project is the brainchild of Perry McLeod, a history buff and dedicated teacher whose work toward preserving history has earned him a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship and resulted in his being named the SC History Council’s Teacher of the Year.

The project initially focused on WWII veterans but quickly grew to include veterans of all American conflicts, including current wars being waged around the world. Ronnie Huff, a class of 2000 alumnus of RNHS, recently returned to his alma mater to participate in the project prior to leaving for his third tour of duty in Iraq. Huff, an Army Special Ops Paratrooper, said he was glad to return to RNHS to seize upon the chances he has been given in his life and give back to his community. Huff narrowly escaped a devastating bomb during a tour in Iraq and feels he would be remiss if he didn’t make the most of the time he has been given.

Huff grew up in the midst of military families in Woodfield Park and recently bought his boyhood home there. He says the community now faces new challenges due to urban sprawl and other issues. Huff maintains strong ties to the Woodfield community and its residents, and says he will continue to do what he can to help the community. Returning to RNHS is Huff’s way to help maintain and honor the military heritage so strong in the area.

John Robinson and Josh Morgan, former students of McLeod’s who have continued their commitment to the oral history project into their collegiate careers at Clemson and USC, returned to help interview Huff. Both are now heavily vested in McLeod’s efforts to help document the annals of local veterans and show the personal side of war, the side without the media slant that doesn’t make it into the history books.

Huff’s interview included tough questions. His responses gave insight as to what it is really like for a soldier to be in 127º heat on the streets of Fallujah while taking sniper fire. It also gave students insight into the passion and dedication of the American soldier.

The Army National Guard recently partnered with RNHS on the project. National Guard officials hope to help create a video archive of veterans coming back from war. They encourage participation from all veterans and place no qualifications on the type of service. They want a wide variety of perspectives from the men and women who faithfully serve.

Veterans from all branches of service and all conflicts interested in learning more about the project or participating in it are encouraged to contact McLeod by calling 699-2800 or emailing him at pmcleod@rnh.richland2.org.