This Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 24 / 2014, 18 – 24 AUG

“It may be taken as our position, and the basis of our system, that every man who enjoys the protection of a free government owes not only a portion of his property but even of his personal services in defense of it.” ~ George Washington

Brothers,

Greetings from Afghanistan! This week, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) is honored and remember the actions, accomplishments and sacrifices of 21 SigEp Patriots, including two chapter founding fathers, a prisoner of war, and some great news!

Brothers,

19 AUG 1942
On this date in Toledo, Ohio class of ’35 graduate of Ohio Northern University, Ohio Alpha Brother Gerald W. Fling, entered the U.S. Army as a Private and joined the Army Corps of Engineers.

20 AUG 1942
Penn State graduate of the class of ’37, Pennsylvania Eta Brother Jay H. Albere, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on this date.

21 AUG 1942
New Jersey Alpha Brother Adelphos H. Peters, Class of ’21 at Stevens Institute of Technology, entered the U.S. Navy Reserve on this date. He was originally initiated in to Phi Kappa Pi at Stevens in 1919, and is listed as a charter member of Theta Upsilon Omega when it took over the chapter in 1924. Adelphos became our brother when SigEp established NJ Alpha in 1938.

U.S. Navy photo of USS Tilefish (SS-307)

23 AUG 1944
Following his submarine training, World War II Veteran and Utah Alpha Brother Ensign Karl E. Ward, U.S. Navy reported to USS Tilefish (SS-307) stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Brother Ward joined the Navy in ’42 and served aboard the destroyer USS Boyd (DD-544) until MAR 1944 when he received orders to submarine school in preparation for his assignment aboard Tilefish.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 21 / 2014, 21 – 27 July

Brothers,

This week in our history, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) honors a brother killed in action during WWII, and celebrates the service of 15 additional brothers. We also welcome a brother home from his tour in Afghanistan and remember “America’s Number 1 Spaceman!”

21 JUL 1918
Another SigEp hero! While it took nearly 27 years, U.S. Army WWI Veteran and Montana Alpha Brother Albert Schak was finally awarded the French Croix de Guerre, with the Decoration Fourrager for his actions on this date in France during WWI.

Croix de Guerre Medal
(France)

The date was 21 JUL 1918, and it was the last stages of the battle of the Marne. Young Albert Schak of Missoula, Montana was a Soldier in an infantry unit inching its way forward during an assault that would result in only nine of the original 250 men capable of going on the next day.

During the battle, a man was shot through the hip. Albert tried to get him to get the man to safe ground, but he was unable and the others were “too busy trying to make their way forward.” So, he drew his .45 caliber revolver, and pointed it at the nearest man. A few others joined that man, and they used a litter to start the trip back to the medical area. Albert followed, and when one of the litter bearers was killed, he stepped in and took his place. Once the wounded man was safely at the aid station, Albert began the journey back to his outfit which was still moving towards their objective.

In an example of how families also serve, Albert’s mother was notified twice that he had died during the war.

After the war, Albert brought his courage, character and leadership to Montana Alpha.

22 JUL 1940
UC Berkeley Class of ’36 alumnus and California Alpha Brother William E. Turpen joined the Army on this date.

25 JUL 1942
On this date, Virginia Alpha Brother Roy C. Parks, Jr. graduated from navigator training as a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps.

22 JUL 1943
Montana Alpha Brother Theodore Gramm entered the U.S. Army on this date.

22 JUL 1943
World War II Veteran and Arkansas Alpha Brother Captain Clyde M. Mead, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was wounded in action on this date when a bomb exploded thirty feet in front of him and also by high explosive shell fragments during combat near Gela, Sicily.

23 JUL 1943
On this date, World War II Veteran and IL Alpha Brother Corporal Willard Harold Lindeman, U.S.Army Air Corps made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in action in New Guinea while serving as a gunner in an aircraft with the 408th Bomber Squadron, 22nd Bomber Group (Heavy). Willard enlisted in the Air Corps in JAN 1941, and after more than a year at the University of Illinois, he left UI for service in the Pacific in SEP 1942.

Respect can be paid to Brother Lindeman at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, Plot Q, Row 0, Grave 73.

26 JUL 1958
Fifty six years ago yesterday, Korean War Veteran & Ace Fighter Pilot, SigEp Citation Recipient (Posthumously) and Indiana Alpha Brother Captain Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe, Jr., U.S. Air Force was killed when the F-104 (Starfighter) he was piloting crashed near Rosamond Dry Lake, California.

Brother Kincheloe

In 1948, in a bit of foreshadowing, Cadet Kincheloe was able to meet legendary pilot, Chuck Yeager, and sit in the cockpit of the Bell X-1.

The Class of ’49 graduate of Purdue University entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and after graduation was assigned pilot training in Arizona where he received his wings and commission in 1950. He was immediately deployed to Korea serving with the 4th and 51st Fighter Wings.

Before the war was over, Brother Kincheloe shot down 10 communist planes during more than 130 combat sorties – making him one of only 12 U.S. Air Force pilots with 10 or more “kills.”

After the war, Kinch became a USAF test pilot, participating in the testing of the Century Series of fighter aircraft. In the mid-1950s, he joined the Bell X-2 program and on 07 SEP 1956, flew the Bell X-2 research rocket plane more than 2,000 mph and to a height of 126,200 feet (some sources list 126,500) – a world record and the first flight ever above 100,000 feet. For this, he was nicknamed "America's No. 1 Spaceman" and would receive the Mackay Trophy the following year.

Brother Kincheloe was selected as one of the first three pilots in the next rocket-powered aircraft program, the X-15, and would have been part of the Man In Space Soonest project.

A year after his death, Kinross Air Force Base (AFB) in Upper Peninsula, Michigan was renamed Kincheloe AFB in his honor. The base closed in SEP 1977. A monument erected honoring him still stands a few miles east of his hometown of Cassopolis, MI – it is an angular stone slab twelve feet high bearing a silver model of the X-2 pointed skyward. In 1992, Kinch was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor, and the Iven C. Kincheloe Award is named in his honor.

His awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. In 1987, SigEp posthumously awarded him the SigEp Citation.

Brother Kincheloe was laid to rest in Section 2, Site 4872-1, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

23 JUL 1962
On this date, Pennsylvania Eta Brother Daniel A. Augustyniak graduated from Penn State and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force.

22 JUL 2004
U.S. Army Veteran, Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran, and Alabama Alpha Brother Wallace J. Paschal II was promoted to Colonel, U.S. Air National Guard (Florida) on this date.

26 JUL 2004
Korean War Veteran and TX Delta Founding Father Sergeant Leslie “Les” G. Bains, U.S. Marine Corps, 71, died on this date in Clayton, New Mexico. Les volunteered for service in the Marines during the Korean War. Following his military service, he attended the University of Houston, and was the second brother initiated at TX Delta (Chapter Number: 152-0002). He remained an active alumnus to both.

Les was a pilot, and member of the Civil Air Patrol, as well as the Masonic Lodge of Bandera, TX.

Respect can be paid to Brother Bains at Forest Park East Cemetery, League City, TX.

24 JUL 2009
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran Charles E. Farkas, Sr. died on this date at the Kline Hospice House in Frederick, Maryland. Charles was a brother of Lambda Tau Delta (LTD), and member of the Class of ’42 at Cleveland State. He is our brother because that LTD chapter became Ohio Nu.

Respect can be paid to Brother Farkas at the Veterans Garden of Honor, Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Frederick.

25 JUL 2010
Four years ago on this date, U.S. Army World War II & Korean War Veteran, Mississippi Beta Brother General William E. “Bill” Callicott, Mississippi National Guard (Retired) (Mississippi State University ’48) died in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bill was a lifelong resident of Senatobia. After WWII, he attended Mississippi State, and graduated with the class of 1948. The Korean War next dominated Brother Collicott’s life, and in 1960 he began 16 years of service to the people of Mississippi by serving in the State House of Representatives. Later he would serve three terms as the Mayor of Senatobia.

Bill eventually retired as owner of the Callicott Insurance Agency, a business his grandfather began in 1915.

Respect can be paid to Brother Callicott at Bethesda Cemetery in Senatobia.

22 JUL 2012
World War II Veteran of D-Day and MO Alpha Past President Lieutenant Commander Charles “Charlie” W. Kenworthey, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) died on this date in San Antonio, Texas. He was 87 years old. He attended the University of Delaware majoring in mechanical engineering before his WWII service. On D-Day, Charlie was a petty officer aboard a landing craft for the Normandy invasion.

After the war, he graduated in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri where he was president of MO Alpha. Brother Kenworthey then received a direct commission in the Navy Reserve, and served as commanding office of a Public Affairs Unit, before retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Respect can be paid to Brother Kenworthey at Sunset Memorial Park, San Antonio, TX.

RECENT LOSS TO OUR ROLL
* We just learned that U.S. Army Korean War Veteran Nebraska Beta Brother William C. Whited passed away 07 JUL in Colorado.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of Brother Whited. SPP pledges that you and your patriotic service will always be remembered.

SIGEP PATRIOT NEWS
* Welcome Home! Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran and Texas Upsilon Brother First Lieutenant Beau McNeff, U.S. Army Reserve is back with his family in America after a successful tour in Afghanistan! While deployed, Beau managed to donate hundreds of volunteer hours at the USO on FOB Fenty. Near the end of his tour he was also welcomed in to the SigEp NUTS! McAuliffe Society.
* On Saturday, Illinois Nu Brother Chris Kimball graduated from the U.S. Army’s three week Airborne School. Congratulations, Chris!

SPP would like to thank brothers Adam Seiler, Cory Butler, Dave Huiett and Charles Eberly for their assistance this week.

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, Volume 19/2014, 07 – 13 July

Brothers,

This week, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) honors and remembers 16 brother warriors from as many chapters and every branch of the military, including one from Wyoming Alpha who made the ultimate sacrifice more than 71 years ago while taking part in the liberation of Sicily during WWII. SPP pledges it will always remember all our brothers who serve/served our great country, and hopes you will celebrate with us by reading and passing word of this post.

10 JUL 1942
On this date, North Carolina Epsilon Brother Robert L. Orr entered the U.S. Army, and went on to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II.

13 JUL 1942
Massachusetts Alpha Brother David H. Johnson joined the U.S. Coast Guard on this date, serving as a Soundman Second Class during World War II.

Assault on Sicily - Operation Husky

11 JUL 1943
A year ago, SPP mentioned in this work that 10 JUL 1943 marked the beginning of Operation Husky - at the time, the largest combined operation of WWII, and asked if anyone had any idea how many SigEp Patriots where there. Now we know that at least one brave SigEp made the ultimate sacrifice on the second day of the operation.

On this date, World War II Veteran and Wyoming Alpha Brother First Lieutenant Paul C. Rawdon, Jr., U.S. Army was 26 years old, and assigned to the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division when his unit made landfall on the southern shore of Sicily. 

Paul completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Wyoming before going to work in New Mexico. He was inducted in to the Army in MAR 1941, and he was with the division when it shipped overseas a month before he was killed.

Respect can be paid to Brother Rawdon at Block 12, Row C, Plot 13 of Glenrock Cemetery, Glenrock, WY.

This (Last) Week in SigEp Patriot History, 30 JUN - 06 JUL

This (Last) Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 18/2014, 30 JUN – 06 JUL

Brothers,

In this edition, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) honors 22 incredible Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force Brothers who served in the Border War - just years after the Fraternity was founded - to the present day. They are from 18 Chapters including a future Congressman, a former Chief of Naval Operations and two additional men who rose to the 4-star rank of their respective service, another who became a legend in the Fraternity, and one fought his way across Europe during WWII, only to be evacuated home after receiving his second Purple Heart.

Brother Gerow
(as a 4-star General)

01 JUL 1916
Border War Veteran of Vera Cruz and Virginia Theta Brother Leonard T. Gerow was promoted to First Lieutenant, U.S. Army on this date.

30 JUN 1920
Nearly four years to the day later, (then) Captain Leonard T. Gerow completed his WWI service on the staff of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France. He was Colonel (temporary) in charge of purchasing all the radio equipment for the American Expeditionary Force. For his service he earned the Distinguished Service Medal and French Legion of Honor.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 17/2014, 23 – 29 JUN

Brothers,

This week, we remember two Army Air Corps brothers killed in action during WWII are very happy to welcome a brother home from Afghanistan, and honored to announce that tomorrow one of our own will be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for non-combat heroism.

Navy and
Marine Corps
Medal

In total, this week, we celebrate 15 brothers, representing 13 chapters, serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard in places like Afghanistan, Egypt, France, Japan, Korea, the South Pacific and the U.S.

24 JUN 1918

NH Alpha Brother Private First Class Charles E. Tayntor, Jr., U.S. Army was a member of the Medical Corps, Base Hospital Unit 83, American Expeditionary Force when he was called in to the service on this date.

27 JUN 1942

This is the enlistment date of OR Alpha Brother Jack Liljeberg in the U.S. Navy, and MA Delta Brother Kenneth G. Merriam in the U.S. Army.

26 JUN 1943

This marks the date the only SigEp Patriot of the Iowa Alpha Chapter was killed in action in WWII.

Taxpayer's Pride, 1942
Photo Credit PacificWrecks.com

World War II Veteran and IA Alpha Brother Second Lieutenant Sumner Luten Beck, U.S. Army Air Corps made the ultimate sacrifice while serving as a navigator about a B17F (Fighting Fortress) nicknamed “Taxpayer’s Pride” during a night mission over Rabaul, New Britain. Brother Beck and his crewmates were shot down by a J1N1 (Irving) and crashed into the jungle near Mount Varzin.

The Class of 1938 graduate from Iowa Wesleyan College had nearly completed his training as an Air Corps navigator when he was commission in MAY 1943. Just weeks later, Sumner arrived in the SW Pacific Theater, and he would be killed in less than a month.

Very early on 26 JUN 1943, before the sun was above the horizon, Sumner and his comrades took off in the B-17 from Dobodura Airfield on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Strict radio silence was maintained during the mission. Nothing was heard from this bomber after takeoff. Upon reaching their objective, they successfully bombed the target then turned for home. According to an account from the Japanese pilot who shot the plane down, within minutes of their bombing run, Sumner and the crew were taking 20mm cannon fire from the Irving, and the B-17 caught on fire before crashing in to the jungle.

Starting at 0230 hours, other U.S. aircraft over the target reported an aircraft had crashed, and that a fire could be seen on the ground in the vicinity of the down airplane. When the bomber failed to return, the crew were declared missing in action. The War Department declared them “presumed lost” in JAN 1946.

In actuality, the tail gunner managed to parachute out and away from the falling debris. He served in a Japanese Army POW camp the remainder of the war.

Post war, the crew's remains were recovered at the crash site near Mount Varzin. However, Brother Beck’s body was not among them. Several years later, his remains were recovered, and returned to the States.

Respect can be paid to Brother Beck at Fairview Cemetery in Lee County, IA.

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.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, Volume 15/14, 09 – 15 JUN

Brothers,

Editor's note: I guess I need one...an editor. My apologies for the chronological errors in last week's version of "This Week in SigEp Patriot History" (TWISPH). Another example of why it is always good to have someone read over your work.

Today marks the 239th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. Happy 239th Birthday U.S. Army SigEp Patriots!


Volume 15 of TWISPH for the year includes notable news, accomplishments and acts of service and sacrifice by 27 military brothers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force from 25 chapters from across the country spanning 97 years.


Four SigEp Patriots made the ultimate sacrifice during this week (1 - WWII, 2 - Vietnam War and 1 - Operation Iraqi Freedom), and eight brothers passed away having served in four conflicts around the world. Please keep their family, friends and chapter brothers in your thoughts and prayers.


The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) knows of 14 brothers who served in the military and were awarded the SigEp Citation - two of them are referenced in this edition of TWISPH.



13 JUN 1918VA Epsilon Brother Cralle Blackwell volunteered on this date for World War I service with the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps.

On the same date, NY Beta Brother (then) Lieutenant James A. Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service had his 4th aerial kill over Thiaucort, France in his Nieuport 28 while assigned to 97th Aero Squadron. He would go on to be a WWI Ace and establish the Alabama Air National Guard.


12 JUN 1930VA Zeta Brother Robert Wood graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on this date and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps. Following WWI, he attended the National War College and later served as a military aide to the (first) Secretary of Defense, James Forrestal (a fellow SigEp). Brother Wood went on to retire as a General, and was posthumously awarded the SigEp Citation in 1967.

12 JUN 1944On this date, World War II Veteran and CO Gamma Brother Staff Sergeant Arthur Sinclair Edmundson, U.S. Army made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in action in Normandy, France while serving with the 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. Brother Sinclair left Colorado State University to enlist in the Army as a Private at Fort Bliss, TX in MAR 1942.


Arthur is remembered on Panel: 11, Column: 1, Row: 107 of the Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora, CO.


Respect can be paid to Brother Edmundson at Plot H, Row 18, Grave 22, Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, VOL 13/14, 26 MAY – 01 JUN

Brothers,
Greetings from the home office in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. In this edition, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) highlights the lives, accomplishments and sacrifices of military brothers from 23 chapters, who served in at least one of six major conflicts over the course of 97 years. We remember 26 Brothers, one of which we salute for completing his military obligation, four that we added to our Facebook group, and honor the passing of the first SigEp killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

28 MAY 1917
Dropping out of Cornell, NY Beta Brother James Meissner enlisted in the Army Signal Service (the branch of the Army then tasked with flying) as a Private First Class on this date. One year and two days later, First Lieutenant Meissner was awarded his second Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while in aerial combat over Jaulny, France during WWI. 

01 JUN 1939
On this date, World War I Veteran, U.S. Congressman (Virginia) and VA Eta Brother Private Joel Flood, U.S. Army was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. He would serve in this capacity until elected as a judge to the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Virginia.

Brother Leonard Gerow

01 JUN 1942
"I believe they [the troops] are as well prepared for battle as any troops we have ever sent into action."

These words were spoken by Vera Cruz & World War I Veteran, VA Theta Brother Leonard T. Gerow, (then) Brigadier General and Chief of the U.S. Army War Plans Division, while observing maneuvers of American forces in Southwest Britain.

29 MAY 1943
KS Gamma Brother Raymond L. Childers began his WWII service with the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on this date.

The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) Remembers Our Brothers Killed in Action

Brothers,
Happy Memorial Day from Afghanistan!

Based on information found in the archives of the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP), the following brothers are known to have made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country and way of life:

World War I
-Henry Griffin (NY Alpha)                     -Louis Phillis (IL Alpha)

World War II
-John Blanton, Jr. (VA Alpha)               -Charles Mylius (VA Alpha)
-David Johnson (NY Alpha)                  -Edward Locke (NY Alpha)
-Charles Kuhlmann, Jr. (MD Alpha)        -James Logan (VT Alpha)
-Lee Nelson (WI Beta)                        -Lake Maddox (OK Alpha)
-Robert Patterson (OK Alpha)               -Frank Pinney (OK Alpha)
-Williard Lindeman (IL Alpha)               -John Lang (IL Alpha)
-Henry Gansz (IL Alpha)                      -John Salyers (IL Alpha)
-Robert Hook (IL Alpha)                      -Joseph Hissem (IL Alpha)
-Clarence Roudebush (IN Alpha)           -George Thornbrough (KS Beta)
-John Jackson (KS Beta)                      -Philip Singleton (KS Alpha)
-Robert Stoddard (KS Gamma)              -David Reed (PA Lambda)
-Oscar Rambeck (DC Alpha)                  -David Bowen (AL Beta)
-Frank Uricchio (AL Beta)                     -Earl Benjamin, Jr. (NY Beta)
-Karl Baum, Jr. (TN Alpha)

Vietnam
-Robert Hansen (NE Beta)                    -Stephen Joyner (CA Delta)
-Donald March (MA Gamma)                  -Dennis O'Connor (MI Delta)
-William Peters, Jr. (IA Gamma)            -Daniel Hinkel (OH Nu)
-William Thigpen (NC Beta)                  -Dayton Lanier (NC Beta)
-Larry Talley (NC Beta)                        -Paul Strahm (OH Kappa)
-Kenneth Smith (KS Epsilon)                 -David Myers (PA Eta)
-Gene McMullen (PA Eta)                      -William Murphy (UT Beta)
-Thomas Cisler (IA Beta)                      -Jeff Krommenhoek (IA Beta)
-Michael LaFromboise (WA Beta)           -Gaylord Keroher (KS Gamma)
-John Janoska (NY Delta)                      -Johnny Davis (AR Gamma)
-James Atchison (WV Beta)                   -Charles Schultz (PA Iota)
-Robert Avery (TN Gamma)                   -Rex Craig (KS Alpha)
-William Elmore (TX Beta)

Iraq
-William Wood (FL Epsilon)                   -Norman Tollett (OH Kappa)
-Jacob Pfister (NY Eta)                          -Matthew Webber (MI Beta)
-Israel "Izzy" O'Bryan (TN Kappa)           -Kim Orlando (TX Rho)
-Matthew Barnes (LA Delta)                   -Noah Harris (GA Delta)
-Bradley Arms (GA Delta)                      -Jonathan Dozier (TN Theta)

Afghanistan
-Joshua Lawrence (TN Eta)

Even after 13 years of research, we know this list is incomplete, and SPP welcomes any information you have that would insure that our brave brothers will always be remembered.

This list is being published on Memorial Day - a U.S. federal holiday established to honor and remember men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Therefore, this Memorial Day we hope you will join SPP in showing respect to these brothers as well as the hundreds of other SigEp Patriots who have served our country.

Fraternally,

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

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, VOL 11/14, 12 – 18 MAY

Brothers,

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us." - Richard Grenier (conveying his interpretation of George Orwell's opinion)

Happy (belated) Armed Forces Day to all SigEps Patriots serving in the U.S. military at home and around the world! The Day was created in 1949 to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches – the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard – following the consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense (under the first Secretary of Defense, World War I Veteran and NH Alpha Brother James V. Forrestal). You can read more about Armed Forces Day at www.defense.gov/afd.

15 MAY 1917

Mexican Campaign Veteran and VA Theta Brother Leonard T. Gerow was promoted to Captain, U.S. Army on this date.

Croix de Guerre

15 MAY 1918

On this date, the French government showed their appreciation for the accomplishments of World War I Veteran and NY Beta Brother (then) Second Lieutenant James A. Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service. Brother Meissner shot down an enemy airplane over Foret De La Rappe, France, and for his heroic actions they awarded him their medal for bravery, known as the Croix de Guerre.

15 MAY 1942

PA Delta Brother Charles E. Wiegner, Jr. of the University of Pennsylvania Class of 1937 joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on this date.

16 MAY 1942

Entering the service of the U.S. Army Air Corps Dental Corps on this date was MT Alpha Brother R. K. Schroeder, Class of 1934 at the University of Montana.

18 MAY 1942

It was a busy week for patriotic SigEps as DC Alpha Brother Vananda J. Meyl of the George Washington University Class of 1926 entered the service of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, VOL 9-14, 28 APR – 04 MAY

Brothers,

This week, dozens of our brothers across the country will graduate from and be commissioned in the U.S. military, swearing to defend our great country against all enemies foreign and domestic. The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) would like to congratulate all our brothers who graduate this year, and hope that the SigEp Patriots among them will reach out to SPP.

02 MAY 1918

On this date, World War I Veteran and NY Beta Brother (then) First Lieutenant James “Jimmy” A. Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service won his first aerial engagement while piloting a French-made Nieuport 28 about three miles above Foret De La Rappe, France. Jimmy would go on to become an American Ace during WWI and attain the rank of Major.

For his service on this date, Brother Meissner was awarded the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in accordance with General Order 121, W.D., 1918,

Distinguished Service Cross

“The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James A.Meissner, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Toul Sector on 02 MAY 1918. First Lieutenant Meissner attacked three enemy planes at an altitude of 4,800 meters over the Foret De La Rappe, France. After a short fight he brought down one of the machines in flames. During the combat the entering wedge and the covering of the upper wings of his plane were torn away and after the battle he was subjected to heavy fire from antiaircraft batteries, but by skillful operation and cool judgment he succeeded in making a landing within the American lines.”

According to the SPP archives, only five SigEp Patriots have been awarded the DSC.

The DSC is the second highest awarded presented by the U.S. Army after the Medal of Honor. Latter in his WWI service, Brother Meissner would earn a second DSC for his actions during WWI.

Renaissance Brother James Naismith

04 MAY 1925

Born in Ontario, Canada, World War I Veteran and KS Gamma Renaissance Brother Captain James Naismith, U.S. Army National Guard (Kansas) became a naturalized U.S. citizen on this date.

01 MAY 1942

Montana Attorney General MT Alpha Brother John W. Bonner entered the U.S. Army on this date and served during World War II.

29 APR 1945

World War II Veteran and WI Beta Brother Ensign Lee Otis Nelson, U.S. Navy Reserve went missing in action in English waters in May 1944, and on this date he was declared as killed in action.

Brother Nelson is among the 5,127 American service members memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery between the villages of Coton and Madingley in Cambridgeshire, England.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, VOL 8-14, 21 – 27 APR

“I have just received the February issue of the Journal [April, 1943]. I can say that I have read this issue with more than ordinary interest, partly because out here we are hungry for news of our friends and partly because I found out for the first time that at least two of the officers that I know here [somewhere in North Africa] are Sig Eps. Another thing that was of considerable interest was the list of the brothers from Texas Alpha that had gone into the Service. No doubt there are many more on active duty. It seems to me that the Journal could render a great service by obtaining the actual addresses of all the brothers and printing them. Of course, this would be difficult because the addresses will change rapidly, but one of the major things of interest to us here is the whereabouts of our friends.”

~ Capt. Wendell E. Little, U.S. Army, Texas, '32 (SigEp Journal, September 1943)

It’s too bad the Journal no longer regularly carries the kind of information referenced by Brother Little. One of the many goals of the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) is to provide this kind of information so brothers can get together in brotherhood, but we can only share information we possess.

24 APR 1942

On this date, WI Alpha Brother Everett Roudebush, Class of 1929 at Lawrence College, entered the Army after finishing a concert tour with Salvatore Baccaloni, noted star of the Metropolitan Opera Company.

27 APR 1964

World War I Veteran, Judge (5th Judicial Circuit), U.S. Congressman (Virginia) and VA Eta Brother Private Joel W. Flood, U.S. Army died on this date in Richmond, Virginia. During WWI, Brother Flood served in Company A, 305th Engineers, 80th Division which saw action in St. Mihiel and the Argonne. He completed his military duty in 1919.

Before his WWI service, Joel 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, and was elected Virginia State Commonwealth Attorney of Appomattox County in 1919.

Joel served the people of Appomattox County until 08 NOV 1932 when he was elected to the Seventy-second Congress to fill a vacancy. Following is congressional service, Brother Flood 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 in Appomattox.

21 APR 1991

World War II & Vietnam War Veteran, UT Alpha Brother Lieutenant Colonel Ray F. Randall, U.S. Air Force (Retired) died on this date. Ray joined the Army Air Corps after graduating from the University of Utah with the Class of 1935. Following his service in Korea, he went to work for the U.S. Weather Bureau out in California as a meteorologist.

Respect can be paid to Brother Randall at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.

MI Beta Brother
Matthew Alan Webber

27 APR 2006

On this date, a hero died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas as a result of wounds received during combat operations in Habbaniyah, Iraq the previous November. 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 2005. Brother Webber was a member of 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 in Big Rapids, MI.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, VOL 7-14, 14 – 20 April

SigEps truly are everywhere, and SigEp Patriots are no exception. On Thursday, I had the sincere honor to meet up with three amazing SigEp Patriots near Fort Bragg with incredible tales of travel and accomplishments that could easily fill hours of conversation.

(L-R) Me, KY Epsilon Brother Joe Dacus,
AL Theta Brother Timothy Forrest and
VA Pi Brother Adam Fitzhugh

Today, I had an opportunity to visit Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC. The base is the last remaining U.S. military installation to be named in honor of a SigEp Patriot. Named in honor of NC Delta Brother Lieutenant Seymour Johnson, U.S. Navy, it is the only USAF base in the world named after a member of the U.S. Navy. Can you name the other base that named after a SigEp Patriot?

14 APR 1953

On this date, U.S. Marine Corps World War I Veteran, Governor (Virginia) and VA Zeta Brother William M. Tuck began his service to the citizens of Virginia and the Nation as a member of the Eighty-Third Congress. Brother Tuck was reelected to seven succeeding Congresses.

14 APR 1970

World War II, Korean War & Vietnam War Veteran and CT Alpha Renaissance Brother Admiral Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt, Jr., U.S. Navy was nominated on this date by President Nixon to be Chief of Naval Operations – the senior military officer in the U.S. Navy. Admiral Zumwalt became a Renaissance Brother several years after his retirement. Nearly exactly 44 years later, the first of the U.S. Navy’s new Zumwalt guided-missile destroyer, USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), was christened on 12 APR 2014 at the Bath Iron Works, Maine, and is expected to be commissioned in late 2015 or early 2016.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, VOL 5-14, 03 – 09 MAR (2014)

Brothers,

Do you know how many SigEp Patriots were killed at the Battle of Iwo Jima? What is the name of the only U.S. Air Force base named after a U.S. Navy officer (and SigEp Patriot)?

One of the missions of the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) is to be able to answer these and many other questions pertaining to this unique group of Brothers, and it is why we have approached multiple members of the Headquarters leadership at both Conclave Phoenix and Dallas about establishing a dynamic partnership. To date, no luck, but we continue to be hopeful.

Please read on to learn the answer to one of the above questions.

NY Beta Brother Jimmy Meissner
alongside "Hat in the Ring Squadron" aircraft
(dated 02 MAY 1918)

08 MAR 1918

On this date, World War I Veteran and NY Beta Brother Lieutenant James “Jimmy” A. Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service reported to Major John Huffer, commander of the U.S. 94th Pursuit Squadron. Known as the “Hat in the Ring Squadron”, the 94th was the first entirely American unit to fly a fighter patrol. It was here that Jimmy became an Ace pilot, and good friends with Eddie Rickenbacker, the highest scoring American Ace of WWI.

06 MAR 1924

World War I Veteran and NY Beta Brother Captain Enoch N. Holstrom, U.S. Army died on this date in St. Luke’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois after an illness of several months. In 1917, Brother Holstrom went to France as a second lieutenant with the 11th Engineers and was soon promoted to first lieutenant.

At the Battle of Cambral, Enoch directed the construction of rail lines for the transportation of tanks to the front. This he did with such speed that he received a letter of commendation from General Pershing. During that battle, two hundred of his men were cut off from the detachment by a barrage, but he led them to safety and for this act of heroism he was promoted to captain.

Enoch entered Cornell in 1912 as a student of mechanical engineering and graduated in 1916. Following graduation, he worked for the Wagner Electric Company in St. Louis, and later transferred to New York. After his return from France, Brother Holstrom moved to St. Paul, and in 1923 relocated to Chicago.

03 MAR 1933

World War I Veteran and VA Eta Brother Private Joel W. Flood, U.S. Army completed his term as a member of the Seventy-second U.S. Congress on this date.

SigEp Patriots Killed in Action Since 9-11

The SigEp Patriots Project honors the lives, accomplishments and sacrifices of the following Brothers by remembering them on the 12th anniversary of the attacks, May they rest in peace.

GA Delta Brother
Bradley Arms
KIA: 19 NOV 2004
Al Anbar Province, Iraq



TX Rho Brother
Kim Orlando
KIA: 16 OCT 2003
Karbala, Iraq

TN Theta Brother
Kenneth Ballard
KIA: 30 MAY 2004
Najaf, Iraq



NY Eta Brother
Jacob "Puck" Pfister
KIA: 19 APR 2005
Bahgdad, Iraq

GA Delta Brother
Noah Harris
KIA: 18 JUN 2005
Baqubah, Iraq

FL Epsilon Brother
William Wood
KIA: 27 OCT 2005
Baghdad, Iraq





LA Delta Brother
Matthew Barnes
KIA: 14 FEB 2006
Qa'im, Iraq

TN Alpha Brother
J. Trane McCloud
KIA: 04 DEC 2006
Al Anbar Province, Iraq
 

TN Theta Brother
Jonathan Dozier
KIA: 09 JAN 2008
Sinsil, Iraq

 



  

TN Kappa Brother
Israel "Izzy" O'Bryan
KIA: 11 JUN 2010
Jalula, Iraq

TN Eta Brother
Joshua Lawrence
KIA: 08 OCT 2011
Kandahar City, Afghanistan