SigEp Military History
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This Week in SigEp Patriot History
August 26–September 1, 2013
(The complete version of this work including photographs can be viewed at sigepblog.org)
29 AUG 1918
On this date, Founding Father and Chaplain First Lieutenant Franklin Webb Kerfoot, U.S. Army (Chaplain Corps) was killed in a collision of an automobile and a train on the Southern Railway in Chatham, Virginia. Brother Kerfoot had temporarily returned home from Newport News, VA where he was serving as a Baptist chaplain working among the soldiers departing overseas.
Franklin was born in Buckland, VA in 1986. He was Class of 1902 at Richmond College and later attended Crozer Theological Seminary. At his memorial service he was remembered as “the most original preacher of his time” and it was stated that God took him to welcome the soldiers who had “passed on” from the battlefield.
Respect can be paid to Founding Father Kerfoot at Green Hill Cemetery in Berryville, VA.
01 SEP 1918
NH Alpha Brother Private First Class Charles Enos Tayntor, U.S. Army Ambulance Service, Army Medical Corps sailed for France for his World War I service in Europe on this date.
30 AUG 1941
IL Alpha Brother Joseph Metcalf Hissem received his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve on this date. Brother Hissem would go to be killed at the Battle of Midway, and awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery in combat.
26 AUG 1942
World War II Veteran CO Gamma Brother John H. Price, Jr. entered the U.S. military on this date. He would serve 18 months on Guadalcanal before being discharged at the end of the war.
30 AUG 1953
On this date, with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement the previous month, John W. “Bill” Rambo, Sr. was released after 19-months in captivity. Following his Korean War service, he joined the TN National Guard and attended the University of Tennessee where he became a SigEp.
01 SEP 1962
On this date, World War II Veteran and VA Zeta Brother General Robert Jefferson Wood, U.S. Army (Retired) was promoted to the rank of general (four-stars). In 1967, Brother Wood would receive the SigEp Citation.
30 AUG 1964
DE Alpha Brother Gilbert P. Mahla was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve on this date.
27 AUG 1993
NY Eta Brother Kevin Sitek crossed the parade deck at Parris Island, SC on this date and earned the title of United States Marine.
28 AUG 2008
On this date, U.S. Navy Veteran, Former District Governor and IN Alpha Brother Rex Arden Sebastian died in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Purdue University in 1951 with his bachelors and the next year from Indiana with his masters, Brother Sebastian worked for Proctor and Gamble before serving 33 months in U.S. Navy’s Supply Corps.
Following is Naval Service, Rex went overseas to work for Cummins Engine Company, Inc., and his last position with Cummins was Vice President-International, headquartered in London, England, with responsibility for all international operations. In 1966, he left Cummins to join Dresser as Vice President-International Operations, responsible for all operations outside of the United States. He served as Senior Vice President-Operations, Office of the Chairman, Dresser Industries, Inc. In this capacity, he had total corporate responsibility for one of Dresser›s defined product segments which accounted for approximately $1 billion.
Ever supportive of Indiana University, Brother Sebastian served as a member of the Dean›s Advisory Council, School of Business, Indiana University where, for several years, he served as Chairman of the Membership Committee, and he was made a member of the Indiana University, School of Business Alumni Association, Academy of Alumni Fellows.
When Rex returned to Texas he continued his commitment to the community. He served as a member and as a past Chairman of the Dean›s Advisory Council, College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Business, the University of Texas at Austin, and as a member and past Chairman of the Dean›s Advisory Council, School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas. Rex also established two professorships in the College and Graduate School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Respect can be paid to Brother Sebastian at the Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Dallas.
01 SEP 2010
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and FL Beta Brother Charles Nathan “Nate” Davis, Jr. pinned on Captain, U.S. Army on this date.
On the same date, U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and IL Alpha Brother Walter William Rust, died at his home in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 84. Walt served in the U.S. Navy as a radioman aboard the escort aircraft carrier USS Puget Sound (CVE-113) from 1944 to 1946 in the South Pacific. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1950.
Born in Sioux Falls, SD, Walter grew up in Elgin, IL, and there he set state and national juvenile and junior ice skate racing records en route to several state, national and North American race titles. In 1944, Walter graduated from Elgin High School, and was inducted into the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
After graduation, Brother Rust moved his family to Bellevue. In 1961, he working for Weyerhaeuser and retired from the company in 1980. Spotting an opportunity, he started his own business, Pasayten Incorporated, later that year, and retired to retired life in 2008.
A community servant, Walter was a Little League umpire, and active in the Boy Scouts for more than 20 years. He served as Scout Master and Assistant Scout Master with Troop 600 of Bellevue and was awarded the Silver Beaver.
Respect can be paid to Brother Rust at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue.
27 AUG 2012
ME Alpha Brother First Lieutenant Perleston Lincoln “Bub” Pert, Jr., U.S. Army died on this date at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, Maine. Brother Pert received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism in 1953 from the University of Maine at Orono, and upon graduation was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. Bub served on active duty at Fort Benning, GA, and Fort Dix, NJ, between 1954 and 1956.
Brother Pert pursued a career in radio and television journalism as a news editor and feature writer/photographer. While with the Gannett newspapers he was awarded a gold press card award for producing a photo page on Revere bells in Maine.
In 1967, Bub was the first person to be appointed Public Information Officer for the Maine State Police and held the same position with the Maine Department of Public Safety after the State Police merged into that agency in 1971. During this period he compiled statutory and organizational histories of the Maine State Police, and these compilations are now housed in the Maine State Library.
He retired in August 1994 after four years as manager/treasurer of the Sagadahock Real Estate Association in Bath. He was intensely interested in Maine history, particularly relating to Bath and the Kennebec River region. He was a charter member of the Bath Historical Society, organized in 1989, and served as a trustee and as secretary. Bub›s favorite research topic was the history of Fort Halifax, the colonial fort built in Winslow, Maine in 1754. In 1999, he completed a manuscript on the history and garrisoning of the fort between 1754 and 1767, of which he was justifiably proud.
Donations may be made in Bub›s memory to the The Bath Historical Society, 33 Summer Street, Bath, Maine 04530 or The Maine Chapter, Alzheimer›s Association, 383 U. S. Route One, Suite 2 C, Scarborough, Maine 04074.
Respect can be paid to Brother Pert at Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath, Maine.
CELEBRATIONS!
- Earlier this month – Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran, TN Kappa Brother Captain Joe Dacus, U.S. Army earned his Master Jump Wings. This entails an incredible amount of work including 65 jumps – 35 of which are with combat equipment, as well as 4 night jumps. Training with members of the Columbian Army, he also earned his Columbian Jumpmaster Wings. Well done, Brother!
- 01 SEP – A big welcome home to two-time Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and LA Alpha Brother Major Robert “Brian” Taylor, U.S. Army who is now back in the USA following another tour in Afghanistan. For his hard work and commitment, Brian was awarded the Bronze Star for his end of tour award. Congratulations and thank you to you and your family for all you sacrifice and give to the nation.
- 28 AUG – Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and KS Beta Brother First Lieutenant David Ghormley, U.S. Army and his wife Danielle celebrated the birth of their son, Corbin Thane! Best of luck to the Ghormley family! On the same date, MO Eta Brother First Lieutenant Bernard Hainen, U.S. Army National Guard (Indiana) marked 10 years in the U.S. military. Great job, Brother! Here’s to 10 more.
- 29 AUG – Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran, VA Omicron Brother and Captain Andrew Frazzano, U.S. Army announced he was back in the USA following his successful tour. The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Andrew in recognition of his accomplishments during his tour. Congratulations and thank you for serving for us in Afghanistan. Operation URGENT FURY Veteran and TX Sigma Brother Sergeant Jerry “Doc” Mullins, U.S. Army learned on this date that he will be a grandfather! Congratulations to Doc and his daughter.
- 30 AUG – It’s been quite a few days for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran and AR Alpha Brother Specialist Jordan Walker, U.S. Army. Very recently back in the USA, Miss Lizbeth Jordan said yes, and they are now happily engaged!
- 01 SEP – Love is apparently in the air as KY Zeta Brother Second Lieutenant Anthony Palmer, U.S. Army became engaged to Miss Karlyn Franklin! Congratulations to Jordan, Lizbeth, Anthony and Karlyn! Wishing you all the best!
Have great news of a promotion, new orders, 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
- The archives of SPP now contain the names of more than 4,240 SigEp Patriots!
- SPP’s official Facebook group – SigEps Who Serve – continues to grow and now numbers 614 such Brothers who serve/served in the U.S. military.
- Not on Facebook? Join over 100 SigEp Patriots on the SPP listserve!
Did you serve or know a Brother who does? If so, please let us know by emailing sigepswhoserve@gmail.com or go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/sigepswhoserve to join your brothers-in-arms. We will ask for home chapter, rank, branch of service, military status (active, reserve, retired, etc.), and whether you are a combat veteran. Please help SPP find our fellow SigEp Patriots by sending them the link.
Fraternally and Respectfully,
Brother Ed Jones, NY Eta ’96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com