This Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 16/14, 16 – 22 JUN

Brothers,

Three Brothers were killed in action during this week in our history, and on Monday the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) welcomed home a SigEp Patriot from Afghanistan who has multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11.

Awards for Valor presented by the
U.S. military

The Army Distinguished Service Cross (ADSC), Navy Cross and Air Force Cross are the second highest military decoration for valor for extraordinary heroism in combat bestowed upon a member of their respective service, and are second only to the Medal of Honor (MoH). While there is no record of a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon being awarded the MoH, 10 amazing SigEp Patriots have distinguished themselves valiantly in earning a service cross. Several of them are listed in this week's work.

21 JUN 1918

On this date, OH Gamma Brother First Lieutenant Robert L. Tavenner, U.S. Army began his World War I service with the 37th Division of the American Expeditionary Force, and would see action in France & Belgium. According to the SPP archives, Brother Tavenner is the third of six SigEp Patriots known to have been awarded the ADSC.

18 JUN 1940

KY Epsilon Brother Joseph F. Odle, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on this date. During WWII he served at the Battle of Solomon Islands.

16 JUN 1941

WI Alpha Brother William H. Zuehlke, Jr., entered the U.S. Navy Reserve on this date, and, according to the SPP archives, the Class of 1936 Lawrence University graduate had one of the longest overseas deployments of any SigEp Patriot who served during WWII.