This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 24 – 30 DEC

"Diligence overcomes difficulties, sloth creates them"
-Ben Franklin

Brothers,

Another year has come and gone, and with it at least 86 of our brother patriots. They served during World War II, in the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf wars, as well as in Bosnia. Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Guardians and Airmen, active and reserve, they rest in peace as those of us who serve now – their legacy – continue to stand the watch.

 

The SigEp Patriots Project wishes you and yours a terrific 2013!

30 DEC 1919

Following his service in World War I, NH Alpha Brother James Vincent Forrestal was discharged from the Navy Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant on this date.

26 DEC 1943

On this date in SigEp Patriot history, USS Hissem (DE-400) – a destroyer escort of the EDSALL class named in honor of World War II Veteran and IL Alpha Brother Ensign Anthony Metcalf Hissem, U.S. Navy Reserve – was christened and launched in Houston, TX. Brother Hissem was declared Missing In Action / Buried at Sea when none of the aircraft from his squadron returned following an attack against the Japanese during the Battle of Midway. USS Hissem proudly defended the nation from 1944-1970, actively serving in World War II, Vietnam and the Cold War.


USS Hissem (DE-400)

24 DEC 1944
World War II Veteran and KS Beta Brother First Lieutenant John J. Jackson, U.S. Army was killed in action in Belgium on this date. Brother Jackson graduated from Kansas State in 1941, and he taught and coached at Osborne, Kansas for a year. In JUN 1942 he joined the Army, and his armored division was sent overseas in AUG 1944.

Respect can be paid to Brother Jackson at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka, Kansas.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 30 JAN – 05 FEB

“If all the world were just, there would be no need of valor.” ~ Plutarch, Greek Biographer and Author

30 JAN 1925
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran, Computer Pioneer and Inventor of the Computer Mouse, SigEp Citation Recipient and OR Alpha Brother Dr. Douglas Carl Engelbart was born on this date in Portland, Oregon.

04 FEB 1929
U.S. Air Force Veteran and CO Alpha Brother Kenneth W. Drager was born on this date in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

01 FEB 1951
On this date, World War I Veteran, U.S. Ambassador and KS Alpha Brother First Lieutenant Monnett Bain Davis, U.S. Army / American Expeditionary Force was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

02 FEB 1969
Vietnam War Veteran and POW, SigEp Citation Recipient and KS Beta Brother Brigadier General James Downs Latham, U.S. Air Force (Retired) was commissioned a second lieutenant on this date.

03 FEB 2004
U.S. Navy Korean War Veteran ME Alpha Brother Roger William Fisher, died on this date in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at the age of 72. Brother Fisher was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the Navy from 1951 until 1955, some of that time on the USS Newport News. He was employed as a U.S. customs officer in Vanceboro, Maine, from 1963 until 1990. He was a member of the American Legion, Masons, and Elks.

30 JAN 2009
On this date, World War II Veteran and VA Alpha Brother Pharmacist Mate Third Class Dr. Ota Treville “O.T.” Graham, Jr, U.S. Navy died in Richmond, VA after a lengthy illness. Brother Graham entered the Accelerated Program of the School of Pharmacy at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in 1944, before joining the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946, and was attached to the 1st Marine Division of the 7th Marine Regiment in China as a Pharmacist Mate, 3rd Class.

O.T. returned to Richmond in the fall of 1946, and entered the University of Virginia and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1949. He received his medical degree from MCV in 1953, and then completed two years of family practice residency there. He was in private practice for 43 years, before retiring in 1998. Brother Graham was an active member of the MCV Alumni Association, and served as its president for two years. He was a member of The Richmond Academy of Medicine, Medical Society of Virginia, and the Sons of the American Revolution.

04 FEB 2011
World War II Veteran and VT Alpha Brother Sergeant George Edward "Geo" Canney, U.S. Army died on this date at the age of 84 in Rutland, VT. Brother Canney was born on 21 MAY 1926, in Rutland, VT, and graduated from high school in 1944 before enlisting in the Army. After his discharge in 1946 he attended Norwich University.

Geo worked as a disc jockey and commentator at WHWB radio station for many years. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service at Metromail Inc. for several years. He was an active member of the American Postal Workers Union. He also spent many hours with his friends at the Carriage Room, Two Sheas, Magoo's and the American Legion Post 31.

Respect can be paid to Brother Canney at Calvary Cemetery in Rutland.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
* U.S. Army World War II Veteran NY Delta Founding Father Byron Davega Forster passed away 04 JAN in Dallas, TX.
* Vietnam War Veteran, First National SigEp Alumni Chairman, Founder and Past President of the Northern New Jersey Alumni Chapter & District Governor NC Delta Brother Lieutenant Commander Henry John Ouderkirk, U.S. Navy died 11 JAN in Atlanta, GA.
* U.S. Army World War II Veteran WA Alpha Brother Clifford E. Oligher passed away 25 JAN in Davenport, WA.
* U.S. Army World War II and Korean War Veteran WV Beta Brother George D. Siehl II died 27 JAN in Okeechobee, FL.
* U.S. Navy Veteran NE Beta Brother Richard Lear Graham passed away 31 JAN in Omaha, NE.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these Brothers, and the SigEp Patriots Project pledges that their service to the Nation will never be forgotten.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 26 DEC – 01 JAN

31 DEC 1917
World War II – Battle of Midway – Veteran and IL Alpha Brother Ensign Joseph Metcalf Hissem, U.S. Navy Reserve was born on this date in Mount Carroll, Illinois.

01 JAN 1920
On this date, World War I Veteran and OH Gamma Brother Captain Robert Lester Tavenner, U.S. Army was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for extraordinary heroism in action near Cierges, France on 29 SEP 1918.

27 DEC 1934
Vietnam War Veteran and OR Alpha Brother Major George “Vern” Ellison, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) was born this date in Eugene, Oregon.

30 DEC 1944
For his actions at Bastogne, France while serving as the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division, World War II and Korean War Veteran, SigEp Citation Recipient and WV Beta Brother General Anthony Clement McAuliffe, U.S. Army (Retired) was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General George S. Patton.

26 DEC 1947
On this date, Former Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Persian Gulf War and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Veteran, SigEp Citation Recipient and MO Zeta President General James Terry Conway, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) was in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

26 DEC 1953
World War I Veteran, U.S. Ambassador and KS Alpha Brother First Lieutenant Monnett Bain Davis, U.S. Army died on this date in Ramat Gan, Israel while serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

Respect can be paid to Brother Davis at Arlington National Cemetery.

26 DEC 1997
Korean War Veteran and Prisoner of War, TN Alpha Brother Sergeant First Class John William “Bill” Rambo, U.S. Army / Tennessee National Guard passed away on this date in Fairfax Station, Virginia after a lengthy illness. A native of Knoxville, he grew up in the Fountain City area and was a graduate of Central High School. He was a member of the Tennessee National Guard and was among the first to serve in Korea. He was a Prisoner of War for 19 months, and was given a heroes welcome by his hometown upon his return in 1953. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star and the Korean Gold Medal of Honor for his military service. He graduated in 1958 from the University of Tennessee, and was active in student affairs and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Bill was with Kay's Jewelers for over 30 years, serving in many cities prior to his retirement in 1990 as senior vice president and general manager.

Bill was buried with military honors in Section 70, Site 1706 in Arlington National Cemetery.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 08 – 14 AUG

These weekly works are a result of research by the SigEp Patriots Project – an effort to honor Brothers who serve/served our great Nation in the U.S. military by recording and maintaining a working history in order to recognize and respect their accomplishments and sacrifices. It is an unofficial effort and no monies are collected or requested.

We are however looking for YOU – an undergrad or alumnus – interested in being the chapter point of contact for information about military SigEps from your chapter. Any Brother can serve in this position meant to further the understanding and knowledge of the contributions to your chapter’s history by Brothers-in-arms. Drop an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com for more details on this effort.

“Regard your soldiers as children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.” ~ Sun Tzu

Seems this lesson could also be applied to the Fraternity.

13 AUG 1893
World War I Veteran / U.S. Ambassador / KS Alpha Brother / First Lieutenant Monnett Bain Davis, U.S. Army was born on this date in Greencastle, Indiana.

09 AUG 1965
Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran / UT Alpha Brother / Lieutenant Colonel David Yockey, U.S. Air Force (Utah State University; graduated from the University of Montana) was born on this date in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

11 AUG 1975
World War II and Korean War Veteran / WV Beta Brother / General Anthony Clement “Nuts!” McAuliffe, U.S. Army (Retired) passed away on this date in Chevy Chase, Maryland at the age of 77. He was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 2536.

Born in Washington, DC, on 02 JUL 1898, Anthony was a student at West Virginia University from 1916 to 1917, and graduated from West Point in NOV 1918. He rose through the ranks from second lieutenant in 1918 to four-star general in 1955.

On D-Day, Brother McAuliffe was serving as Commander of Division Artillery of the 101st Airborne Division when he parachuted into Normandy. He subsequently entered into Holland during Operation Market Garden in a military glider. In DEC 1944, when the German army launched the surprise Battle of the Bulge, General Maxwell D. Taylor, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, was away, attending a staff conference in the United States.

In Taylor's absence, acting command of the 101st and its attached troops fell to (then) Brigadier General McAuliffe (as pictured at left in this undated World War II photo). At Bastogne, the 101st was besieged by a far-larger force of Germans under the command of General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz.

On 22 DEC 1944, through a party consisting of a major, captain, and two privates under a flag of truce that entered the American lines southeast of Bastogne (occupied by Company F, 2nd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry), General von Lüttwitz sent the following ultimatum to General McAuliffe:

“To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.

The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.

There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.

If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.

The German Commander.”

According to various accounts from those present, when McAuliffe was told of the German demand for surrender he said "Nuts". At a loss for an official reply, Lieutenant Colonel Harry Kinnard suggested that his first remark summed up the situation well, which was agreed to by the others. The official reply: "To the German Commander, NUTS!, The American Commander" was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph Harper, commanding the 327th Glider Infantry, and his S-3 Major Jones to the German delegation. Harper had to explain the meaning of the word to the Germans, telling them that in "plain English" it meant "Go to hell.”

In Memoriam
In Bastogne, there is McAuliffe Square where a “Nuts!” festival takes place every year. A bust of Anthony was unveiled in 1967 and is located next to a tank at a corner of the square.

In the 1990’s, the Nuts McAuliffe Society was formed and consists of dedicated SigEp volunteers.

A southern extension of Route 33 in eastern Northampton County, Pennsylvania, completed in 2002, was named the General Anthony Clement McAuliffe 101st Airborne Memorial Highway, and in 2009 the post headquarters building at Fort Campbell, Kentucky opened and is named McAuliffe Hall.

Our Brother left us with quite a lot to think about as to how to react and respond in incredibly stressful situations.

09 AUG 2007
Korean War Veteran / PA Epsilon Brother Philip J. Sievering Jr., U.S. Army died on this date in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. The site of his interment is unknown.

11 AUG 2009
On this day two short years ago today, NH Alpha Brother / Captain Timothy Francis Farrell, U.S. Marine Corps died in Frankfurt, Germany while working for the State Department as Vice-Consul in the US Consulate General in Frankfurt. Tim was 35 years old.

He was born 10 APR 1974 in Ocean Township, New Jersey. At Dartmouth, Brother Farrell was a member of the track team, and a four year recipient of the Inter Collegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (ICAAAA). He was also elected to the All-Ivy League Team, First Team, in 1992-1993 and 1994-1995. In 1995, he received the prestigious Nathan D. Bugbee 1925 Track Prize.

Tim joined the Marine Corps in 1997 and was a decorated Marine captain, stationed in San Diego, deployed to Japan and the Mideast. He also served on the USS Harper's Ferry as a logistics officer. He earned a Masters in International Relations at San Diego State.

Brother Farrell joined Brother McAuliffe and 21 other SigEp Patriots who are known to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

In memoriam, donations can be made to the Timothy Farrell Memorial Fund, Township of Ocean School District, 550 West Park Ave., Oakhurst, NJ 07755, c/o Julia Davidow.

TOMORROW
It looks like HQ is giving serious recognition to the values and knowledge gained with military leadership and experience. On Friday, at Conclave, IN Beta Brother / Colonel Robert Lanham, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) will be presenting “Leadership Lessons from a U.S. Marine.” It should be a great presentation.

BROTHER RETURNS FROM DEPLOYMENT TO AFGHANISTAN
This past Sunday, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran / TX Beta Brother Cory Sockwell, U.S. Marine Corps reported on Facebook that he was back in the great state of Texas following his deployment.

Welcome Home, Brother! We are all very glad you are back safe. Thank you for your service.

CONGRATULATIONS!
FL Iota Brother Frank Slamka, U.S. Marine Corps recently graduated from Marine Basic Training and CA Theta Brother Cameron Jost, U.S. Army recently graduated from Army Basic Training! Best of luck, Gentlemen!

GOT SOME NEWS?
If you have news, accomplishments or just want to share a story please send an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.

JOIN YOUR BROTHERS-IN-ARMS
SigEps Who Serve (SWS) is the Facebook presence of the SigEp Patriots Project and is the only group there created by and solely comprised of Brothers who serve/served in the U.S. military (including ROTC Cadets). This is YOUR group!

Click on http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve to join more than 300 of your Brothers.

This week, SWS grew by four, and we welcome the aforementioned Brothers Slamka and Jost, PA Theta Brother Carl Spindler, U.S. Marine Corps and TX Delta Brother Victor Bucio, U.S. Army. Thanks to SigEp Patriots Carl Misitano and Jose Pedraza for adding the latter two Brothers-in-arms to the group. Keep passing the word!

Not on Facebook? Just drop an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com and join nearly 100 military SigEps on the Yahoo listserve. Just let us know your basic info – military affiliation and home chapter – and anything else you feel like sharing.

Also, if you know of a Brother that serves/served please let us know at the above address.

Thank you to those Brothers who have expressed kind words, comments and suggestion for the project so far at Conclave.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

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

Two Weeks in the History of Sigma Phi Epsilon Patriots, 31 JAN – 13 FEB

Life gets a little busy sometimes, so this is a two week version.

04 FEB 1929
Brother Kenneth W. Drager, U.S. Air Force (Colorado Alpha / University of Colorado ’51) was born on this day in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Brother Drager graduated from UC with his degree in journalism prior to joining the Air Force.

At the moment, that is all I have and I look forward to hearing from anyone that has information about Brother Drager and/or his military service.

01 FEB 1951
This marks the day the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of WWI Veteran / Ambassador / Brother / First Lieutenant Monnett Bain Davis, U.S. Army (Kansas Alpha / Baker University) as Ambassador to Israel. Brother Davis would serve in this capacity until his death in DEC 1953.

During World War I, Brother Davis served in Europe in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) of the U.S. Army.

03 FEB 2004
Korean War Veteran / Brother Roger William Fisher, U.S. Navy (Maine Alpha / University of Maine ’58) of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada died on this day at the age of 72.

Prior to attending UM and earning a B.A. in business economics, Brother Fisher served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955, some of that time onboard the USS Newport News (CA-148). He was employed as a U.S. Customs Officer in Vanceboro, Maine, from 1963 until 1990. He enjoyed gardening, bee keeping, hunting, fishing, golf, and spending time at his camp. He was a member of the American Legion, Masons, and Elks. He is survived by two children and three grandchildren.

09 FEB 2007
On this day, Vietnam Veteran / Brother / Captain Bruce Edward Crowe, U.S. Marine Corps – Vietnam (TN Gamma / East Tennessee State University) (he graduated from University of Tennessee) passed away at his West Knoxville home with his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Bruce attended East Tennessee State University where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, graduated from The University of Tennessee and later earned a master’s degree from Tennessee Tech University. Captain Crowe was the recipient of two Purple Hearts during his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He later became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Masons. Brother Crowe was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors in Section 66, Site 7578).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 736 N. 4th Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917 and/or the American Cancer Society, 871 Weisgarber Road, Knoxville, TN 37909.

13 FEB 2010
Brother / Captain Robert Urbana, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) (Colorado Beta / University of Denver ’52) passed away last year tomorrow at the age of 80. Brother Urbana was born in Denver on 25 JAN 1930. Bob joined the Navy at age 17 and graduated from North Denver High School in 1948. He went through the naval ROTC program and graduated from the University of Denver in December 1952 with a degree in business and a navy commission. During his brief active duty career, Brother Urbana served as executive officer on the USS Koka (ATA-185) before leaving active duty in 1955. He continued his naval career as a reservist in Boise, Idaho. In his civilian life, he was successful businesses in Boise and later in Portland, Oregon – the later company expanded in to Seattle. Bob's passion was the Navy. As a reservist he completed the Armed Forces Staff College, the Naval War College and was a member of the U.S. Naval Advancement Board. Brother Urbana commanded units in Boise, Longview, Washington and Salem. He finished his naval career as the Recruiting District Assistance Council Officer for Oregon, retiring in 1978 after 31 years of service. Bob instilled his love of the Navy in the next generations. He had the privilege of swearing in his grandson, Alexander, into the U.S. Navy in 1999. Bob was a Sigma Phi Epsilon. He was a member and past president of the Portland Navy League and served on the Rose Festival Naval committee. At various times in his life he belonged to the Kiwanis, Lions and Rotarians and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Bob was a deeply spiritual man. His faith sustained him and gave him strength, hope, peace and comfort, especially in the last days of his life. He was an exemplary role model to his family and to all who knew him. He was a man of honor, courage and commitment. He believed that it was by God's grace he had the life he did, that honor inspires courage and with courage comes commitment to follow through with love, kindness and compassion, doing the right thing at all times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances to Disabled Veterans of America or to a charity of your choice.

In 2008, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that World War II veterans were dying at a rate of more than 1,000 a day. Something needs to be done to capture the stories and legacy of the brothers among this group as well as other patriots.

The three pieces immediately above are all obituaries, and the only information I could find so far on these great men. If you have any additional information about Brothers Fisher, Crowe or Urbana it would be great to hear from you.

Welcome Home, Patriot Brothers!
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veterans / Brother / Captain Nate Davis, U.S. Army (Florida Beta / Stetson ’07) and Brother / Captain Jeff Lehmkuhl, U.S. Air Force (California Upsilon / California State University, San Bernardino ’05) have returned to the States very recently after successful tours in Afghanistan! It’s great to have you both back home safe.

Also, due to OPSEC considerations we won’t list their names here, but a huge shout out to three military brothers who are home temporarily while on mid-deployment leave. Have a great time, and if you are visiting Washington, DC remember the door is red here. Continued success when you return to the desert, stay safe, and get home again soon!

Movers and Shakers
Congratulations are in order for Brother / First Sergeant Wendell Thompson, U.S. Army (AL Theta / Jacksonville State University ’91) who was promoted to his current rank this week. Hooyah, Brother!

Last week, Brother / First Lieutenant Doug Allen, U.S. Air Force (New York Chi / Clarkson University) recently completed T-6 training and Brother / Second Lieutenant Grant Milbourn, U.S. Air Force (Oklahoma Alpha / Oklahoma State ‘10) successfully completed the T-6 simulator, and is preparing for his instrument check-ride and formation. Keeping aiming high, Brothers!

Fraternally and Respectfully,

Ed Jones
Chief, USNR
NY Eta '91
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com