We Remember SigEp Patriots

[My apologies for the late post. This was scheduled to post at 8:30am East Coast Time yesterday - about 20 minutes prior to when the first plane hit the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001]

Brothers,

The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) honors the lives, accomplishments and sacrifices of the following Brothers by remembering them on the 13th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. May they rest in peace.

SigEp Patriots Killed in Action Since 9/11:
Texas Rho Brother Kim Orlando, KIA: 16 OCT 2003, Karbala, Iraq
Georgia Delta Brother Bradley “Dad” Arms, KIA: 19 NOV 2004, Al Anbar Province, Iraq
New York Eta Brother Jacob “Puck” Pfister, KIA: 19 APR 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
Georgia Delta Brother Noah Harris, KIA: 18 JUN 2005, Baqubah, Iraq
Florida Epsilon Brother William Wood, KIA: 27 OCT 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
Louisiana Delta Brother Matthew Barnes, KIA: 14 FEB 2006, Qa’im, Iraq
Ohio Kappa Brother Norman Tollett, KIA: 28 APR 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
Tennessee Theta Brother Jonathan Dozier, KIA: 09 JAN 2008, Sinsil, Iraq
Tennessee Kappa Brother Israel “Izzy” O’Bryan, KIA: 11 JUN 2010, Jalula, Iraq
Tennessee Eta Brother Joshua Lawrence, KIA: 08 OCT 2011, Kandahar City, Afghanistan

The following SigEp Patriots were also killed while in the service of our country overseas since the start of the global war on terrorism:
Tennessee Theta Brother Kenneth Ballard, 30 MAY 2004, Iraq
Tennessee Alpha Brother Joseph “Trane” McCloud, 04 DEC 2006, Iraq

SPP pledges that these men and their service will always be remembered.

Anyone interested in additional information about these brave men please drop me an email.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

Brother Ed Jones, NY Eta '96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com
@SigEpsWhoServe

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 06 – 12 FEB

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
~ Thomas Paine (Englisth born American writer and political pamphleteer, 1737-1809)

09 FEB 2007
Five years ago today, we lost Vietnam War Veteran and TN Gamma Brother Captain Bruce Edward Crowe, U.S. Marine Corps when he passed away at his West Knoxville after a courageous battle with cancer. Bruce attended East Tennessee State University, graduated from The University of Tennessee and later earned a master’s degree from Tennessee Tech University. Brother Crowe received two Purple Hearts during his service in the Marine Corps, and later became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Masons.

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.

Brother Crowe was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In 2011, the SigEp Patriots Project paid respect to Bruce on Founders and Veteran’s Day and you can too at Section 66, Site 7578.

08 FEB 2011
U.S. Army World War II Veteran OH Kappa Brother James Owen Simpson died on this date in Moultrie, Georgia. His obituary listed him as a “Lieutenant” but it is unknown whether he earned the rank of First or Second Lieutenant.Brother Simpson was born 06 JUN 1926, in Akron, Ohio, and he served in the Army prior to attending college. Employed by Equifax after college, Jim and his wife lived in Minnesota, Atlanta, Columbia, SC, and, finally, Columbus, OH, where he was executive sales manager until his retirement in 1992. After his retirement, he was able to achieve his life-long goal of traveling the world.

Respect can be paid to Brother Simpson at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

09 FEB 2011
U.S. Army Air Corps World War II Veteran KS Gamma Brother Robert Rousseau Ambrose died on this date in Overland Park, Kansas. Bob was born in Topeka, Kansas, 10 JAN 1917, lived most of his life in the Kansas City area, and attended the University of Kansas.

Brother Ambrose served as a flight engineer aboard B-24s during WWII, and flew on 50 bombing missions over Africa, Italy and the European Theatre. He was awarded four Air Medals during his service.

Bob owned and operated Ambrose Weinand Company for many years before he retired. He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and the Serra Club of Kansas City, Kansas. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Serra Club of Kansas City, Kansas or Hospice Care of the Midwest.

Respect can be paid to Brother Ambrose at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Kansas City, MO.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
* U.S. Marine Corps Veteran FL Delta Brother Robert “Hoppy” Attree Hopkins died peacefully on 03 FEB at his home in Reston, Virginia. Hoppy attended Florida Southern College, graduating with a BS degree in Business, and after college he served in the Marine Corps as an officer stationed at Quantico, Virginia from 1961-1964. The visitation and celebration of Brother Hopkins’ life will be held at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia on Saturday, 11 FEB 2012 from 1 to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, in memory of Robert A. Hopkins, 3800 Fettler Park Drive Suite 104, Dumfries, VA 22025.
* U.S. Army Reserve Veteran NC Beta Brother Charles A. “Yogi” Denson, Jr., 71, of Mooresville, North Carolina passed away on Tuesday, 07 FEB 2012 at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM tomorrow (09 FEB) at Central United Methodist Church. The body will lie in state beginning at 10:00 AM at the church. The family will receive friends at a reception in the fellowship hall immediately following the service. Burial will take place at 4:00 PM at Glenwood Memorial Park in Mooresville.
* In addition, tomorrow (09 FEB) there were will be a memorial for an amazing SigEp Patriot that passed away 22 SEP 2011. World War II Veteran and CA Gamma Brother Captain Kenneth “Lindy” Newton Linder, Sr., U.S. Marine Corps served as a Corsair pilot with VMF-214 the “Black Sheep Squadron”, and as First Lieutenant Linder was given half credit for shooting down the Japanese bomber that struck the USS Benjamin Franklin (CV-13) on 19 March 1944. The bombing and ensuing fires resulted in the death of 772 aboard the Franklin including 32 Black Sheep members. For more details regarding the memorial being held in Santa Barbara, California please contact Brother Scott Carr, CA Gamma AVC President.

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.

UPDATE: SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP)
* SPP now has data on nearly 1,045 SigEp Patriots who serve/served in the U.S. military.
* We are happy to announce that the following SigEp Patriot has joined more than 425 such Brothers in the SigEps Who Serve Facebook group – the official group of SPP:
Two-time Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Veteran and KY Beta Brother Lieutenant Colonel Ed Nickerson, U.S. Army.
*SPP has added a 16th chapter point of contact. CA Gamma AVC President Scott Carr has stepped up to offer his energy and assistance with our efforts. Welcome aboard, Scott!

Brothers who serve/served in the U.S. military are welcome to join brothers-in-arms by sending an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com, as well as join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

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

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 05 – 11 DEC

In this edition of “This Week:”
- More SigEp Rangers!
- SigEp Patriot Promoted
- Another Patriotic SigEp Joins the Ranks
- Update: SigEp Patriots Project

11 DEC 1887
On this date, U.S. Army World War I Veteran VA Epsilon Brother Charles Walter Mason was born in Stafford, Ohio.

11 DEC 1932
VT Alpha Brother Lieutenant Colonel William Thomas Collins, U.S. Army / Vermont Army National Guard (Retired) was born on this date in Burlington, VT.

08 DEC 1935
U.S. Army Veteran VT Alpha Brother Ferdinand “Ferd” Mario Anair Collins was born on this date in Waterbury, Vermont.

07 DEC 1967
On this date, the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of World War II Veteran and FL Alpha Brother Major Winston Eugene Arnow, U.S. Army JAG Corps to a seat on the U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida.

This Week Last Year
MI Alpha Brother Lieutenant Junior Grade John Dennis Bunbury, U.S. Navy died in Rockford, Michigan. John was born in South Bend, Indiana, and lived in Niles, Michigan until the nuns encouraged him to attend Loras Academy in Dubuque, Iowa. Brother Bunbury graduated from the University of Michigan, School of Business in 1951 and married his Tri Delta college sweetheart Barbara Krause in 1952.

Soon after graduation, John served on an amphibious flagship in the Navy as a Lieutenant J.G. He dedicated his entire professional career to Wolverine World Wide and retired from the company as President of the International Division. Brother Bunbury unselfishly volunteered his time as President of the Rockford School Board and as President of the Rockford Lions Club. He was also a member of the Rockford City Council, the Board of Aquinas College and the Board of the Independent Bank.

In his later years, he truly enjoyed his work as a member of the State Board of the Michigan Special Olympics. Brother Bunbury was a member of the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club and sailed in 18 Chicago-Mackinac races, and, along with a few of his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers, was a founding member of Cannonsburg Ski Area.


Wreaths Across America™ (WAA)
Yesterday, Wreaths Across America held more than 600 events all around the country. It was great to be part of one such event at Arlington National Cemetery other SigEps for the second year in a row, and to be able to place wreaths at the gravesite of several SigEp Patriots who gave so much so that we can enjoy our way of life.

Here you can see OK Alpha Brother Specialist Trey Lewis, U.S. Army National Guard laying a wreath at the grave of Korean War Veteran and TN Alpha Brother Sergeant First Class John Rambo, U.S. Army who was a POW for 19 months before returning home.

CELEBRATE!
- Congratulations to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) Veteran OH Kappa Brother Mike Woodall who was promoted to Sergeant of Marines on Tuesday.
- On Friday, NJ Alpha Brother Second Lieutenant Andrew Boyle, U.S. Army and OEF Veteran and FL Delta Brother Captain Nate Davis, U.S. Army graduated Ranger School at Fort Benning. Congratulations!
- Congratulations go out to TX Delta Brother Colby Farley who enlisted in the Army National Guard (Texas) this week. Thank you for stepping up to serve the country!

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
* U.S. Army Veteran OH Theta Brother John Joseph Fesenmeier died 07 DEC at the age of 75 after a long and courageous struggle with a complicated, multisystem illness. Brother Fesenmeier earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He then earned Masters and PhD. Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University. John served two years in the US Army in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He moved to Mobile in 1976, and was an active member of the Men of St. Joseph. Brother Fesenmeier volunteered at Providence Hospital and was a member of the Country Club of Mobile. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ignatius Catholic Church at 10 A.M. tomorrow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Robin Baggett Educational Fund at any Regions Bank location or McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Entombment will be in the Mobile Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

* MO Zeta Brother Sergeant James L. Maynard, U.S. Army passed away on 09 DEC at his home in St. Peters, Missouri surrounded by friends and family, following a battle with cancer. Brother Maynard was born May 26th, 1934 in Logan, West Virginia. Jim served his country as a sergeant in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne during the 1950's after which he went to SEMO in Cape Giraurdeau, MO. He was a dedicated brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Services: The family is being served by The Baue Funeral Home, 3950 West Clay, St. Charles, MO. A private memorial will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the BJC Hospice, 8300 Eager Road, Suite 500A, St. Louis, MO 63144.

SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP) UPDATE
* SigEps Who Serve – the official Facebook group of the SPP – would like to welcome SigEp Patriots Victor Morris and Colby Farley.

The passing of SigEp Patriots Fesenmeier and Maynard remind us that once they have died, we are unable to collect, honor and show respect to the patriotic accomplishments and sacrifices of such Brothers. This is one of several goals of the SigEp Patriots Project, and we continue to desire a mutually beneficial partnership with HQ in the achievement of this end. We hope you will reach out to Richmond to express your support for this effort, and will contact SPP with any information, comments, and /or recommendations (Sigepswhoserve@gmail.com).

Fraternally and Respectfully,

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

This Week in the History of Sigma Phi Epsilon Patriots, 14 – 20 February

15 FEB 1891
WWI Veteran / Brother / Doctor / Major William Bates, U.S. Army (PA Delta / University of Pennsylvania, 1912) was born on this day. After getting his bachelor’s degree, Brother Bates went on to med school and graduated with his M.D. in 1915. He was a Surgeon/1st Lieutenant in 1916, was ordered to active duty in MAY 1917, and served in France at least until APR 1918. He was discharged as a Major in FEB 1919.

17 FEB 1921
On this date, WWII Veteran / Brother / First Lieutenant Douglas L. Pearce, U.S. Army Air Corps (CO Delta / Colorado School of Mines ’42) was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He graduated with an engineering degree, and soon thereafter enlisted in the Army in Salt Lake City as a 1st Lieutenant, 9th Army Air Force.

In JUN 1943, Brother Pearce was stationed South Dakota until he was sent overseas. He served on active duty until 1946 and in the reserves until 1949.

Gone but not forgotten

14 FEB 2006
On this date, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Veteran / Brother / Lance Corporal Matthew R. Barnes, U.S. Marine Corps (LA Delta / University of Louisiana at Monroe) made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in action in Qa’im, Iraq. He was 20 years old.

Brother Barnes was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. He was killed when a suicide car bomb attacked the vehicle he was in. Matthew and another Marine were killed when a bomber rammed their Humvee.

Matthew was a student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe until he joined the Marines in May 2004.

08 FEB 2011
WWII Veteran / Brother / Lieutenant James Owen Simpson, U.S. Army (OH Kappa / Bowling Green State University) of Moultrie, died earlier this month at the age of 84.

A memorial service was held on 12 FEB at Cobb Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held later this spring at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Brother Simpson was born 06 JUNE 1926, in Akron, Ohio. He was a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Prior to college he was a lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II. While in college he met his loving wife, Margaret Jane “Peggy” Turner Simpson. Employed by Equifax after college, Jim and Peggy lived in Minnesota, Atlanta, Columbia, S.C., and, finally, Columbus, Ohio, where he was executive sales manager until his retirement in 1992. After his retirement, he was able to achieve his life-long goal of traveling the world, said his family.

Memorial contributions may be to the Alzheimer’s Association in his memory. Arrangements have been entrusted to Cobb Funeral Chapel.

Please leave condolences to the family at www.moultrieobserver.com.

Update on Brother Kyle Hicks
Brother Kyle Hicks, U.S. Army (AL Theta / Jacksonville State University ’08) was severely injured on Thanksgiving 2010 while on mid-deployment leave. Kyle underwent surgery on 15 FEB 2011 and his dad reported:
"Kyle came through 4.5 hour surgery and is out like a light thanks to modern pharmacology. Dr Dockery said it went well, and now it is wait-and-see for the results. Kyle is tough and the prayer warriors are pulling him through. Another miracle, God is merciful and gracious. Please continue to pray, it is working. Grace and peace, Bob” Another miracle, God is merciful and gracious. Please continue to pray, it is working. Grace and peace, Bob"

Please keep Brother Hicks and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Congrats!
The SigEp Patriots Project recently learned that Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran / Brother / Captain Nate Davis, U.S. Army (FL Beta / Stetson University ’07) was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service” during his recent Afghanistan deployment. Brother Davis “led his Platoon on over 140 Combat Operations to include over 11 Air Assaults and over 18 EOD Escort Operations…in over 11 different Districts in every corner of Khowst Province.” [Taken from the award citation] Well done, Brother!

Mobilization News!
Brother / Lance Corporal Yoni Haim, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (FL Iota / University of South Florida ‘11) told the Marine Corps that he was interested in mobilizing to active duty, and Uncle Sam came a calling on Valentine’s Day! I am guessing he didn’t get flowers or chocolate with that gift. Train hard and stay safe on your deployment, Brother.

Fraternally and Respectfully,

Ed Jones
NY Eta / Chief, US Navy
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com