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, 29 April – 05 May

Brothers,

02 MAY 1918

On this date, NY Beta Brother (then) First Lieutenant James “Jimmy” Armand Meissner, U.S. Army Air Service won his first aerial engagement while flying 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 Distinguished Service Cross in accordance with General Order 121, W.D., 1918,

“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.”

04 MAY 1925

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

01 MAY 1942

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

01 MAY 1956

On this date, World War II Veteran and VA Zeta Brother General Robert Jefferson Wood, U.S. Army became commanding general of Fort Bliss and commandant of the Antiaircraft Artillery and Guided Missile School. Brother Wood was presented with the SigEp Citation in 1967.

02 MAY 1998

FL Theta Brother Christopher Sacra began his patriotic service in the U.S. Navy on this date.

01 MAY 1999

On this date, TN Theta Brother Kenneth Michael Ballard began his patriotic service in the U.S. Army. He would serve until 30 MAY 2004 when, while serving as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he was killed in Najaf, Iraq.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 10 – 16 DEC

Brothers,

“It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

“I have just received the February issue of the Journal. 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 are Sig Eps.” ~ Written by a Brother serving in North Africa, and published in the April 1943 edition of the Journal

14 DEC 1918

On this date, U.S. Army World War I Veteran and MT Alpha Brother Albert Schak was with the first unit to cross the Rhine at Coblenz, Germany. As the U.S. Third Army occupied Coblenz, it is likely Brother Schak’s unit was attached to the Third.

13 DEC 2000

U.S. Army World War II Veteran and GA Alpha Brother Thomas J. Biggs died on this date in Charleston, WV.

Respect can be paid to Brother Biggs at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, West Virginia.

12 DEC 2004

U.S. Army Air Corps World War II Veteran and AL Beta President Glen Allen Deuel died in Huntsville, Alabama on this date at the age of 82. After high school he enlisted and served in the 15^th Army Air Force, 460^th Bomb Group of World War II. When the war was over, he attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Glen was born in Loxley, Alabama, and grew up in Castleberry, Alabama. After graduating from college, Brother Deuel worked for two years on B-52s for Boeing in Seattle. He then went on to Redstone Arsenal in 1952 of Huntsville, Alabama, and joined the ABMA Wernher Von Braun first launch team and later NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center where he worked on major space programs from 1952-1979. He was also a member of the American Rocket Society.

While walking the beaches of Cape Canaveral during the first Redstone launches of our space program, Glen found a new passion in sea shells. He was a founding member of North Alabama Shell Club and Past President of Conchologists of America, the national organization of shell collectors.

Glen served his country during WWII and through his work at NASA for a combination of 30 years. He also volunteered in his community as a member of Huntsville’s Metro Kiwanis Club and received Layman of the Year Award.

This Week in SigEp Patriot History, 20 – 26 AUG

“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” ~ General George S. Patton, U.S. Army

Brothers,

20 AUG 2007

U.S. Navy Veteran and FL Epsilon Founding Father Major Herbert Luther Marsh, U.S. Air Force (Retired) died on this date in Jacksonville, Florida at the age of 80.

Born 01 JUL 1927 in Jacksonville, Herbert joined the Navy following his graduation from high school, and after completing his tour he attended Florida State University where he was a charter member of FL Epsilon.

He attended Georgetown University, and later joined the Air Force where he rose to the rank of Major and retired with 20 years of service. Major Marsh returned to Jacksonville with his family, becoming the director of the NE FL chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and later the NE FL chapter of the Leukemia Society. He devoted over 20 years to helping those stricken with these diseases. In his most recent years he was the owner of Marsh Tax Services.

Respect can be paid to Brother Marsh at Greenlawn Cemetery in Jacksonville.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL

– U.S. Air Force Korean War Veteran and MS Gamma Renaissance Brother Lieutenant Colonel Paul Francis Weisend, U.S. Air Force Reserve (Retired) passed away 27 JUL 2012 in Glendora, California.

– U.S. Navy Korean War Veteran and PA Delta Brother Commander Robert Twigg Mullen, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) passed away 31 JUL 2012 at the age of 83 in Melbourne, Florida.

– U.S. Army Korean War Veteran AR Gamma Brother James Roy Sulcer passed away 05 AUG 2012 in Hernando, Mississippi.

– U.S. Navy Veteran MI Alpha Brother John Henry Jacobs of Atherton, California passed away at his home on 16 AUG 2012 at the age of 84 after a short battle with Leukemia.

– Korean War Veteran OH Eta Brother Commander Richard Hall “Dick” Allyn , U.S. Navy (Retired) passed away 19 AUG 2012 in Albany, New York.

– U.S. Army World War II Veteran WI Alpha Brother David Joseph Flanagan, Jr. passed away 20 AUG 2012 in New London, Wisconsin. While at Lawrence University (then College), Brother Flanagan was called in to the Army during WWII where he served in France, Australia Belgium and Germany until being transferred to the Philippines.

– IN Beta Brother Captain F. Robert Brueckmann, U.S. Army (Medical Corps) passed also passed away 20 AUG 2012 after a long illness.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and chapter brothers of SigEp Patriots Weisend, Mullen, Sulcer, Jacobs, Allyn, Flanagan and Brueckmann. While gone SPP pledges these brothers will never be forgotten.

CELEBRATIONS!

* Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and CA Omega Brother Sergeant Mashruf Ahmed, U.S. Army has been serving in Afghanistan as a civilian for quite a long time, and looks like he is finally headed home. Safe travels, Brother!

* Congratulations to CA Theta Brother James Riggins on his recent promotion to Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps!

Have great news about a promotion, new orders, the birth of a child or anything else? SPP would love to share it with everyone! Just send an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.

SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP) UPDATE

* SPP is honored to welcome U.S. Army Veteran IA Eta Brother Kyle Kouri, TN Kappa Brother Private Andre Parsolo Rivers, U.S. Marine Corps and TN Eta Brother Major James Chase, U.S. Army to SigEps Who Serve – the official Facebook group of the SigEp Patriots Project. Go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve to join nearly 500 brothers-in-arms. All we ask is your military affiliation and home chapter. Please help SPP find our fellow SigEp Patriots by sending them the link.

Fraternally and Very Respectfully,

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

sigepswhoserve@gmail.com