SigEp Military History
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This Week in SigEp Patriot History
July 22-28, 2013
Sixty years ago yesterday, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed insuring a cessation of hostilities ending the Korean War. Almost 1.8 million Americans served during the Korean War. How many SigEp Patriots served? The SigEp Patriots Project (SPP) has information showing that at least 68 Brothers served in the Korea War, but we believe we are missing many names. If you are or know of a Brother who served in Korea, we hope you will pass him our way.
Brothers,
22 JUL 1940
CA Alpha Brother William E. Turpen began his service with the U.S. Army on this date.
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 during action in New Guinea while serving as a gunner with the 408th Bomber Squadron, 22nd Bomber Group (Heavy). Willard was born in 1920, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in JAN 1941. After a year at the University of Illinois, Brother Lindeman left for service in the Pacific.
Respect can be paid to Brother Lindeman at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, Plot Q, Row 0, Site 73.
26 JUL 1945
USS Hissem (DE-400) arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on this date following service in the Atlantic Theater, and she would remain there through the end of the war. Hissem was named in honor of IL Alpha Brother Ensign Joseph Metcalf Hissem, U.S. Navy Reserve who was killed in action at the Battle of Midway. For his heroic actions, Brother Hissem was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross - making him one of the highest decorated SigEp Patriots.
26 JUL 1958
Korean War Veteran and Ace, American test pilot, SigEp Citation Recipient and IN Alpha Brother Captain Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe, Jr., U.S. Air Force died on this date when his F-104 Starfighter crashed near Rosamond Dry Lake in California. Brother Kincheloe earned fame for piloting the Bell X-2 research rocket plane to a world's record of 126,200 feet on 07 SEP 1956. He was nicknamed "America's No. 1 Spaceman."
Born in Detroit in 1928, Iven was interested in aircraft from a very young age. At just four years of age, he took his first airplane ride with a barnstormer, and obtained his pilot's license when he was 16 years old.
Brother Kincheloe graduated from Purdue University with degrees in mechanical and aeronautical engineering, and entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He took pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base, Arizona and earned his wings in 1950. Later that year, Kinch began flying mission over Korea. Before the conclusion of hostilities, he had flown more than 130 missions, and shot down 10 communist planes - making him one of 12 Air Force pilots with 10 or more jet victories. For his exemplary wartime service, Iven was awarded the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals.
As a test pilot, Brother Kincheloe piloted 70 different types of U.S. and foreign aircraft before being selected as a pilot for the X-2 and taking it to its record altitude. For this achievement Kinch was presented with the Mackay Trophy, as well as another Distinguished Flying Cross, and nicknamed.
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 if not for his crash in 1958. Later that year, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots established the Iven C. Kincheloe Award to recognize outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing, and his accomplishments and memory live on each year the award presented.
In SEP 1959, Kinross Air Force Base, Michigan, was renamed Kincheloe Air Force Base in his honor, and remained in service until SEP 1977. He posthumously received a number of awards including the Air Force Association David C. Shilling Award, the Astronautic Award from the American Rocket Society, and the Legion of Merit from the Air Force. A monument also stands a few miles east of his hometown of Cassopolis, Michigan. It is an angular stone slab twelve feet high bearing a silver model of the X-2 pointed skyward.
In 1992, he was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster, CA, and in 2011, Iven was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Respect can be paid to Brother Kincheloe at Section 2, Site 4872-1 at Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, Virginia.
23 JUL 1962
Upon his graduation from Penn State, PA Eta Brother Daniel A. Augustyniak was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on this date.
26 JUL 2004
Korean War Veteran and TX Delta Brother Sergeant Leslie Gene Bains, U.S. Marine Corps, 71, died on this date in Kerrville, Texas. He volunteered for service in the Corps during the war.
Respect can be paid to Brother Baines at Forest Park East Cemetery, Webster, TX.
28 JUL 2004
AL Beta Brother First Lieutenant William "Bill" Denson Yates, Jr., U.S. Army died on this date. Bill was a member of the pledge class of Fall 1951, and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1955. In addition to SigEp, Brother Yates was in ROTC and received a commission upon graduation. Upon his discharge from the Army, he returned to his hometown of Lanett, Alabama, and later owned and operated Yates Printing and Office Supplies until his retirement in 1997.
Respect can be paid to Brother Yates at Old Oakwood Cemetery in Lanett.
25 JUL 2010
On this date, World War II and Korean War Veteran, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives and MS Beta Brother General William E. "Bill" Callicott, U.S. Army National Guard (Mississippi) (Retired) died in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 86 years old. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and served with his father and brother in the European Theater for the duration of World War II. After the war, Brother Callicott graduated from Mississippi State University, and was called in to service during the Korean War - ultimately becoming the Commander of the Mississippi National Guard’s 108th Armored Cavalry Unit, headquartered in Senatobia, MS. He retired from the National Guard in 1979.
A lifelong resident of Senatobia, he owned and operated the Callicott Insurance Agency, a business his grandfather began in 1915. The business remains operated by the family today. For a number of years, he served as the Veterans Affairs Officer for Tate County, and was a liaison between the county's servicemen and a variety of veteran's service agencies.
In the late 1950s, he was elected to the Senatobia Board of Aldermen. He subsequently was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he represented Tate County from 1960 to 1976. Beginning in 1978, he served three terms as Mayor of Senatobia. During his tenure as Mayor, he was particularly focused on the elimination of substandard housing within the city, and the promotion of Senatobia as a candidate for industrial development. Bill was a member of the Senatobia Rotary Club, the American Legion, a founding member of the Back Acres Country Club, and also a member of the Board of Directors of Peoples Bank.
Respect can be paid to Brother Callicott at Bethesda Cemetery in Senatobia.
27 JUL 2011
World War II Veteran and MA Beta Brother Corporal Harold Ashby Melden Jr., U.S. Marine Corps died on this date in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He was 87 years old. While at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Harold proudly served in the Marine Corps from 1943-1946 in the engineering and signal battalions. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater from 1945-1946, and returned to graduate from WPI in 1949.
At WPI, he earned a B.S. in electrical engineering, and was a member of Skull, the Athletic Council, founding member of the Poly Club, Class Treasurer and Captain of the football team.
He joined the Worcester Gas Light Company, later Commonwealth Gas, in 1950. He retired in 1985 as Vice President of Gas Supply and System Control. Harry was President of the Greendale Kiwanis from 1970-1971, a member of the Retired Men's Club of Greendale, the Masons and the American Legion. In 1987, Brother Melden was inducted into WPI's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Respect can be paid to Brother Melden at Mountain View Cemetery in Shrewsbury, MA.
22 JUL 2012
On this date, World War II Veteran of D-Day and MO Alpha President Lieutenant Commander Charles Warner Kenworthey, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired), 87, died in San Antonio, Texas. Charles attended the University of Delaware majoring in mechanical engineering before serving in the Navy, and was a petty officer aboard a landing craft on D-Day. After the war, he attended the University of Missouri where he became a SigEp and graduated in 1949. He received a direct commission in the Naval Reserve and served as commanding office of a Public Affairs Unit.
During his professional career, he was a police reporter, news reporter, public relations manager, and executive director. He was president BSM Consultants, Inc., and owner of CK Public Relations.
Among the civic organizations he served with the Parents Council for Special Education, North East School District; United Cerebral Palsy Association of Bexar County, and Kiwanis Club of San Antonio. Also, board chairman Executive Service Corps of San Antonio, and telethon chairman Santa Rosa Children's Hospital (1988-89-90). He was also active with Christus Santa Rosa Children's hospital Foundation Board, YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow, Business Committee for the Arts, Texas Open, United Negro College Fund, Navy League, and San Antonio Little Theatre.
He earned an Accredited Public Relations designation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and was later admitted to PRSA's College of Fellows in 2000. His awards included Golden Spur, Silver Spur and Best of Texas, Texas PR Association; Outstanding Service in Public Relations, St. Mary's University; Distinguished Service, San Antonio Ad Club; Outstanding Alumnus, Theta chapter, Sigma Phi Epsilon; Del Oro Tex Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award, San Antonio chapter, PRSA, for "outstanding leadership in the field of public relations" and 2006 Walter W. McAllister Sr. Community Service Award from San Antonio Kiwanis Club.
Respect can be paid to Brother Kenworthey at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.
27 JUL 2012
Korean War Veteran, Professor Emeritus and MO Gamma Renaissance Brother Lieutenant Colonel Paul F. Weisend, U.S. Air Force Reserve (Retired) died on this date in Glendora, CA following a long illness. Paul served on active duty with the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954, and continued with the reserve until his retirement in 1988.
Born in McKees Rocks, PA in 1928, he received his B.A. in Economics from Duquesne University in 1949, and his J.D. from St. Mary's University Law School in San Antonio, TX in 1955. From 1958 to 1968, he was Associate Professor of Business at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS. Moving to California in 1968, he joined California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as professor of Finance, Real Estate and Law. He was a consultant to Congressman John H. Rousselot, 26th Congressional District, California from 1970-78. Paul was a member of the Military Officers Association of America, Pomona Valley YMCA, and American Legion, Pomona, CA.
Respect can be paid to Brother Weisend at the Weisend family plot in St. Mary's Cemetery in McKees Rocks.
RECENT LOSSES TO THE ROLL
- Vietnam War Veteran and PA Eta Brother Sergeant John M. Torrance Jr., U.S. Air Force passed away suddenly at his home in Collegeville, PA on 09 JUL.
- U.S. Navy Reserve Veteran WV Delta President Brian J. Salerno passed away at home on 15 JUL.
- MI Kappa Brother Second Lieutenant Paul Daniel DeWolf, U.S. Air Force passed away 24 JUL. Funeral services will be held at Berean Baptist Church in Portage, MI at 1000 on Monday.
CELEBRATIONS!
- 02 JUL - NC Beta Brother Lieutenant Colonel Matthew "David" Cooper, U.S. Marine Corps retired on this day at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. Thank you for your service, Brother!
- 24 JUL - Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and TN Eta Brother Second Lieutenant Clint Van Ert, U.S. Army learned he will be promoted to First Lieutenant on 02 AUG.
- 25 JUL - FL Gamma Brother Doctor Captain Scott Rubenstein, U.S. Air Force and his wife Melissa learned they will be having a baby girl. Best of luck to the Rubensteins!
- 27 JUL - Congratulations to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and RI Beta Brother Cadet CJ Wesley on completing the two-week Phase 1, Officer Candidate School at Fort Niantic, CT. The class comprised of National Guard Officer Candidates from seven New England states started with 144 candidates and ended with 72.
Fraternally and Respectfully,
Brother Ed Jones, NY Eta '96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com