SigEp Military History
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This Week in SigEp Patriot History
December 10-16, 2012
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 15th Army Air Force, 460th 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.
16 DEC 2008
U.S. Navy Reserve Veteran and DE Alpha Brother Howard C. Simpkins, Jr. died on this date in Wilmington, Delaware. Howard entered the University of Delaware in 1952 and attended through 1954. He then went on active duty in the Naval Reserve and served aboard the USS Timmerman and the USS Hancock. Brother Simpkins returned to school in 1957 and graduated from UD in 1959.
Born and raised in Wilmington, Howard was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout while in Troop 26 and was an assistant Scout Master. He also received the Outstanding Leadership Award and the God and Country Award.
In 1960 he started his high school teaching career in the original Claymont High School in the math and then social studies departments while also coaching the boys' and girls' tennis teams. With the closing of Claymont High School in 1990, he taught for six years at Mount Pleasant High School before retiring in 1996. He helped maintain a twelve-mile section of the Appalachian Trail near Harrisburg, PA for over twenty-five years, starting when his sons joined Boy Scout Troop 528. When the Scout Troop disbanded, he continued to maintain the Appalachian Trail through the Brandywine Valley Outing Club.
12 DEC 2010
DE Alpha Brother Corporal Charles J. "Bud" Foster III, U.S. Marine Corps of Bethany Beach, DE and Vero Beach, FL died on this date. Bud was a graduate of Claymont High School, and the University of Delaware. For many years he operated Brandywine Security Service, a family business and retired from The State of Delaware Division of Emergency Management. Brother Foster was a superior athlete - multiple sport letterman in high school and college, a member of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol, a Penn Relays medalist, and qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon multiple times.
Respect can be paid to Brother Foster at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, Wilmington, DE.
10 DEC 2011
U.S. Air Force Reserve Veteran OK Alpha President George David Ormiston III died on this date. At Oklahoma State, George majored in business and served as the OK Alpha president his senior year. While a student as OSU, he joined the Air Force Reserve.
Born in Los Angeles on 27 JUN 1938, a week later he was cast as one of the Dionne quintuplets in the Hollywood movie "Five of a Kind," earning a whopping sum of $75. After moving around the Midwest, Brother Ormiston moved his family to Oklahoma City, and organized a successful insurance agency and a state bank. George then worked in various policy-level positions in Oklahoma's executive branch under three governors, and consulted for Oklahoma in President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" to help develop programs for improving business within struggling communities. Later appointed executive director of the Oklahoma City Housing Authority, George created many programs that still exist today.
For the last 30 years, George lived in Nevada, where he was involved in numerous federal and state economic development and planning programs. As a member of the Nevada commission on Economic Development in 1984, he became editor-in-chief of the original Nevada State Plan for Economic Diversification and Development, a plan that is still successfully used today.
Respect can be paid to Brother Ormiston at the Mausoleum at Riverview Cemetery, Arkansas City, Kansas.
14 DEC 2011
U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and PA Eta Brother William "Red" Roy Moore Jr. died on this date in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on his 89th birthday. In 1942, Red enrolled at Penn State, but his education was interrupted while he served in the Pacific during WWII on a U.S. Navy destroyer. He returned to State College after the war, and captained the Nittany Lions football team in 1946 when he achieved All-Pennsylvania and All-East Tackle status.
Red was born in Pittsburgh, PA and lived most of his life in Meadville, PA. His love of football began in high school and continued throughout his life. In 1947, Brother Moore played in the San Francisco Shriner's game to benefit Shriner's Hospitals and also in the College All-Stars "Pro vs. Rookie" charity games against the NY Giants and Chicago Bears (beating the Bears 16-0 in front of the largest crowd, 105,840, ever to attend an NFL game in the U.S.). He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1947, was named All-Pro Guard (#72), and captained the 1949 Steelers team.
Brother Moore was also a member of the Masons and the Lions Club, and a past Activities Chairman of the Beaver County Boy Scouts. In 1954, he became head football coach at Allegheny College, PA, and later served as assistant coach at Cornell University, beginning in 1958. In 1964, Red and his family returned to Meadville where he eventually retired from a career in athletic merchandise sales.
Brother Moore was cremated, and his ashes were presented to the family.
RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
- U.S. Army Veteran MA Beta Brother Richard Charles "Dick" Butterworth died of natural causes on 17 NOV in South Orleans, Massachusetts at the age of 79. Dick was an Eagle Scout, and served domestically in the U.S. Army. Contributions can be made to the Parish Nurse Ministry at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Rd., Orleans, MA.
- World War II Veteran and OR Alpha Brother Lieutenant Colonel George Truxton Ringe, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Retired) passed away peacefully in Lacey, Washington on 18 NOV. Brother Ringe graduated from Oregon State in 1940, and entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941 as a Second Lieutenant. George served on active duty until 1950, at which time he joined the reserves and served there until 1957.
- KS Zeta President Lieutenant George Robert "Bob" Powers, U.S. Navy passed away 05 DEC in Kansas City, KS. He was a pilot in the 64th Fighter Squadron from 1954-1958, and the second SigEp Patriot known to have flown off the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CV-38). Following his military service, Bob attended Fort Hays State University, was KS Zeta president, and graduated in 1960. Donations of remembrance may be made to: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation online at jdrf.org or JDRF, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004; or to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation online at www.bbrfoundation.org or by calling 1-800-829-8289.
- U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and NE Alpha Brother Wayne R. Clough passed away 06 DEC. Wayne served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII before enrolling at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Pharmacy and pursued this lifelong occupation for 50 years. His family suggested memorials in Wayne's name to Amazing Angels Hospice, Intergenerational Orchestra and First Covenant Church. Memorial Service - Tuesday, 18 December at 1:00 p.m., First Covenant Church, 201 N. 90th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.
- On the same day, U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and WI Gamma Brother David A. Ziehm passed away peacefully in Berlin, Wisconsin at the age of 88. After his service, he attended and graduated from Carroll College in 1950, where he was a member of both Zeta Chi and SigEp.
SPP sends its thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and chapter brothers of these SigEp Patriots. Rest well, Brothers. We have the watch.
GREAT NEWS AND CELEBRATIONS!
- Welcome home to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM veterans GA Epsilon Brother Captain Mike Douglas, U.S. Army and NC Epsilon Brother First Lieutenant Ben Bashinski, U.S. Army! Both returned from Afghanistan over the last few days. Thank you for your service, brothers.
- Congratulations to TX Delta Brother Jose Pedraza, U.S. Army National Guard (Texas) who pinned on his Sergeant stripes last week, and ROTC Cadet TN Kappa Brother Andrew "Ox" Henderson who became engaged last weekend!
SIGEP PATRIOTS PROJECT (SPP) UPDATE
SPP continues to grow!
- The SPP database now contains the names and other information for nearly 3,600 SigEp Patriots.
- SPP currently has over 680 pages of stories, announcements and articles about our patriotic brothers, as well as over 515 photographs of these honorable men.
- This week, seven military brothers joined SigEps Who Serve - the official Facebook group of SPP, and the only such group created by and for brothers who serve/served in the U.S. military. All current members of the group can request brothers be added to the group. If you are a brother who has served please go to facebook.com to join 540 of your brothers-in-arms. To confirm membership in the group we ask for your military affiliation, military status, rank and home chapter. Brothers, we ask for your help to find fellow SigEp Patriots by sending them the link and/or the email address sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.
- Not on Facebook? No problem. Join 101 brothers on the SPP list serve by dropping 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