This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 16 – 22 SEP

Brothers,
[Reminder: To see the complete work including pictures, go to www.sigepblog.org.]

“We who have a deep concern for our Fraternity chapter are vitally conscious of the importance of its history. History is tradition and if we are wise, we seek guidance and discipline in tradition. But we observe sadly that events of importance, here today, have a way of becoming lost very quickly in the dim yesterdays. And if we are to make use of our history we cannot be satisfied to let significant events remain buried.”

~ Brother Pedro Campa, Illinois; from the Sigma Phi Epsilon Journal, Volume 67, Number 4, published May 1970

Even though today is the day after POW/MIA Remembrance Day, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) believes it is important to always honor the following Brothers who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action:

Robert Douglas Avery – MIA & POW, TN Gamma ‘65

Paul S. Beard – POW, OH Epsilon ‘04
Heywood Davis – POW, DC Alpha
William C.A. Enke – POW, MT Alpha
Elmer J. Gray – POW, PA Delta
James Downs Latham – POW, KS Beta ‘69
George Robert Law – POW, WI Alpha ‘34
John “Bill” William Rambo, Sr. – POW, TN Alpha ‘58
Waldo E. Schmitt – MIA & POW, DC Alpha ‘40
John R. Vaughn – POW, CO Gamma ‘38
Edgar A. Waite, Jr. – POW, PA Delta ‘49

NEVER FORGOTTEN

18 SEP 1946

World War II Veteran and CA Alpha Brother Captain William E. Turpen, U.S. Army was discharged on this date after more than six years of service.

NH Alpha Brother
James V. Forrestal

17 SEP 1947

On this date, President Truman’s selection as first U.S. Secretary of Defense was sworn in – World War I Veteran and NH Alpha Brother Lieutenant James Vincent Forrestal, U.S. Navy Reserve. During the same week three years later, a bronze bust of Brother Forrestal was unveiled at the Mall entrance to the Pentagon (22 SEP 1950).

22 SEP 1995

AZ Beta Brother (then) Captain Alan Mark “Vodka” Gemmill, U.S. Navy completed his tour as Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on this date.

20 SEP 2008

On this date, Operation DESERT STORM Veteran MO Lambda Brother Jay Scott Danner, U.S. Air National Guard (Missouri) died at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 43.

Scott was born in 1964 in Maryville, MO, and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1988 with a BS degree in Business Administration. He worked for Philip Morris USA for 19 years and his final job was as a Unit Manager.

Respect can be paid to Brother Danner at Prairie Home Cemetery, Graham, MO.

Last Week in SigEp Patriot History, 17 - 23 SEP

Brothers,

In a week that saw the anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force, 9/11 and the 34^th observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the following words remain true and a concern of the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) serving to motivate and inspire us every day.

“We who have a deep concern for our Fraternity chapter are vitally conscious of the importance of its history. History is tradition and if we are wise, we seek guidance and discipline in tradition. But we observe sadly that events of importance, here today, have a way of becoming lost very quickly in the dim yesterdays. And if we are to make use of our history we cannot be satisfied to let significant events remain buried.”

~ Brother Pedro Campa, Illinois; from the Sigma Phi Epsilon Journal, Volume 67, Number 4, published May 1970



NH Alpha Brother
James Vincent Forrestal



17 SEP 1947

President Truman selected World War I Veteran and NH Alpha Brother Lieutenant James Vincent Forrestal, U.S. Navy Reserve to be the first secretary of defense and he was sworn in on this date. During the same week three years later, a bronze bust of Brother Forrestal was unveiled at the Mall entrance to the Pentagon (22 SEP 1950).

22 SEP 1995

On this date, AZ Beta Brother (then) Captain Alan Mark “Vodka” Gemmill, U.S. Navy completed his tour as Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) after serving since 20 MAR 1993.

20 SEP 2008

Operation DESERT STORM Veteran MO Lambda Brother Jay Scott Danner, U.S. Air National Guard (Missouri) died on this date at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 43.

Scott was born 25 OCT 1964 in Maryville, Missouri, and was a 1984 graduate of Maryville High School. He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1988 with a BS degree in Business Administration. Brother Danner served in the Missouri Air National Guard and was a veteran of Desert Storm. He worked for Philip Morris USA for 19 years and his final job was as a Unit Manager.

Respect can be paid to Brother Danner at Prairie Home Cemetery, Graham, MO. While gone, SPP pledges that Scott and his patriotic service will always be remembered.

19 SEP 2009

U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and CO Delta Brother Theodore “Ted” Louis Goudvis died on this date in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Born in 1918, Ted grew up near New York City. He graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a professional degree in mining engineering.

During World War II Ted was a Navy “Seabee” (Construction Battalion) and served in France and the Philippines. After the war, he and a college friend started a small business in northern Ohio manufacturing concrete products. He visited and fell in love with Aspen, Colo., in the 1960s, and built a house there when he retired in 1980. Ted was an avid hiker, skier and nature lover.

At this time, SPP does not know Ted’s final resting place, but we hope you will write if you have that information. In the meantime, SPP will keep looking, and pledges that Ted and his military service are always remembered.

Northwest Missouri SigEp Dies After Assault

It is tragic when a young man loses his life. Especially so when he is attacked after defending his friends. Usually when we see a death it involves hazing, or gross overuse of alcohol. Regardless of what the article says, we see this as more than just "a simple fight with deadly consequences." This was an honorable young man who paid dearly for being honorable.

Student from Jennings at NW Missouri State dies after attack; two suspects charged : Stltoday

More details surface on death of Northwest student - Northwest Missourian: News

Tomarken Smith 

A Northwest student died last night after an altercation in front of Molly's Party Club early Friday morning.

Senior Tomarken Smith, 21, was pronounced dead as the result of an alleged assault at 2:21 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Hospital and Health Services. Smith was from St. Louis.

Senior Colby Morris, a friend of Smith’s who was with him at the club, said the altercation began when Smith tried to stop one of the accused men from dancing with one of Smith’s female friends. Maryville Public Safety reported the two accused waited for Smith outside of the bar.

"You guys lost a good kid," Keith Wood, director of Maryville Public Safety said. "It was a simple fight that had deadly consequences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as a student body."

Kevin D. Mooney has been charged with a class A felony murder in the second degree and a class A felony assault in the first degree. Tony M. Overlin has also been charged with a class A felony murder in the second degree and a class A felony assault in the first degree, according to the Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney's office. Bond is set at $100,000 for each defendant.

Smith was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapter President Chase Adams said the chapter is deeply affected by the news.

"The Missouri Lambda Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is deeply saddened by the loss of our brother..." Adams said. "The chapter extends its heartfelt condolences to his family. This is a very tough time for all of us. Please offer your thoughts and prayers for family, friends, brothers and the campus community as we struggle to cope with this tragic loss.”

University President John Jasinski shares Sig Ep sympathies and wants people to remember Smith for who he was as an individual.

“We have to celebrate life here and celebrate Tomarken’s life,” Jasinski said. “He did all the things we would like Bearcats to do. Be engaged, be involved, be successful and be challenged. As I saw him, like many students, he wouldn’t let me walk by without saying ‘hello,’ but more importantly than that, if you talk to a variety of individuals on campus, throughout the Student Union when I was here earlier this morning, to a person he was always smiling, in a great mood and loved life.”