SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) Update
* 4310! The SPP
archives now contain information about 4,310 Brothers who serve/served in the
U.S. military.* 621! SigEps Who Serve – the official SPP Facebook group and the only such group comprised solely of SigEps Patriots – now has 621 members! Don’t worry if you are not on Facebook, there is also a listserve that has about 100 brothers-in-arms.
Are you a Brother who serves/served? Please let
us know by emailing sigepswhoserve@gmail.com
or go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve
to join your brothers-in-arms. We will ask for your home chapter, rank, branch
of service (Army, Navy, Air National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard,
etc), military status (active, reserve, retired, etc) and whether you are a
combat veteran.
Perhaps you know of such a Brother. Please help
SPP find our fellow SigEp Patriots by passing our contact information to him.
03
OCT 1918
World War I Veteran and NH Alpha Brother Private First
Class Charles Enos Tayntor, U.S. Army Ambulance Service died on
this date in Revigny-sur-Ornain, France of double pneumonia. Born in 1896, Brother Tayntor
was a member of the Medical Corps, Base Hospital Unit 83, American
Expeditionary Forces (AEF). He was called in to the service in JUN 1918, and
after state-side training he sailed for France in September. Charles landed
first in England, and he was in France but a few days before his death.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Tayntor at Westfield Cemetery in Danielson, CT.
 |
| USS Forrestal (CV-59) |
01 OCT 1955
The
first U.S. super carrier, USS Forrestal
(CV-59), was commissioned on this date, and named in honor of World War I
Veteran, first Secretary of Defense and NH Alpha Brother Lieutenant James Vincent Forrestal, U.S. Navy
Reserve. Forrestal was the second
U.S. Navy ship named in honor of a SigEp Patriot.World War II Veteran VA Epsilon Brother James Green Watson died on this date.
On this date, Vietnam War Veteran and KS Beta Brother Captain James Downs Latham, U.S. Air Force was on a mission over North Vietnam in his F-4E “Phantom II” fighter when he was shot down and immediately captured. At the time, James was a pilot assigned to the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron during his second tour in Vietnam.
Over
the next five weeks he was kept apart from his co-pilot in various bunkers
before reunited for a long truck ride to Hanoi which lasted three weeks. When
finally put in with other Americans, Brother Latham spent time in the “Hanoi
Hilton” and the “Zoo” until released after 175 days in captivity.
“During
my brief period as a POW many things became apparent to me. But the one that
really made an impression on me was the value of freedom. I'm afraid people will never know how
valuable freedom is until they have to live without it. After being held
prisoner for four weeks in lower North Vietnam, the frustrations of captivity
really got to me and I attempted to escape. Although I was free for only six or
seven hours and the punishment received upon recapture was brutal, I became
aware for the first time why men were willing to give their lives to be free.”
U.S. Army World War II Veteran and PA Delta President Louis Youmans Errickson died on this date in Haddonfield, New Jersey. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army in China, Burma and India.
Following
his military service, Brother Errickson graduated from University of
Pennsylvania. For over 35 years he worked for Strawbridge & Clothier in
Philadelphia.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Errickson at Haddonfield Baptist Cemetery in
Haddonfield, NJ.
30 SEP 2009
U.S. Marine
Corps Veteran MO Alpha Brother Sam Knott, Jr., 72, died in McKinney,
Texas on this date. Sam proudly served his country in the Corps after
graduating from college. After graduation, Brother Knott began a 40 year
career in the sporting goods industry at Elliott Knott Sporting Goods, a
retailer in the Kansas City area. He later managed sales at SpotBilt Shoes,
Swingster Athletic, and retired as VP International Sales and Marketing with
Dunbrooke Sports Apparel, Division of American Marketing.
Sam
attended the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and Baker University in
Baldwin, KS.
01
OCT 2009
On
this date, World War II Veteran and AL Alpha Brother Corporal Joseph Ambrose Brannan, Jr., U.S. Army Air Corps died peacefully at
Columbus Hospice House in Columbus, Georgia following a brief illness. He
attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship before leaving to
join the U.S. Army Air Corps where he served as a Corporal. Joseph returned
from his military service, realized that his true team colors were orange and
blue, and decided to attend Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn
University.
Brother
Brannan received a Bachelor of Building Construction Degree in 1949. Upon
graduation, he worked for Murphy Pound Construction Company. In 1954, he opened
Brannan-Cummings Construction Company which operated until his retirement in
1990. The company was known for the quality of their work, building many
churches and schools in the Columbus area, including St. Anne Church, Pacelli
High School Library, and the Convent Building for the Sisters of Mercy. He
served as one of the first coaches of the Pacelli football team, and was a
charter member of Green Island Country Club.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Brannan at Parkhill
Cemetery in Columbus.
 |
| NE Beta Brother William F. Gust |
05 OCT 2009
Vietnam
War Veteran and NE Beta Brother Doctor Captain William Fritz Gust, U.S. Army died in his Omaha, Nebraska home at
the age of 69. Before beginning his successful civilian medical career, Brother
Gust served two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. His awards include the
Bronze Star with “V” device and an oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal
and Combat Medics Badge.
An
Omaha native, Brother Gust retired in 2009 after 37 years on the faculty and
staff of University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the VA
Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System.
A
longtime physician-educator at the UNMC, included serving as assistant
professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine and as director of the
UNMC Hypertension Clinic. From 1984 to 1997, he was director of UNMC's
continuing education program, and played a key role in UNMC's state-of-the-art
distance education system.
At
the VA, his assignments included section chief of general internal medicine, director
of the primary care program, and associate chief of staff for education.
For
more than 20 years, he co-hosted a weekly radio program, "Community Health
Line," on KIOS-FM (91.5). The show concluded in 2007 and is believed to be
the longest-running health program ever on Omaha radio. He also served as host
of "The Wellness Connection," a monthly television program on Cox
Cable's Health and Wellness Channel, and "VA Affairs," a monthly
television program produced by the VA Medical Center.
At
33, Dr. Gust was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his neck. He was
successfully treated but high doses of radiation therapy resulted in
complications later in life that ultimately contributed to his death.
Respect can be paid to Brother Gust at
Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha.
04
OCT 2011
U.S.
Army Korean War Veteran and MI Beta Brother Everardo “Ev” R. Ganz, 81, died on this date at Elkhart General
Hospital in Elkhart, Indiana.
After
his military service and graduating from Western Michigan University, Ev moved
to Syracuse, NY in 1963 to assist his father-in-law in the family business,
American Industries and National Products. He was a former director of the
Wawasee High School Building Trades for several years. Brother Ganz also helped
found the Syracuse Jaycees, and served on the Wawasee Flotilla committee for
several years, as a member of the Tippecanoe Country Club, and on the board of
directors of the Lakeland Youth Center.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Ganz at Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse.
04 OCT 2012
World War
II Veteran and PA Delta Brother Captain Charles Shepherd Thompson, Jr., U.S.
Army Air Corps died on this date in Vincetown, New Jersey. While at Penn, Brother
Thompson was active within PA Delta and a participant in the ROTC program.
Immediately following his graduation, Charles enlisted in the Army, and was subsequently
assigned to command troops stationed in the Mediterranean Theater: Tunisia,
Sicily, Rome-Arno, Naples-Foggia, North Apennines PO Valley and the South of
France. In honor of his brave service and successful efforts in North Africa,
Brazil awarded him their Southern Cross.He graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1942 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Charles began his engineering career at Schutes Hydraulic Pump Company located in Ben Salem, PA. In 1959, he continued his engineering career working with E. W. Bliss Co. which evolved into Engineering Arresting Systems Corporation of Aston, PA. a division of Zodiac Aerospace. During his 35 year tenure he helped develop and enhance the military arresting systems and ancillary equipment currently used by the US Air Force along with other worldwide Air Forces. Additionally, while at Zodiac, in addition to mentoring junior engineers, he was the inventor or co-inventor on eight U.S. patents. As a result of Brother Thompson's expertise and valuable contributions to the arresting systems made and refined at Zodiac, the lives of many pilots and their aircraft have been saved. Upon retiring from his successful Engineering career in 1994, he resumed his management of the Birches Cranberry Company on a full time basis.
Respect can be paid to Brother Thompson at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover Township, NJ.
06 OCT 2012
WV Beta
Brother Corporal James Jacob “Jake” Lantz, U.S. Army died on this date
in Hamilton, Ohio. After
graduating from high school in 1946, he entered the U.S. Army as a Medical
Technician. After his return from service, Jake enrolled at West Virginia
University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology.
In
later years, he received a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration from
Central Michigan University. Brother Lantz was employed as Administrator of the
medical laboratory at the Fort Hamilton Hospital for 26 years until retiring in
1989. After retirement, he shared his knowledge for two years as an instructor
for medical assistant students at Southern Ohio College. Jake was also a very
committed advocate for animals and was instrumental in organizing The Animal
Adoption Center.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Lantz at Jolliff Cemetery, Pine Grove, WV.
RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
*Korean War Veteran and OH Gamma Brother James Logan Murray, 80, of Ocala, FL, passed away on 11 SEP. Jim attended the University of Kentucky and graduated from Ohio State University with degrees in Agriculture and Chemistry.
*U.S. Veteran PA Mu Brother Warren C. "Bungy" Rozelle, age 89, passed away 21 SEP at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Canandaigua, NY.
*Army National Guard (West Virginia) WV Gamma President Edward Andrew “Andy” Sigler III passed away after a long illness 24 SEP.
Our
thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of
SigEp Patriots Murray, Rozelle and Sigler. While they are no longer with us,
the greatest casualty is being forgotten, and the SPP pledges these Brothers
will always be remembered.
CELEBRATIONS
*Operations IRAQI
FREEDOM & ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran, TN Beta Brother Aaron Karcher
celebrated his promotion to Major in the U.S. Air Force on 30 SEP!*Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and AL Epsilon Brother Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Leslie N. Long, U.S. Navy and his wife recently bought a house!
Have great news about a promotion, new orders,
the birth of a child or anything else? SPP would love to share it with
everyone! Just send an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.
Fraternally and Very Respectfully,
Brother
Ed Jones, NY Eta ‘96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
