Last Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 26 / 2014, 01 – 07 SEP

Brother,

The first day of this week marked the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II, a war that would shape the world. The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) works tirelessly to learn about all of our military brothers, but takes particular interest in the WWII patriots as the VA says they are dying at the rate of 1000 a day. Obituaries are one way to learn about a person. However, I can’t possibly articulate the loss we experience if we fail to learn something about these men and their service from them while they are still alive. A shout out to the men of the California Pi chapter who get it, and are working with the Library of Congress’ Veteran’s History Project to interview veterans living near Stanford University.

WWI U.S. Army
Ambulance Service Patch

01 SEP 1918
This marks the date New Hampshire Alpha Brother Private First Class Charles E. Tayntor, U.S. Army Ambulance Service, Army Medical Corps sailed for France for his World War I service in Europe.

05 SEP 1919
World War I Veteran and Ohio Gamma Brother Captain Robert L. Tavenner, U.S. Army completed his service in Europe with the American Expeditionary Force on this date.

01 SEP 1942
On this date, the same year he became a SigEp, Alabama Alpha Brother William H. Weldon joined the U.S. Navy.

05 SEP 1942
A graduate of the University of Delaware (Class of ’34), Delaware Alpha Brother S. Clifford Dunn entered the Army on this date.

05 SEP 1944
Ohio Epsilon Brother Haldean S. Lindsey, member of the Class of ’34 at Ohio Wesleyan, entered the service of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps on this date.

05 SEP 1945
Discharged on this date after nearly 42 months of service was World War II Veteran and District of Columbia Alpha Brother Staff Sergeant Logan P. Crossland, U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC).

07 SEP 1956
A SigEp Patriot made aviation history on this date.

Bell X-2
Photo Credit Wikipedia

Last Week in SigEp Patriot History, 09 – 15 SEP

Brothers,

13 SEP 1944

World War II Veteran and UT Alpha Brother Lieutenant Paul Pratt Reeder, U.S. Navy made the ultimate sacrifice on this date. Brother Reeder was a pilot with VT-22 off of the USS Cowpens (CVL-25) when he was killed in action when his TBM-1C Avenger crashed during the bombing of Negros Island, Philippines. He entered the Naval Air Corps in OCT 1941, and was commissioned JUL 1942 in Corpus Christi, TX. Before he was killed Brother Reeder had participated in four major battles against the Japanese.

Respect can be paid to Brother Reeder at Plot C-41-10 at Smithfield City Cemetery, Smithfield.

14 SEP 1998

On this date, U.S. Army Air Forces World War II Veteran, Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary of the Army, SigEp Citation Recipient and TX Alpha Brother Frederick Herman Korth, 89, died at his home in El Paso, Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas and receiving a law degree from George Washington University, he returned to Fort Worth to practice law, and joined the Air Transport Command with the outbreak of WWII.

TX Alpha Brother
Frederick H. Korth
World War II Veteran

After the war, Fred became president of Continental National Bank, a post he left for two years to serve as an assistant secretary of the Army in the Truman Administration. In 1962, President Kennedy appointed Brother Korth the 57th Secretary of the Navy. It was here that Fred Korth was a part of history in two respects.

 

During those 13 dark days in October 1962, the U.S. Navy stood their ground staring down Soviet freighters carrying nuclear weapons to Cuba. Fred also fought to upgrade our Navy's ships. He saw that nuclear powered ships were the future and that they would be the most effective way to transport our troops and defend our borders. While not successful in making this change at first, time proved him right. After serving as Secretary of the Navy, Brother Korth spent the next 36 years practicing law with his son in Washington, DC.

In 1965, Fred was presented the SigEp Citation.

Brother Korth was laid to rest under a three century old Texas Live Oak on his ranch.

10 SEP 2008

NY Beta Brother Robert S. Spangler died on this date in Concord, North Carolina. He was a veteran, a retired salesman and marketer, and active in the community.

14 SEP 2010

On this date, U.S. Navy Medical Services Corps World War II Veteran and NC Epsilon Brother Samuel Adamson Burgess, Jr. died in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sam studied at Davidson College until he was old enough to volunteer for service in the Navy, Upon the completion of his military service, he returned to Davidson and graduated in 1948.


NC Epsilon Brother
Samuel A Burgess, Jr
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran

After attending the School of Business at Columbia University in New York City, Brother Burgess was employed in the cashier’s office of the Equitable Life Assurance Society in Harrisburg, PA for a year before entering Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA to study for the Presbyterian ministry. Upon graduation in 1952, he was ordained in Sparta, NC by the Presbytery of Winston-Salem and called to the Elkin Presbyterian Church in Elkin, NC.

Sam and his wife soon went to Scotland to engage in Form Critical New Testament Studies at the University of St. Andrews. Upon completing his studies, Sam returned home and became the organizing pastor of a new Presbyterian church in Garner, NC in 1956. During his pastorate, Sam served as a Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1960, 1976, and 1984. Love of community and people led him to serve in various offices and organizations including Boards of Directors of the American Cancer Society and the Triangle Counseling Center, president of the local PTA, and Chaplain for many years at the Garner Civitan Club. Upon retirement in 1990, Sam volunteered his time tutoring students in the field of reading at Vandora Springs Elementary School and providing support to patients as a volunteer at Rex Hospital.

Respect can be paid to Brother Burgess at Williamsburg Cemetery, Kingstree, SC.

09 SEP 2012

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and NH Alpha Brother Edward “Ted” Robert Haskell, 84, died on this date at Southern Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine with his family by his side. Following high school, Ted was accepted at Dartmouth College and then deferred, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1947. After proudly serving in the Marine Corps, he attended Dartmouth, played on the hockey team, and received a business management degree in the Class of 1952.

Brother Haskell worked with his dad to create the Robert Haskell Company, an office products organization, originating in Beverly, MA in 1953. Following the early passing of his dad and the advent of computer technology, the company evolved into Systems Automation, Inc (SAI), and Ted worked to take SAI from one of the prominent Boston area office automation and computer networking companies to one of the nation’s top office automation dealerships.

Ted was a member of the Salem Five Cent Savings Bank Board of Trustees for over 20 years National Association of Accountants, and the Salem Massachusetts Rotary Club Dartmouth College.

Respect can be paid to Brother Haskell at Swampscot Cemetery in Swampscot, MA.

IA Beta Brother
Whitney McCormack
World War II Veteran

10 SEP 2012



World War II Veteran and IA Beta Brother First Lieutenant Whitney “Whit” McCormack, U.S. Army Air Corps died on this date. He was 89 years old. During his three years of WWII service Whit flew C-54 cargo aircraft. Brother McCormack was a longtime member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and worked for Chance Vought or its successors, Northrop and Lockheed Martin.

Respect can be paid to Brother McCormack at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL

* NY Beta Brother Lieutenant Colonel James F. Jerome, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired) passed away 05 SEP in Watertown, New York at the age of 83.
* U.S. World War II Veteran and AL Alpha Brother Robert Jones Bedwell passed away 14 SEP in Piedmont, Alabama. Bob graduated from high school in 1944, served in the latter part of World War II, and went to Auburn University after completion of his military service. Funeral services will be at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery AL, tomorrow at 2:00pm with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of SigEp Patriots Jerome and Bedwell. While they are no longer with us, the greatest casualty is being forgotten, and the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) pledges these Brothers will always be remembered.

SPP UPDATE

* As of this writing, the archives of SPP now contain the names of 4,302 SigEp Patriots!
* SPP’s official Facebook group – SigEps Who Serve – now numbers 618 such Brothers.
* Not on Facebook. No problem, SPP has an email listserve with over 100 Brothers! Just drop me an email.

Did you serve or know a Brother who does? If so, 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, military status (active, reserve, retired, etc.), and whether you are a combat veteran. Please help SPP find our fellow SigEp Patriots by sending them the link.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

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

sigepswhoserve@gmail.com

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 07 – 13 JAN 2013

Brothers,

The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) ended 2012 with,

- 3,686 SigEp Patriots in the Project database;
- 102 brothers-in-arms receiving email via the SPP list serve;
- 712 pages of stories and information about brothers who serve/served in the U.S. military;
- 637 photographs of military brothers;
- 548 SigEp Patriots are members of SigEps Who Serve – the Official Facebook group of SPP, and
- 37 brothers volunteering at chapters around the country as a liaison or point of contact (POC) with SPP in a mutually beneficial relationship of sharing and remembrance.

07 JAN 1941
DE Alpha Brother G. H. Kadel entered the U.S. Army on this date.

09 JAN 1941
On this date, IL Alpha Brother Joseph Metcalf Hissem joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and received a commission as an Ensign. He would go on to heroically serve at the Battle of Midway and made the ultimate sacrifice being reported missing in action / buried at sea.

08 JAN 1943

After graduating from Purdue, IN Alpha Brother William J. Meyer, Jr. entered the Army on this date.

10 JAN 1943

On this date, World War II Veteran and WA Alpha Brother Captain Ben Francis Ferguson, U.S. Army performed gallantly at Guadalcanal while leading his company to an assault position in the face of intense enemy fire. He proceeded to direct an enveloping movement towards the objective, resulting in the occupation of the enemy’s position. For this, he was cited for bravery in action and awarded the Silver Star on 24 MAR 1943.

11 JAN 1944

TX Alpha Brother T. Roland Parrett entered the Army on this date.

12 JAN 1944

On this date, TX Alpha Brother Richard T. Scott joined the Army Air Force and served in the medical corps.

13 JAN 1944
A ship named in honor of Brother Hissem was commissioned on this date, Lieutenant Commander W. W. Low in command. The ship, USS Hissem, was a Destroyer Escort of the EDSALL class, with the designation DE-400. It was launched by Brown Shipbuilding Company, Houston, TX, and sponsored by Miss Elizabeth D. Hissem, Joseph’s sister. Hissem received one battle star for World War II service.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 10 – 16 SEP

Brothers,

This week is the 11th anniversary of the attacks on 11 SEP 2001, and to the best of our knowledge 12 brothers have lost their lives while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please don’t allow yourself to forget them or the Brother’s that continue to serve to protect our way of life. The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) will continue to work on behalf of brothers living and dead who have served our great nation, and we welcome any assistance with this effort.

15 SEP 2009

On this date, Kosovo, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran AK Alpha Brother Joel Fix, Sr. was promoted to Master Sergeant, U.S. Army

14 SEP 2010

U.S. Navy Medical Services Corps World War II Veteran and NC Epsilon Brother Samuel Adamson Burgess, Jr. died on this date in Raleigh, North Carolina.

He was born in Jacksonville, FL, and immediately upon graduation from high school he entered Davidson College, where he studied until he was old enough to volunteer for the United States Naval Medical Corps during World War II. Upon completing his military service at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia, he returned to Davidson College and graduated in 1948. After attending the School of Business at Columbia University in New York City, Sam was employed in the cashier’s office of the Equitable Life Assurance Society in Harrisburg, PA for a year before entering Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA to study for the Presbyterian ministry. Upon graduation in 1952, he was ordained in Sparta, NC by the Presbytery of Winston-Salem and called to the Elkin Presbyterian Church in Elkin, NC.

Brother Burgess and his wife soon went to Scotland to engage in Form Critical New Testament Studies at the University of St. Andrews. Upon completing his studies, Sam returned home and became the organizing pastor of a new Presbyterian church in Garner, NC in 1956. During his pastorate, Sam served as a Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1960, 1976, and 1984. Love of community and people led him to serve in various offices and organizations including Boards of Directors of the American Cancer Society and the Triangle Counseling Center, president of the local PTA, and Chaplain for many years at the Garner Civitan Club. Upon retirement in 1990, Sam volunteered his time tutoring students in the field of reading at Vandora Springs Elementary School and providing support to patients as a volunteer at Rex Hospital.

Respect can be paid to Brother Burgess at Williamsburg Cemetery, Kingstree, SC. While Sam is gone, SPP pledges that his life and patriotic service to the nation will always be remembered.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL

- U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and NH Alpha Brother Edward “Ted” Robert Haskell passed away 09 SEP 2012 at Southern Maine Medical Center with his family by his side.

- World War II Veteran and IA Beta Brother First Lieutenant Whitney "Whit" McCormack, U.S. Army Air Corps passed away 10 SEP 2012. Visitation will be at Jeter and Son Funeral Home, 6-8pm, 17 SEP. Funeral Service will be at 11am, Tuesday at Oak Cliff Presbyterian Church, 6000 S Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas 75232. Interment with Military Honors will follow at D/FW National Cemetery.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of SigEp Patriots Haskell and McCormack. While gone, SPP pledges that Ted and Whit will never be forgotten.

CELEBRATIONS!

* Congratulations are in order for U.S. Army Veteran TX Delta Brother David Ames, Jr. and his wife, Karin as they learned they going to have their first son – a future SigEp, I am sure. Congratuations to the Ames family!

* On Friday, AL Epsilon Navy Brother Leslie Long successfully completed Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school in Coronado, CA. Quite an amazing accomplishment – we are all proud of you, Leslie!

* Also on Friday, the hard work and commitment of CA Theta Brother Corporal Frank Beardsley, U.S. Army California National Guard was recognized with the awarding of the Army Commendation Medal.

* Congratulations to OH Iota Brother Master Sergeant Ross Altenburger, Ohio Air National Guard as he started his transition to civilian life earlier this week. Best of luck to you, and thank you for your service, Ross!

Fraternally and Very Respectfully,

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

sigepswhoserve@gmail.com