Last Week in SigEp Patriot History, 23 – 29 APR

24 APR 1942

World War II Veteran WI Alpha Brother Corporal Everett Roudebush, U.S. Army entered the Army on this date after finishing a concert tour with Salvatore Baccaloni, noted Metropolitan Opera Company star.

27 APR 1964

World War I Veteran, Judge (5th Judicial Circuit) and U.S. Congressman (Virginia) VA Eta Brother Private Joel West Flood, U.S. Army died on this date in Richmond, VA.

Joel was born 02 AUG 1894 near Appomattox, Virginia, became a SigEp at University of Virginia, and later attended Oxford University. After studying law he was admitted to the bar in 1917 and commenced practice in Appomattox.

During WWI, Brother Flood served in Company A, 350th Engineers, 80th Division. The same year he completed his military duty, Joel was elected Virginia State Commonwealth Attorney of Appomattox County in 1919. He served until 08 NOV 1932 when he was elected to the Seventy-second Congress to fill a vacancy. Brother Flood then resumed the practice of law, and after serving as a delegate to the 1936 Democratic National Convention was appointed assistant United States attorney for the western district of Virginia in 1939.

In JAN 1940, Joel was elected as a judge of the fifth judicial circuit of Virginia, and he served in this capacity until his death.

Respect can be paid to Brother Flood at the Flood Mausoleum, Appomattox Courthouse Square, Appomattox, VA.

29 APR 2005

World War II Veteran and NY Alpha Brother R. Charles Backus died on this date in Mexico, New York at the age of 84. He was an owner of the Oswego County Weeklies for over 50 years. He was a nationally known Holstein Auctioneer with R. Austin Backus Inc. He served many years as a delegate of the National Holstein Convention. He was a member of the Holstein Association of New York State and on the national level. He was a member of the Oswego Country Club and The Elms Golf Course. He was a cryptographer during WWII in the Signal Corps.

Respect can be paid to Brother Backus at Mexico Village Cemetery.

27 APR 2006

A hero died on this date at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas as a result of wounds received during combat operations in Habbaniyah, Iraq. Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Veteran and MI Beta Brother Sergeant Matthew Alan Webber, U.S. Army National Guard (Michigan) was 23 years old.

Matt attended Western Michigan University and joined the Army National Guard in 1999. He was called to active duty in June of 2005. Brother Webber was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), Michigan Army National Guard when he sustained injuries 21 NOV 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee.

Respect can be paid to Brother Webber at Pine Plains Cemetery, Big Rapids, Michigan.

25 APR 2008

U.S. Army Veteran PA Epsilon Brother Robert Edward Lee Anderson died on this date in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Born in Lancaster, Robert was the son of the late Herbert K. and Ella P. Anderson. He was a 1945 graduate of J. P. McCaskey High School and served in Europe as a member of the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948. After his patriotic serve, Brother Anderson graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Lehigh University where he was pole vault champion.

Robert retired from Philadelphia Suburban Corp., formerly Huth Engineers.  He was a past president of the American Business Club and a former board member of the Lancaster chapter of United Cerebral Palsy.Repect can be paid to Brother Anderson at Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster, PA.

25 APR 2008

World War II Veteran and PA Delta Brother TECH 5 C. Crandall Shaffer, Jr., U.S. Army of Dublin, Ohio died on this date.

Respect can be paid to Brother Shaffer at Kingwood Memorial Park, Lewis Center, OH.

24 APR 2011

On this date, Korean War Veteran VT Alpha Brother First Lieutenant Robert Kinsman Horne, U.S. Army died at his home in Palm Desert, California following a valiant fight against Alzheimer's/Dementia.

At Norwich University, Brother Horne played three sports and was Captain of the Hockey Team the 52-53 season. The Team was inducted into the Norwich Hall of Fame in 1993, and in 1998 Bob was inducted personally into the Hall. Following college he served as an Army First Lieutenant in Germany during the Korean War. He is a lifetime member of the Melrose Wyoming Lodge of Masons. His business career included work in Truck Leasing with several companies reaching a pinnacle as a National Sales VP for the Hertz Co. He concluded his career as President of "Trader Horne" - a Transportation Consulting Co.

He relished in physical activity and dancing of any kind. His busy life was full of gardening, photography and international trips where he and his wife visited many exotic countries where they were assimilated into the local communities eating, dancing, living and reveling in many different cultures. Our saying was "If it's muggy and buggy and the natives wear bones in their noses, we'll be there."

Respect can be paid to Brother Horne at Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, California.

26 APR 2011

U.S. Army Air Corps Flight Surgeon and World War II Veteran Flight Surgeon, NC Gamma Brother Richard Elwood Nitschke died on this date at the age of 97.

Richard was born 05 JUL 1913 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he lived there until the age of six when the family re-located to Philadelphia and later to Utica, NY. He entered an accelerated undergraduate program at Duke University in 1931. Brother Nitschke was the number one half miler on the cross country track team that won the Southern Conference Championship. After graduating from Duke Medical School in 1937, Dr. Nitschke moved to New York City for his internship at Columbia Presbyterian and residency at Roosevelt Hospital. His specialty was internal medicine but he also trained at the Neurological Institute of New York. While still in New York, he enlisted in the Manhattan Division of the 101st horse cavalry. Upon the onset of World War II, he was assigned to the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas. Brother Nitschke served as Flight Surgeon with the Army Air Corps, with the 30th Bomb Group of the 5th Fighter Wing and was stationed at Ballinger, Texas, Lubbock, Texas and Oahu, Hawaii. Dr. Nitschke was a dedicated physician of Internal Medicine, serving his patients in the San Antonio community from 1946 until his retirement in 1985.

On this date, U.S. Air Force Veteran and IA Delta Brother Thomas Michael Hamilton also died after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Tom was born on 03 MAR 1938 in Davenport, Iowa. At Drake University he played football and was a proud member of the 1958 Sun Bowl team. He received his undergraduate degree in business, followed by a Master's Degree in Psychology. After graduation, Brother Hamilton served his country in the Air Force. He began his professional career at Northwestern Bell and then worked with Personnel Inc. before founding Hamilton & Associates in 1972. There he truly found a profession he loved, helping clients achieve success through talent acquisition while taking great satisfaction in assisting individuals in advancing their careers. He merged his business with McGladrey and Pullen in 1988 and worked as a Senior Consulting Partner until he retired from the firm in 1999. He then co-founded Selection Resources with his son and offered advanced pre-employment testing services. He was an accredited SPHR through the Society of HR Management. His career was also highlighted by community service in leadership roles with the Chamber of Commerce, Youth Homes of Mid America, the YMCA, Hope Ministries and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was a member of Rotary International for 43 years and was a "7 Gallon" blood donor to the Blood Center of Iowa.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL

* World War II Veteran and VA Alpha Brother Lieutenant Grover Cleveland Pitts Jr., U.S. Navy

Grover Cleveland Pitts Grover Cleveland Pitts Jr., 94, passed away on Friday, 20 APR 2012, at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia.
* U.S. Army Korean War Veteran DE Alpha Brother Warren VanArsdalen Jr. also passed away peacefully Friday, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, Delaware.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the chapter brothers, family and friends of brothers Pitts and VanArsdalen. This list is likely incomplete, and the small group of dedicated brothers working the SigEp Patriots Project could use your help. If you know of a brother patriot that has passed away we appreciate an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.

SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP) UPDATE

* 461! The SPP official Facebook group – SigEps Who Serve – reached 460 members and pushed one over that mark last week when TX Alpha Brother Captain Connie Lane, U.S. Army and DC Delta Brother 2LT Charlie Kerry, U.S. Marine Corps honored us by joining our ranks. Welcome aboard brothers!

* 2356! Over the past week, the SPP database gained names and information about over 540 brothers-in-arms, bringing our holdings to 2356 brothers who serve/served patriotically in the U.S. military.

We are always looking for brothers-in-arms, and we hope you will reach out. Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve. Not on Facebook? Write to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com to join the listserve. In both cases, you will be asked to provide your military affiliation and home chapter.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

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

Brothers,

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noice of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. ~ Steve Jobs

This (past) Week in SigEp Patriot History, 16 - 22 JAN

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 16 – 22 JAN
22 JAN 1898U.S. Army World War I Veteran, State of Nebraska Supreme Court Justice, Alternate Delegate to the 1936 Democratic National Convention and SigEp Brother Adolph Eilert Wenke was born in Pender, Nebraska on this date.

16 JAN 1936
World War I Veteran and Ace, Founder of the Alabama Air National Guard and NY Beta Brother Major James “Jimmie” Armand Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service died on this date in Birmingham, Alabama.

The son of a U.S. Steel board member, he was born on 30 JUL 1896 in Novia Scotia, Canada. After high school, Jimmie enrolled at Cornell University. There he majored in engineering, and was a Private First Class in the Cadet Corps.

On 06 APR 1917, President Woodrow Wilson requested a declaration of war against Germany from Congress, and less than two months later, Brother Meissner dropped out of Cornell, and enlisted in the Army Signal Service (the branch of the Army then tasked with flying) as a Private First Class.

His military career moved quickly. In July, he entered the U.S. Army School of Military Aeronautics, but about a week in to pilot training Private First Class Meissner boarded a ship for France where he would continue his training. After completing his flight training, Brother Meissner was commissioned a First Lieutenant, and three months later his military career would take a life changing turn.

Lieutenant Meissner reported to the 94th Pursuit Squadron on 08 MAR 1918. Known as the “Hat in the Ring Squadron”, the 94th was the first entirely American unit to fly a fighter patrol. Two days before Meissner arrived at the unit, another young Lieutenant by the name of Eddie Rickenbacker reported to the 94th. Lieutenant Rickenbacker would go on to be the highest scoring American ace of the war, shooting down a grand total of twenty-six enemy aircraft.

On 02 MAY 1918, Brother Meissner won his first aerial kill. This action earned him his first of two Distinguished Service Crosses, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Army after the Medal of Honor. Two weeks later the French showed their appreciation for his actions on this mission by awarding him their medal for bravery, the Croix de Guerre.

Recognized as a leader, Jimmie was appointed commander of the 147th Aero Squadron in July, and scored four more victories while commanding the 147th.

After the Great War ended in Europe, Brother Miessner returned to the U.S. and was discharged from the Army on 25 MAR 1919, having reached the rank of Major just five months before at the age of 22. Striving for success, Jimmie stayed busy returning to Cornell University, earning his Masters Degree, and moving to Birmingham, Alabama to begin working at a rail mill. Even with all that, before the year was out he also co-created the Birmingham Flying Club.

However, simply starting a flying club was not enough, for Jimmie wanted to continue to serve his country and his new state. So shortly after forming the club, our hero brother set out to have the flying club officially recognized by the federal government as an air unit of the National Guard.

As you can imagine, the process of gaining federal recognition for the club was not easy. The first state to establish an air arm of its National Guard was New York, and that was only four years earlier. National Guard units at the turn of the twentieth century were not looked upon favorably due in large part to their involvement in the breaking up of strikes and labor disputes. And then there was Congress. The federal government was concerned that once they provided funds and aircraft to the Guard the unit it would then use the new resources for commercial gain.

After more than two-years of diligent commitment, the War Department organized the 135th Observation Squadron on 21 JAN 1922, and allotted it to the State of Alabama. Placing it under the command of Major James Meissner, the new observation squadron became the first Air National Guard unit in Alabama and only the seventh such unit in the United States.

When the father of the Alabama Air National Guard died from pneumonia, the city held a memorial service including a flyover by the planes of the unit. Additionally, Brother Meissner’s old friend and brother in arms, Eddie Rickenbacker, came to Birmingham to be an honorary pall-bearer for his former wingman. Four months later, our brother’s ashes were buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

The results of his hard work and determination continue to be recognized in the growth and changes to the unit he helped establish. After several designations and mission changes, the now 106th Air Refueling Squadron of the 117th Air Refueling Wing continues missions to this day.

During the 2011 Veterans Day and Wreaths Across America ceremonies, we stopped by Brother Meissner’s gravesite to pay our respects. You can do so at Section 2 Site 4791 ES.

16 JAN 1946
On this date, U.S. Marine Corps World War I Veteran, Governor (Virginia) and Congressman SigEp Brother William Munford Tuck began his term in office as Governor of Virginia (16 JAN 1946 – 28 JAN 1950).

21 JAN 2002U.S Navy World War II Veteran, Delegate to the 1964 Republican National Convention, Governor (Colorado) and CO Beta Brother John Arthur Love died on this date in Colorado.

Born on a farm near Gibson City, Illinois on 29 NOV 1916, his family moved to Colorado Springs five years later. John attended Denver University where he became editor of the student newspaper, The Clarion, during his senior year. He was also elected president of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938, and received his LLB from Denver University Law School in 1941 and passed the Colorado Bar in the same year.

World War II temporarily interrupted Brother Love’s professional law career. He enlisted in the Navy’s Aviation Cadet Program and served as a U.S. Navy pilot, for which he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following the war, he opened a law firm in Colorado Springs.

Colorado politics were in a state of flux in 1962 when John decided to run for an office. However, his bid to become El Paso County Republican Chair failed by one vote. Shortly after this unsuccessful attempt, he decided to run for governor so that he could at least make his name more well-known in the political arena. Surprisingly, he won the primary battle against the longtime legislator and Speaker of the House. Due to the flux of in Colorado politics, the winds of change, the unity of the Colorado Republic Party, and Love’s moderate political positions, lack of a particular cause or agenda, and no past record to defend, Brother Love beat the incumbent, and became the 36th Governor of Colorado. He would be the first such governor to be elected to three terms (1963 to 1973).

During his tenure, Governor Love was able to influence the passage of many bills including increased state support for public schools and universities, and increased scholarships and tuition waivers for college students despite the fact that during his first term he supported a raise in college tuition. During his last term Colorado set a nation-wide precedence by passing the Sunshine Law which opened government meetings to the public and set disclosure requirements.

During one of the most contentious decades in our history because of the Viet Nam War and civil rights disparities in the 1960s, Love was known for his moderation. He was influential in keeping the state relatively undivided and continually prosperous. He resigned the governorship in 1973 to become the nation's first director of the Office of Energy Policy for President Richard M. Nixon but resigned this post after five months due to much political bickering and feeling like he did not have enough to do. The upheaval of the Watergate scandal and the subsequent resignation of Nixon possibly influenced his decision to return to the private sector where he took a position on the board of directors for the concrete and potash maker, Ideal Basic Industries. He would later become the CEO of the firm while remaining counsel to the Denver law firm of Davis, Graham & Stubbs, and in addition taught history at the University of Northern Colorado.

Upon his death, John was cremated, and the location of his ashes is unknown. To learn more about Brother Love’s service as Governor of Colorado you can go to the Colorado State Archives.