This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 20 – 26 AUG

“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” ~ General George S. Patton, U.S. Army

Brothers,

20 AUG 2007

U.S. Navy Veteran and FL Epsilon Founding Father Major Herbert Luther Marsh, U.S. Air Force (Retired) died on this date in Jacksonville, Florida at the age of 80.

Born 01 JUL 1927 in Jacksonville, Herbert joined the Navy following his graduation from high school, and after completing his tour he attended Florida State University where he was a charter member of FL Epsilon.

He attended Georgetown University, and later joined the Air Force where he rose to the rank of Major and retired with 20 years of service. Major Marsh returned to Jacksonville with his family, becoming the director of the NE FL chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and later the NE FL chapter of the Leukemia Society. He devoted over 20 years to helping those stricken with these diseases. In his most recent years he was the owner of Marsh Tax Services.

Respect can be paid to Brother Marsh at Greenlawn Cemetery in Jacksonville.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL

– U.S. Air Force Korean War Veteran and MS Gamma Renaissance Brother Lieutenant Colonel Paul Francis Weisend, U.S. Air Force Reserve (Retired) passed away 27 JUL 2012 in Glendora, California.

– U.S. Navy Korean War Veteran and PA Delta Brother Commander Robert Twigg Mullen, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) passed away 31 JUL 2012 at the age of 83 in Melbourne, Florida.

– U.S. Army Korean War Veteran AR Gamma Brother James Roy Sulcer passed away 05 AUG 2012 in Hernando, Mississippi.

– U.S. Navy Veteran MI Alpha Brother John Henry Jacobs of Atherton, California passed away at his home on 16 AUG 2012 at the age of 84 after a short battle with Leukemia.

– Korean War Veteran OH Eta Brother Commander Richard Hall “Dick” Allyn , U.S. Navy (Retired) passed away 19 AUG 2012 in Albany, New York.

– U.S. Army World War II Veteran WI Alpha Brother David Joseph Flanagan, Jr. passed away 20 AUG 2012 in New London, Wisconsin. While at Lawrence University (then College), Brother Flanagan was called in to the Army during WWII where he served in France, Australia Belgium and Germany until being transferred to the Philippines.

– IN Beta Brother Captain F. Robert Brueckmann, U.S. Army (Medical Corps) passed also passed away 20 AUG 2012 after a long illness.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of SigEp Patriots Weisend, Mullen, Sulcer, Jacobs, Allyn, Flanagan and Brueckmann. While gone SPP pledges these brothers will never be forgotten.

CELEBRATIONS!

* Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and CA Omega Brother Sergeant Mashruf Ahmed, U.S. Army has been serving in Afghanistan as a civilian for quite a long time, and looks like he is finally headed home. Safe travels, Brother!

* Congratulations to CA Theta Brother James Riggins on his recent promotion to Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps!

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.

SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP) UPDATE

* SPP is honored to welcome U.S. Army Veteran IA Eta Brother Kyle Kouri, TN Kappa Brother Private Andre Parsolo Rivers, U.S. Marine Corps and TN Eta Brother Major James Chase, U.S. Army to SigEps Who Serve – the official Facebook group of the SigEp Patriots Project. Go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve to join nearly 500 brothers-in-arms. All we ask is your military affiliation and home chapter. Please help SPP find our fellow SigEp Patriots by sending them the link.

Fraternally and Very Respectfully,

Brother Ed Jones, NY Eta ‘96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project

sigepswhoserve@gmail.com

Last Week in SigEp Patriot History, 24 - 30 OCT

In this “Last Week” edition:
- A World War I Ace’s activity over France
- Birth of the internet by SigEp Citation recipient
- Death of World War II Veteran and Congressman
- A Brother who made the ultimate sacrifice
- Two more SigEp Patriots passed away this week
- A Brother safely returns from a successful Afghanistan deployment
- The SigEp Patriots Project and the official Facebook group continues to grow

28 & 29 OCT 1918
World War I Veteran and Ace NY Beta Brother Major James Armand Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service had his seventh and eighth (final) aerial kills over Bantheville and Buzancy, France, respectively.

26 OCT 1922
U.S. Army World War II Veteran OH Gamma Brother Robert W. Bishop was born on this date in Cleveland, Ohio.

26 OCT 1936
On this date, MI Alpha Brother First Lieutenant George Henry Cress, U.S. Army was born.

25 OCT 1964
Operation DESERT STORM Veteran MO Lambda Brother Jay Scott Danner, U.S. Air National Guard (Missouri) was born on this date in Maryville, Missouri.

29 OCT 1969
On this date the internet was born when U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and SigEp Citation Recipient OR Alpha Brother Dr. Doug Engelbart’s ARPANET (the precursor to the internet) computer at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) received the first message sent between two nodes. The message, sent from the SDS Sigma 7 computer at UCLA to SRI's SDS 940 computer, was supposed to consist of the word "log", followed by Engelbart's reply of "in", thus spelling the word "log-in". The computer at UCLA crashed after sending only two characters — "lo" — but those letters were instantaneously received at 10:30 PM local time on 29 OCT 1969 at Engelbart's SRI laboratory, making it arguably the birthplace of the internet.

26 OCT 1997
World War II Veteran, FL State Representative, U.S. Congressman and FL Alpha Brother Captain Donald Ray Matthews, U.S. Army died on this date in Gainesville, Florida. Born in Micanopy, FL on 03 OCT 1907, Brother Matthews was a school teacher, principal and member of the Florida state house of representatives before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Discharged at the rank of Captain, Don served as an alternate delegate from Florida to the Democratic National Convention in 1952, and went on represent the Florida 8th District in the U.S. Congress from 1953-67. Respect can be paid to Brother Matthews at the Hawthorne Cemetery, Hawthorne, FL.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 10 - 16 OCT

While putting the finishing touches to this edition of “This Week” I was watching the Chicago Bear – Minnesota Vikings game. In the third quarter, the Bears observed one of their home field traditions of stopping the game to honor and recognize a member of the U.S. military. The Bears are the only team in the NFL that has this tradition.

This is quite an emotional week in SigEp Patriot history. Eight years ago today, Nashville native TX Rho Brother Lieutenant Colonel Kim S. Orlando, U.S. Army was killed in action in Karbala, Iraq. Earlier this week, it was learned that another son of Tennessee made the ultimate sacrifice when TN Eta Brother Captain Joshua S. Lawrence, U.S. Army was killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Our heartfelt condolences to all the families, friends and Brothers who have lost loved ones.

It is because of these and other Brothers that the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) was formed – to honor and recognize the accomplishments and sacrifices of Brothers who serve/served our great nation in the U.S. military and insure they are always remembered. SPP welcomes partnerships in this effort with Richmond as well as representatives from individual chapters.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

Brother
Ed Jones, NY Eta ‘96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com

10 OCT 1918
World War I Veteran and Ace, NY Beta Brother Major James Armand Meissner, U.S. Army had his sixth aerial victory / “kill” on this date over Bantheville, France in a SPAD XIII aircraft.

11 OCT 1923
World War II Veteran NE Alpha Brother Colonel Addis Thompson “Tad” Ward, U.S. Army / U.S. Army Reserve (Retired) was born on this date.

12 OCT 1942
Vietnam War Veteran TN Alpha Brother Major Selman “Sam” L. Bass, U.S. Army (Retired) was born on this date in Madison College, Tennessee.

12 OCT 1961
Kosovo and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Veteran FL Epsilon Brother Colonel William Wesley Wood, U.S. Army was born on 12 OCT 1961 in Lubbock, Texas where his father was serving in the Air Force.