This edition is filled with examples of brother patriots that not only served their nation in uniform, but in the some of the highest offices in the land. We also sadly must not forget the brother who made the ultimate sacrifice three years ago this week.
1933
07 JAN
Brother / Lieutenant Commander Raymond Kendel Banks, US Navy – Pilot (Retired) (TX Beta / North Texas University) was born on this day in Little Elm, TX. Brother Banks joined the Navy after graduation and had an outstanding career as a carrier pilot.
1941
03 JAN
Brother / Congressman / First Lieutenant Paul Harvey Cunningham, US Army – WWI – Infantry (school affiliation unknown) was sworn in on this day as a member of the Seventy-seventh Congress. Brother Cunningham served the people of Iowa’s 6th District until 1943 when he was elected to serve the 5th District.
1949
03 JAN
This was the first day in office for the thirteenth governor of Montana, Brother / Colonel John Woodrow Bonner, US Army – WWII (MT Alpha / University Montana ’27). Brother Bonner served as Governor until 1953. Brother Bonner’s military honors include the Bronze Star and Croix de Guere.
1953
03 JAN
On this day, Brother / Congressman / Captain Donald Ray Matthews, US Army – WWII – Infantry (FL Alpha / University of Florida ’29) was sworn in as a member of the Eighty-third Congress of the United States joining Brother Cunningham.
04 JAN
This marks the end of the term for Brother / Colonel John Woodrow Bonner as Governor of Montana.
1955
03 JAN
Brother / Major / Congressman William Pat Jennings, US Army – WWII – Europe (VA Kappa / Virginia Polytechnic Institute ’41) was elected to represent the people of Virginia’s 9th congressional district, and was sworn in this day as a member of (the Eighty-fourth) Congress joining brothers Cunningham, Matthews, and William Munford Tuck.
Brother Jennings entered the United States Army in JUL 1941, and served in the European Theater of Operations for two and a half years with the Twenty-ninth Infantry as platoon leader, company commander, and operations officer. Upon his return to the States William became an instructor in ROTC at the University of Illinois, and was discharged from the Army as a major in MAY 1946.
1959
03 JAN
Brother / Congressman Paul Harvey Cunningham completed 18 years of service in the US Congress on this day.
1963
08 JAN
On this day, Brother / Governor John Arthur Love, US Navy – WWII – Pilot (CO Beta / University of Denver ’38) began his service as Governor of Colorado – an office he would hold for 10 years.
To the best of my knowledge, Brother Love is the only SigEp to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice.
1967
03 JAN
This marks the last day of congressional service for brothers Donald Ray Matthews and William Pat Jennings.
1969
03 JAN
On this day, Brother / Congressman William Munford Tuck, US Marine Corps – WWI (VA Delta / William & Mary (attended) and VA Epsilon / Washington and Lee University ‘21 (graduated; unsure where he became a SigEp)) served his last day in Congress and as the representative from Virginia’s 5th District.
1997
07 JAN
This marks the day that Brother / Sergeant First Class John William “Bill” Rambo, US Army / Tennessee National Guard; POW – Korean War (TN Alpha / University of Tennessee ’58) was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 70 Site 1706.
2000
02 JAN (late entry)
After finding conflicting reporting, it is confirmed that Renaissance Brother / Admiral Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr., US Navy (Retired) – WWII, Korean War, Vietnam died on this day at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. He was subsequently laid to rest on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD.
Brother Zumwalt, an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, attended Tulare Union High School in Tulare, California, where he became the valedictorian, and Rutherford Preparatory School in Long Beach.
In 1939, Zumwalt was accepted to the USNA. As a midshipman, he was president of the Trident Society and vice president of the Quarterback Society. Zumwalt was also a Company Commander (1941) and Regimental Three Striper (1942). He graduated with distinction and was commissioned as an Ensign on 19 JUN 1942.
At age 49, Brother Zumwalt was the youngest four-star Admiral in US naval history and when he became the 19th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO – the highest office an officer can hold in the Navy) he was the youngest man to do so.
During his 32 years of Naval service, Brother Zumwalt played a major role in US military history, especially during the Vietnam War. A highly-decorated war veteran, ADM Zumwalt reformed Naval personnel policies in an effort to improve enlisted life, ease racial tensions, and eliminate sexual discrimination.
His many military medals and decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (with two gold stars in lieu of second and third award), Legion of Merit (with one gold award star in lieu of second award), a Bronze Star with Combat "V" denoting the award was earned for Valor, and a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V".
According to Brother Chuck White, Admiral Zumwalt was initiated by the Connecticut Alpha Chapter in New York City in April 1985. However, multiple online resources state he was initiated in 1980 including http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmo_Zumwalt which contains information confirmed by Navy biographers. To make things a bit muddier, The Journal of Sigma Phi Epsilon Volume 98, Number 1 from Spring 2000 stated, “SigEp mourns the passing of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt (Connecticut '42) who served as Chief of Naval Operations during a turbulent era and was famous for his celebrated "Z-grams." Brother Zumwalt was still attending the USNA in 1942 when that edition of the Journal was released.
2002
08 JAN
Renaissance Brother / Staff Sergeant David “Dave” Thomas, US Army – Korean War, Germany (NC Gamma / Duke University) died on this day.
At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, at 18-years-old, rather than waiting for the draft, Brother Thomas volunteered for the US Army in order to have some choice in assignments. Having food production and service experience, Dave requested the Cook's and Baker's School at Fort Benning, GA.
He was sent overseas to Germany as a mess sergeant and became one of the youngest soldiers to manage the Enlisted Men’s Club – responsible for the daily meals of more than 2000 soldiers.
Brother Thomas rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant before he was discharged in 1953.
2008
09 JAN
Gone but not forgotten. This day marks three years since Brother / Staff Sergeant Jonathan Kilian Dozier, US Army – Iraq – KIA (Middle Tennessee State University) died in Sinsil, Iraq of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. Brother Dozier was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Vilseck, Germany. He was just 30 years old.
Born in Norfolk, he was the son of Carl M. Dozier and Martha D. Cabe. Jonathan attended Great Bridge Schools, Fork Union Military Academy, VCU and Middle Tennessee State University. During his tenure in the US Army, he was decorated with the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, NCOPD Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge and Expert Rifle Badge.
Brother Dozier was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 60 Site 8727.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Saving Grace Memorial Fund, for the future needs of his daughter, Emma Grace Dozier, C/O any Bank of Hampton Roads Branch, or by mail, 239 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23322.
2009
04 JAN
At the age of 99, Brother Neil C. Pascoe, US Army (GA Alpha / Georgia Institute of Technology & VA Epsilon / Washington and Lee University ’34) passed away on this day in Naples, FL. Born in Easton, PA, he resided in Branchville for many years. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and was a graduate of Washington and Lee University's class of 1934.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the US Army and was a life member of Private Peter S. Hotalen Post No. 157, and a past Sussex County Commander of the American Legion.
Brother Pascoe was interned at Branchville. Contributions in remembrance may be made to the Branchville Presbyterian Church or to the Vanderbuilt Presbyterian Church in Naples.
2010
07/08 JAN
While the exact date of his death isn’t listed, the Miami Herald announced on 07 JAN that Brother Russell Jeffries McGraw, Jr., US Air Force (FL Gamma / University of Miami ’51) passed away. Brother McGraw is “survived by a sister, Noreen Manella, four daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandchildren. Graduated from St. Theresa HS in Coral Gables and U of M. Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, served in the USAF, participated with the Coral Gables Country Club Theater Group.” Services were held Friday, 08 JAN 2010 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery, Doral, FL. Donations may be sent to GA Chapter- Alzheimer's Association 1925 Century Blvd., N.E., #10, Atlanta, GA 30345-3315.”
Good news stories for the week!
An update from the Facebook page of Brother / Specialist Kyle Hicks, US Army (AL Theta) who was seriously injured in a car crash on Thanksgiving Day while on leave from Afghanistan, “Kyle is at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for acute inpatient rehab. His visiting hours are limited due to the strict rehab schedule. I will let you know when it is appropriate for visitors. I know everyone wants to see him right now, but he is working hard to get better. WE LOVE YA'LL! Bob, Lynn and Kevin”
Brother / First Lieutenant Kyle Davis, US Marine Corps (GA Epsilon) takes command of his first company.
Brothers Charles Coassin (CA Alpha) and Eric Redding (MI Epsilon) are two of the Navy’s newest Ensigns. GO NAVY!
Brother and now Second Lieutenant Ryan Zipper (IN Beta) who accepted a United States Air Force health professions scholarship, and was sworn in to the USAF 04 JAN by his brother, a Second Lieutenant in pilot training. In a few years we will be calling him Dr. Zipper.
Fraternally and Respectfully,
Ed Jones
Chief, USNR
NY Eta/Buffalo State College
