Brothers,
Three
Brothers were killed in action during this week in our history, and on Monday
the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) welcomed home a SigEp Patriot from Afghanistan
who has multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11.
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| Awards for Valor presented by the U.S. military |
21 JUN
1918
On this
date, OH Gamma Brother First Lieutenant Robert L. Tavenner, U.S. Army began his
World War I service with the 37th Division of the American Expeditionary Force,
and would see action in France & Belgium. According to the SPP archives,
Brother Tavenner is the third of six SigEp Patriots known to have been awarded
the ADSC.
18 JUN
1940
KY
Epsilon Brother Joseph F. Odle, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on this
date. During WWII he served at the Battle of Solomon Islands.
16 JUN
1941
WI Alpha
Brother William H. Zuehlke, Jr., entered the U.S. Navy Reserve on this date,
and, according to the SPP archives, the Class of 1936 Lawrence University
graduate had one of the longest overseas deployments of any SigEp Patriot who
served during WWII.
16 JUN
1942
NH Alpha
Brother William B. Perry graduated with the Class of '42 at Dartmouth College,
and began his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps on this date. Before his
discharge three years later William would serve on Saipan.
17 JUN
1942
Richmond
native and member of the Class of 1941 at Richmond College (now University of
Richmond), VA Alpha Brother John B Blanton, Jr. enlisted as a Private in the
U.S. Army on this date. Two-and-a-half years later, while serving with the 17th
Airborne Division, Brother Blanton was killed in action during the Battle of
the Bulge.
19 JUN
1942
On this
date, Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was
commissioned an Ensign, U.S. Navy. He went on to serve in World War II, as well
as the Korean and Vietnam wars in a notable career that included appointment as
the youngest U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) - the highest ranking
officer in the Navy. As the 19th CNO, Admiral Zumwalt reformed U.S. Navy
personnel policies in an effort to improve enlisted life and ease racial
tensions. He was initiated a Renaissance Brother by the CT Alpha Chapter in 1985
– 11 years after his retirement from the Navy.
21 JUN
1942
VT Alpha
Brother Norman Stanley, Norwich University Class of '41, joined the Field
Artillery Branch of the U.S. Army on this date.
17 JUN
1943
PA
Epsilon Brother Earl A. Brawn, graduated from Lehigh University with the Class
of '43, and began his enlistment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on this
date.
19 JUN
1944
On this
date, World War II Veteran of D-Day and IA Gamma Brother Lieutenant Colonel
Fred Alvin Steiner, U.S. Army made the ultimate sacrifice in Normandy, France
while serving as Executive Officer of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry
Division.
SPP has
documentation showing Fred registered for the World War I draft and attended
training at Fort Sheridan, but it remains unclear whether he served overseas
prior to the conclusion of the war.
His
awards include the ADSC for service on D-Day, Silver Star for gallantry in
action on 12 JUN, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Fred is the fifth brother to
receive the ADSC.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Steiner at Section 6, Site 78 at Fort Rosecrans National
Cemetery, San Diego, CA.
20 JUN
1945
World
War II Veteran of D-Day & Operation Market Garden, DE Alpha Brother Robert
A. Shurter, Jr., U.S. Army began his assignment as Sergeant Major of the 506th
Parachute Infantry on this date during the occupation of Austria, and remained
in that position through redeployment of the 506th to the U.S.
16 JUN
1946
World
War II Veteran and MD Alpha Brother Technician Fourth Grade Neil P. Pratt, U.S.
Army served in the Medical Corps and was discharged on this date after more
than two years of service, 17 months of which were in the European Theater.
21 JUN
1946
World
War II Veteran and NJ Alpha Brother Lieutenant Milton P. Franklin, U.S. Navy
Reserve was released from active duty on this date after more than four years
of service.
22 JUN
1967
On this
date, National Guard (Alabama) Veteran of the Mexican War and decorated U.S.
Marine Corps World War I & II Veteran, AL Alpha Brother General Franklin A.
Hart, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) died at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in
Maryland at the age of 72.
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| Brother Hart |
The
Class of 1915 graduate of (then) Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn
University) was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps in APR 1917
- shortly before the U.S. entered WWI.
During
WWII, (then) Colonel Hart was awarded the Navy Cross while commanding the 24th
Marine Regiment in the assault and capture of Roi-Namur Island, Kwajalein
Atoll. The citation reads in part:
"Landing
when the assault troops had advanced only one hundred yards from the beach,
Colonel Hart fearlessly led his combat team against heavy enemy resistance in a
crushing attack toward its first objective." "After repelling
numerous counter attacks during the night, he skillfully reorganized his
depleted units and affected a coordinated assault the next morning, rapidly
overcoming all remaining opposition, and exterminating a large force of
determined and fanatical Japanese." "By his valiant performance of
duty and outstanding leadership throughout this perilous assignment, Colonel
Hart inspired all with whom he served."
According
to the SPP archives, Franklin was the second SigEp Patriot to be awarded the
Navy Cross.
After
the war, Franklin’s assignments included Commanding General of Marine Corps
Recruit Depot Parris Island, Commanding General of the Second Marine Division,
and finally Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, before retiring in
AUG 1954. At which time he was advanced to the rank of General (four stars).
His
other personal awards include the Legion of Merit (with V device [valor]) and
Bronze Star (with V device).
Respect
can be paid to Brother Hart at Section 7, Grave 8264 in Arlington National
Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
21 JUN 1969
On this
date, Vietnam War Veteran and IA Gamma Brother First Lieutenant William Lee
Peters, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps Reserve made the ultimate sacrifice when his
helicopter crashed while engaging the enemy during the insertion of a recon
team 22 miles WNW of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. Brother
Peters was a pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED
SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-165), Marine Aircraft Group SIXTEEN (MAG-16), First Marine
Aircraft Wing (1ST MAW).
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| Brother Peters |
In
separation actions, as a result of his conduct against the enemy on 12 APR
1969, William was awarded the Navy Cross. He is the last SigEp Patriot known to
have been awarded the second highest military decoration bestowed to a member
of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.
In
subsequent valorous action just 13 days before his death, Brother Peters
fearlessly extracted a team of recon Marines earning him the Silver Star (the
third highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to any person
serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces).
William
is honored on The Wall – the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – on Panel 22W Line 107.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Peters at Elmwood Cemetery, De Witt, IA.
16 JUN
1981
World
War I & II Veteran and VA Theta Brother Colonel Hugh A. Murrill, Jr., U.S.
Army died on this date. Brother Murrill was a graduate of Virginia Military
Institute and West Point (MAY 1918) – where he was class president, and he
served as an aide-de-camp to (then) Brigadier General Omar Bradley, with the 82nd
Division, and later as aide to Major General Sturgis.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Murrill at Quaker Cemetery, Camden, SC.
21 JUN
2001
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| Brother O'Connor |
After
the war, he enrolled at the University of Montana to study English. While
there, Brother O’Connor became interested in theater. Carroll moved to Ireland
to help his brother get in to medical school there, and he resumed his
theatrical studies at the National University of Ireland. He returned to the
States in 1954 after working in theater in Europe.
Carroll
auditioned for the role of The Skipper on “Gilligan's Island”, and was
considered for the role of Dr. Zachary Smith on the series “Lost in Space.”
During the 1960’s, he appeared in quite a few movies including “In Harm's Way,”
“The Devil's Brigade,” and my favorite - “Kelly's Heroes.” A pilot for the TV
show “Those Were The Days” was first shot in 1968 based on the English hit,
“Till Death Do Us Part,” but was rejected by the networks. In 1971, it was
re-shot and re-cast as “All in the Family” and the rest is history. Archie
Bunker, Carroll's character on the show, was ranked #24 in TV Guide's list of
the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time.”
From
1993 to 1997, Brother O’Connor was a spokesperson for Partnership for a Drug
Free America, and he was instrumental in the passage of the Drug Dealers Civil
Liability Act in California. The Act came about as a result of his son's drug-related
suicide.
Carroll
passed away on the same day as blues legend John Lee Hooker. Coincidentally,
their stars are right next to one another on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7080
Hollywood Boulevard.
Respect
can be paid to Brother O’Connor at Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, CA.
21 JUN
2003
U.S.
Veteran and NY Beta Brother George O. Gray died on this date. Cornell
University Class of 1930.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Gray at Rose Cemetery in Rose, NY.
18 JUN
2005
The
fifth SigEp killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom died on this date. He was 23
years old.
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| Brother Harris |
Noah’s
father, Rick Harris of Ellijay, GA, said his son joined the Army after the
Sept. 11th terrorist attacks while attending University of Georgia (UGA),
telling his father that people “must serve some higher purpose than yourself in
life.”
Noah
enjoyed giving stuffed animals and soccer balls to Iraqi children. He was known
for having bullets in one pocket, Beanie Babies in the other. Members of his
unit stated that for every bullet Noah shot from his weapon, he must have
handed out 10 Beanie Babies. To raise morale in his unit, he organized a pen
pal program that paired his fellow soldiers with UGA students.
Born to
be a SigEp, Noah was captain and most valuable player of his high school's
football team, won a state individual wrestling title, and later named the
state’s high school Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1999. At UGA, in addition to
SigEp, Brother Harris was an ROTC Cadet, and active volunteer with Watch Dawgs,
a student organization dedicated to preventing alcohol-related accidents and
incidents by giving students free rides home after a late night in downtown
Athens. He was perhaps most visible as a member of UGA's cheerleading squad
from 1999 to 2002, where his athletic gifts and his outgoing personality could
both be fully utilized. He captained the squad in 2001.
The
weight room in the military science building at UGA was named in Noah’s honor.
Brother
Harris’ ashes were scattered, but respect can be paid to him at his cenotaph
along the Warriors Walk Memorial at Fort Stewart, GA.
18 JUN
2008
World
War II Veteran and CA Beta Brother Captain Richard E. Barrett, U.S. Army Air
Corps died on this date. Richard served in the Pacific Theater, specializing in
intercepting and decoding Japanese messages during 2 1/2 years in the Air
Corps.
After
returning home from the war, he formed Barsa Company, selling U.S. products
overseas. Richard published and exported Encyclopedia Britannica, medical
books, bibles, and dictionaries in Spanish and Portuguese, employing over 5000
people worldwide. After selling Barsa Company in 1967, he settled in Newport
Beach where he lived with his family for 41 years and pursued other
investments. Dick was a major contributor to Hoag Hospital, USC, and other
philanthropic organizations.
Editor’s
Note: According to an article in The Journal, during WWII CA Beta had at least
210 brothers serving in uniform. During nearly 13 years of research, SPP has
been able to find the names of 149 such brothers.
How many
brothers from your chapter served in the U.S. military?
16 JUN
2010
U.S.
Navy World War II Veteran WA Beta Brother Theodore O. “Ted” Schimanski, 92,
died on this date at Richland Rehabilitation Center, Richland, Washington.
During WWII, he served in communications aboard a U.S. Navy ship as a radioman,
and upon his return from the war, Ted was employed by Western Electric, then
Pacific NW Bell for 31 years as a manager.
Memorial
contributions may be made to the First Tee Program (The First Tee of the Inland
Northwest, PO Box 4553, Spokane, WA 99220).
16 JUN
2012
Two U.S.
Army World War II SigEp Patriots died on this date.
U.S.
Army World War II Veteran and KS Beta Brother Edwin “Ed” S. Darden II, 91, died
at his home in Fresno, California. He served four years during WWII in the U.S.
Army, and was attached to the Army Air Corps for the last two years.
Ed was a
track star in high school and college, and graduated from his beloved Kansas
State University with a degree in Architectural-Engineering.
Brother
Darden's professional life was full of accomplishments. He was the founder of
Darden Architects in 1959, and credited with many innovations in school
planning and design. He was very active in the American Institute of
Architects, elected to Fellowship in 1975, and was certified Who's Who in
America in 1986.
Ed
served as a professional adviser to Fresno County and on the California State
Advisory Board to the Office of Architecture and Construction. He was on the
Board of Directors for Murphy Bank, Past President of Merced Lions Club, and
Charter Member of Fresno Breakfast Lions Club.
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| Brother Rickman |
Dean was
honored as an outstanding track star and athlete earning him a track
scholarship to the University of Southern California where he competed in
dashes, low hurdles and the broad jump against the best athletes of his time.
Brother Rickman finished 4th in the 1941 NCAA finals 100 yard dash at Stanford.
After
the war, Dean continued worked with his father and brother to found Freightways
truck line. During his twenty years as president, he represented independent
truckers in negotiations with Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa, advised
General Mills, Firestone and other corporate managers on trucking issues, and
expanded operations throughout the Midwest.
Respect
can be paid to Brother Rickman at Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in
Wichita.
18 JUN
2012
On this
date, two more military brothers died.
U.S.
Navy Veteran NC Zeta Brother Barnie P. Trimble, 83, of Utopia, Texas. He
graduated from high school in 1946 and joined the Navy, serving from 1946-48.
He graduated from Wake Forest with a bachelor's degree in business in 1952.
After
graduating, he worked for Dupont Chemical in Martinsville, Va. After working
his entire career with DuPont, living in several different locations, he
retired from the company in Houston, Texas as a senior supervisor.
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| Brother Fogelgren |
During
his youth, he was very active in the YMCA and in scouting, achieving the rank
of Eagle Scout. After his military service, Roy spent a majority of his career
as a Sales and Marketing Executive for the Digital Equipment Corporation and
NEC. Roy served many years on the board of directors at New England Deaconess
Association, a non-profit retirement community.
21 JUN
2012
Merchant
Marine World War II Veteran and U.S. Army Korean War Veteran FL Alpha Past
President Grover E. Baker died on this date of Alzheimer's Disease. After
graduating from high school in 1942, he wanted to go to war with his buddies,
but he was turned down because of his poor eyesight. Not to be denied, Grover
joined the Merchant Marines, and served for two years before going to the
University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor's in Business. After his
graduation, he was called into the Army during the Korean War and played the
trombone and bass fiddle at various bases in the U.S.
After
his Korean War service, Grover returned to Miami and joined in his father's
business, Baker's Carpet Company, Miami's first and oldest specialist in
Oriental rugs and general carpet sales.
Grover
gave his body to the State of Florida for use in medical research and
education, and after his cremation his remains were released in the Gulf of
Mexico.
17 JUN
2013
Last
year, VA Alpha Brother Lieutenant Junior Grade Howell Lewis, U.S. Navy
died on this date. In 1952, Brother Lewis joined the Navy after graduating from
the University of Richmond, and served at the Patuxent River Naval Air Training
Center.
After
leaving the Navy, Howell joined the Dow Chemical Company as an accountant. He
remained with the company through its transitions from Dow Chemical to Dow
Badische to Badische Corporation to BASF Corporation. He retired from BASF in
1993 after serving as Vice President of Planning and Controlling.
RECENT
LOSSES TO THE ROLL
* 10 JUN
– Korean War Veteran and IL Alpha Brother First Lieutenant Ted Bockman, U.S.
Army passed away in Santa Cruz, California at the age of 85 following a hard
fought battle with cancer. Ted was in the Armored Calvary Division, and served
as a tank commander.
* 17 JUN
- U.S. Army Air Corps World War II Veteran VA Alpha Past President Edward L.
Kurtz, 86, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away peacefully after a brief illness.
Ed was a fine steward of the community, and was recognized by the University of
Richmond with a Distinguished Service Award. In lieu of flowers, the family
asked that contributions be made to River Road Presbyterian Church or to the E.
Claiborne Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond.
Our
thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of
Brothers Kurtz and Bockman. SPP will never forget you.
SIGEP
PATRIOT NEWS
**
Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran and CA Eta Brother Second Lieutenant Andrew
Yacovone, U.S. Army has reported he is now officially a combat platoon leader.
Andrew is currently leading troops in Afghanistan, and had his first successful
mission on 16 JUN. Best of luck to Andrew and his troopers!
**Late
on 16 JUN, HI Alpha Brother and veteran of multiple tours in Iraq and
Afghanistan, Major Siegfried Ramil, U.S. Army arrived back in the U.S.A. after
another successful deployment when he landed at Baltimore-Washington
International Airport. Welcome Home Brother!
** OH
Theta Brother Second Lieutenant Ben Garner, U.S. Air Force has nearly completed
flight training, and he learned on Friday that he will be assigned to an F-15C
(Eagle) squadron! Good hunting Ben!
** CA
Theta Brother Second Lieutenant Ted Hornstra, U.S. Army reported this week that
he has nearly earned his blue cord as an official Infantry Lieutenant. He is
scheduled to complete IBOLC in a couple of days as things are "winding
down." Congratulations Ted!
** Two
SigEp Patriots got engaged yesterday! On his Facebook page, U.S. Navy &
Marine Corps Veteran, PA Gamma Brother Mike Boggs is all smiles in a picture
with his fiancée, Miss Cate King. DC Alpha Brother Ensign Tom Cullen, U.S. Navy
heard that one word he was looking for, "Yes!" when he asked Miss
Carol Campbell to marry him. Congratulations to Mike & Tom, their fiancées,
and their families.
There
are many brothers serving in uniform around the world accomplishing great
things, and we look forward to hearing from military and non-military brothers
who are interested in sharing those items.
SPP
UPDATES
*
Storming ahead! The SPP archives grew by 109 additional SigEp Patriots this
week. Thank you to all the contributors. Keep the information coming guys!
* This
week, SigEp Patriot AL Theta Brother James Myrick joined SPP's official
Facebook page - SigEps Who Serve. Welcome aboard James! To join the group, go
to http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve.
* Not on
Facebook? Write an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com to request an invitation
to join over 100 SigEp Patriots on the SPP email listserve.
* Join
89 others and follow us on Twitter
Fraternally
and Respectfully,
Brother
Ed Jones, NY Eta ‘96
Chief
Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder,
SigEp Patriots Project
Email:
SigEpsWhoServe@gmail.com
Twitter:
@SigEpsWhoServe
