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SigEp Military History

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This Week in SigEp Patriot History
November 11, 2012

Brothers,

On this Veteran’s Day, the SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) takes the opportunity to say thank you to every brother who has served or continues to serve, and a special recognition to our brothers currently serving in harm’s way. Stay safe, brothers, and come home soon.

For those of you that have the day off, SPP hopes you will share and use the information posted here to pay respect to brothers who serve our nation--especially those SigEp Patriots who have passed away.

On this Veteran’s Day, SPP reaffirms its pledge to always honor and remember all brothers who serve our great country. We hope you will pass the word about our efforts, and help us to find and honor our brothers today and every day.

November 8, 1932
- On this day, World War I veteran and VA Eta brother Joel West Flood was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry St. George Tucker. He served from November 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933. He was not a candidate for election to the Seventy-third Congress. Joel served as a private in the U.S. Army from 1918 to 1919.

November 5, 1944
- World War II veteran and SigEp brother Second Lieutenant Clarence C. Roudebush Jr. of the U.S. Army was killed in action on this date in Pescara, Italy. Brother Roudebush was a member of the 60th Troop Division.

November 7, 1950
- U.S. Army WWI veteran, member of the North Carolina State House of Representatives, U.S. Senator, and NC Gamma brother Willis Smith was elected to the United States Senate on this date to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. Melville Broughton.

November 7, 1957
- On this date, World War II veteran, congressma,n and DE Alpha brother Major Herbert Birchby Warburton of the U.S. Army completed his work as special assistant to the secretary of labor and became general counsel of the post office department.

November 8, 1969
- MT Alpha brother Cadet Benjamin B. Broscoe III of the U.S. Air Force ROTC died on this date as a result of injuries suffered in a three-car highway accident when he and a friend were returning from the state capitol at Helena, where they had campaigned at the State Democratic Convention to gain support for lowering the voting age to 19. Ben served as student body president and was a participant in the Vietnam Moratorium Committee.
Respect can be paid to Brother Broscoe at Highland Cemetery, Great Falls, Montana.

November 10, 1970
- On this day, U.S. Army WWI veteran, Rhodes Scholar, North Carolina state senator, and NC Zeta Renaissance Brother Robert Lee Humber died in Greenville, North Carolina. Robert graduated from Wake Forest in 1918, and later studied at Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Paris. He was initiated by NC Zeta in 1948. In 1956, Brother Humber was an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, and served in the North Carolina state senate 5th District, from 1959-'64. More recently, he was elected chairman of the board of trustees of Wake Forest, and served as president of the North Carolina Art Society and was instrumental in the founding of North Carolina's state art museum. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Delta Phi, American Legion, and the American Bar Association.
Respect can be paid to Brother Humber at Cherry Hill Cemetery in Greenville, North Carolina.

November 10, 1970
- On this day, U.S. Army WWI veteran, Rhodes Scholar, North Carolina state senator, and NC Zeta Renaissance Brother Robert Lee Humber died in Greenville, North Carolina. Robert graduated from Wake Forest in 1918, and later studied at Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Paris. He was initiated by NC Zeta in 1948. In 1956, Brother Humber was an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, and served in the North Carolina state senate 5th District, from 1959-'64. More recently, he was elected chairman of the board of trustees of Wake Forest, and served as president of the North Carolina Art Society and was instrumental in the founding of North Carolina's state art museum. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Delta Phi, American Legion, and the American Bar Association.
Respect can be paid to Brother Humber at Cherry Hill Cemetery in Greenville, North Carolina.

November 5, 2000
- U.S. Marine Corps veteran and NE Beta brother Mark Alan Hurtz of Lincoln, Nebraska, died on this day as a result of injuries from a train accident five days earlier in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was 38 years old.
Brother Hurtz was a locomotive engineer for Burlington Northern Railroad for five years. At the moment, SPP is unable to tell you where we can pay our respects, and we would appreciate learning that information from anyone who may have it.

November 5, 2005
- On this day, Vietnam War and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran RI Beta brother Colonel William Paul Babcock of the U.S. Army and Army National Guard (Rhode Island) was inducted into the University of Rhode Island ROTC Hall of Fame. Brother Babcock was recognized for his exemplary service to our nation and to the URI Army ROTC.

November 5, 2005
- On this day, Vietnam War and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran RI Beta brother Colonel William Paul Babcock of the U.S. Army and Army National Guard (Rhode Island) was inducted into the University of Rhode Island ROTC Hall of Fame. Brother Babcock was recognized for his exemplary service to our nation and to the URI Army ROTC.

November 11, 2008
- OR Beta brother Lieutenant Colonel Doctor John Michael “Mike” Talbot of the U.S. Air Force died unexpectedly of a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Mike was born in Portland, Oregon, and after some time in Maryland, he returned to Oregon and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in 1958. He then attended the University of Oregon Medical School, graduating cum laude in 1962. After medical school, Dr. Talbot joined the Air Force, serving in Wiesbaden, Germany, and San Antonio, Texas, and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He resigned from the Air Force in 1974 to open a private practice in Midland, Michigan. Forced to close his practice due to poor health in 1980 and a desire to remain in the medical field, Mike chose to move his family back to Portland to pursue a residency in radiology at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). There he served on the academic faculty, where he enjoyed a rewarding and challenging career. He taught otolaryngology and diagnostic radiology residents, which gave him tremendous pride and joy. Brother Talbot retired in 2000, due to poor health and to spend more time with his family. In 2001, he was named professor emeritus of otolaryngology head and neck surgery and diagnostic radiology from OHSU, and later that year he received the Meritorious Achievement Award.
A bench memorial was established at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland, Oregon, to honor and remember Brother Talbot.

November 7, 2009
- On this day, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran and MA Delta brother Commander Frank Curtis Jones of the U.S. Navy assumed the duties as the first Commanding Officer of the USS New York (LPD-21). Steel from the World Trade Center was poured in to a mold to form the bow stem of the New York.

November 5, 2011
- VA Zeta brother Lawrence Medfred "Sweeney" Shiflett died on this day in Front Royal, Virginia, at the age of 84. Sweeney served in the Navy during WWII and retired after 28 years of service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was a 1953 graduate of Randolph-Macon College, where he received a degree in sociology. During his college career, he lettered in football for four years and baseball for three years. He was all-state in the Virginia Little Six Conference for three years in football and three years in baseball.
Brother Shiflett retired from the Warren County Public School System after 28 years of service. As well as a teacher, he was a Warren County High School coach and athletic director. For his years of service and contributions to the athletic department, the Lawrence M. "Sweeney" Shiflett Hall of Fame was founded in 2002 with Sweeney being the first inductee. He was a member of the Retired Athletic Directors Association, the Masonic Unity Lodge 146 AF & AM, the American Legion Giles B. Cook Post 53, and the Air Force Sergeants Association.
Respect can be paid to Brother Shiflett at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Front Royal, Virginia.

November 7, 2011
- On this day, U.S. Army WWII D-Day veteran, SigEp Educational Foundation Board of Governors member, and TN Alpha brother Raymond Marshall Hair Sr. died in Meridian, Mississippi. He was 88. Raymond was born and raised in Lenoir City, Tennessee. After graduating from high school in 1941, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as an Army ROTC and business student. Brother Hair’s student deferment at UT was cancelled after the U.S. declared war on the Axis Powers and he was inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces in 1942. He served his country as a member of the 1111th Army Engineer Combat Group, landing with his company on Utah beach on D-Day during the second wave of the Normandy invasion. He fought through France, Belgium, and into Germany, participating in every major allied battle in the European Theater. His unit liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen, Germany. After the war's end, he continued his college education in France, returning to the U.S. in 1946.
After getting married, Brother Hair and his wife moved to Meridian in 1957, establishing insurance, employment, estate planning, and real estate businesses in the Meridian area, including Meridian Personnel Service and Professional Planning Services, Inc. The latter firm built, owned, and managed residential multi-family housing facilities in 22 locations throughout Mississippi during the 1970s and 1980s. His decades of service in the insurance industry included tenure as a regional vice president of Voyager Life Insurance Company. After retiring in the late 199's from his real estate and investment businesses, Raymond passed the time collecting and restoring classic automobiles in Meridian with friends and members of Vintage Wheels Car Club. He was an ardent supporter of the University of Tennessee.
Respect can be paid to Brother Hair at Lakeview Mausoleum in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

November 11, 2008
- U.S. Army veteran and TX Alpha Chapter president Mervin Bernard Cook died on this day. Merv was born in Austin, Texas, and in 1953, he began his study of music at the University of Texas on a full voice scholarship. From 1956 to 1959 he served in the U.S. Army. In 1959, Brother Cook returned to UT to get his bachelor's degree in business and was elected president of TX Alpha. In Austin, Merv was in management with the Farmers Insurance Group regional office and the Austin Women's Club. His wife and her friend established Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Catering, and when Merv retired from Farmers, he became Mother Hubbard.

RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
* Recent research revealed that World War II and Korean War veteran and IA Gamma brother Colonel Richard “Dick” Sutton Hosman of the U.S. Air Force (retired) passed away peacefully on September 28, 2012, at home in Madison, Wisconsin. Brother Hosman graduated from the University of Iowa in 1941, and commissioned by ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Army. He transferred to Army Air Corps Flight Training and was assigned to the 398th Bomb Group in England, where he captained B-17 bombers over Germany on no fewer than 35 missions, qualifying him for the Lucky Bastard Club. During his career, he had more than 4,200 flying hours in 21 aircraft types, and his awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, and five Air Medals.
* U.S. Army veteran and WV Beta brother James Jacob “Jake” Lantz passed away on October 6, 2012, at Hospice of Hamilton, Ohio. After graduation from Pine Grove High School in 1946, he entered the U.S. Army as a medical technician. After his return from service, he enrolled at West Virginia University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in medical technology.
* KS Theta brother Major David Lawrence Youngdoff of the U.S. Army (retired) passed away at his home from a heart attack on October 23, 2012. In 1990, his father, Colonel Larry Youngdoff, pinned his wings on him upon flight school graduation. Dave proudly served his country as a decorated senior army aviator in the Army National Guard for over 24 years and two tours of combat duty.
* U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve veteran OH Sigma brother George H. “Bud” Wilkinson passed away on October 28, 2012, in Medina, Ohio. Bud served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve.
* U.S. Coast Guard veteran and CO Gamma brother Scott Dean Stewart passed away in Simsbury, Connecticut on November 2, 2012, two days before his 77th birthday. Scott joined the U.S. Coast Guard serving on the Coast Guard Cutter Clover before attending Colorado State University.
* U.S. Navy World War II veteran and KS Gamma brother Charles Lee "Charlie" Medlock passed away November 4, 2012, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the V-12, on the USS Fall River and the USS AM Recruit. He will be buried at sea at a later date.
* IN Beta brother First Lieutenant Robert Donnell Arnold of the U.S. Army passed away peacefully on November 4, 2012, in Indianapolis. He attended Indiana University and graduated in 1954 with a bachelor's degree. In 1955, he entered the Army and served in the Air Missile Defense Program. He was discharged in 1957.
* U.S. Army World War II veteran and TX Alpha brother Robert Eugene “Bart” Brown passed away peacefully on November 6, 2012. Bart served in the U.S. Army in Hawaii during WWII.

SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP)
* If you are a military brother, please go to www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve. All we ask for is your military affiliation, military status, and home chapter. Also, please help SPP find our fellow SigEp Patriots by sending them the link.
* Not on Facebook? No problem. To join over 100 brothers on the SPP listserve, just write an email to sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.

Fraternally and Very Respectfully,
Brother Ed Jones, NY Eta ’96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com