Brothers,
Last week marked the 71st anniversary of the Battle of
Midway – the turning point of the Pacific Campaign during WWII, and one of our brothers
was in the middle of it. You can read more about IL Alpha Brother Joseph M.
Hissem and other amazing SigEp Patriots in this edition of “This Week.”
04 JUN 1942
Two SigEp
Patriot military pilots were killed on this date while engaging the Japanese
Imperial Navy.
 |
| IL Alpha Brother Joseph M. Hissem, USNR |
World War II Veteran and IL Alpha Brother Ensign Joseph Metcalf Hissem, U.S. Navy
Reserve made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Midway, and was later
declared killed in action / buried at sea. Brother Hissem is the only SigEp
Patriot known to be awarded the Navy Cross – second only to the Medal of Honor.
His award citation reads:
“The Navy Cross is presented to Joseph Metcalf Hissem,
Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished
service beyond the call of duty as a Radioman/Bombardier of Torpedo Squadron
EIGHT (VT-8) embarked from Naval Air Station Midway during the "Air Battle
of Midway", against enemy Japanese forces on 04 and 05 JUN 1942. In the
first attack against an enemy carrier of the Japanese invasion fleet, Ensign
Hissem pressed home his attack in the face of withering fire from enemy
Japanese fighters and anti-aircraft forces. Because of events attendant upon
the Battle of Midway, there can be no doubt that he gallantly gave up his life
in the service of his country. His courage and utter disregard for his own
personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United
States Naval Service.”
Brother Hissem is the only SigEp Patriot known to have
been awarded the Navy Cross.
Brother Hissem graduated from the Applied Life Studies
College at the University of Illinois – Urbana in 1939, and enlisted in the
Navy Reserve 09 JAN 1941. Days before the Battle of Midway, Joseph was
stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when he volunteered to ferry aircraft to the
remote naval air station at Midway. His commitment to service put him in a
position to be involved with what would become the turning point of the war in
the Pacific.
A ship was subsequently named in honor of Joseph. The
ship, USS Hissem (DE-400), was a
destroyer escort of the Edsall Class launched by Brown Shipbuilding Co.,
Houston, TX, and commissioned on 13
JAN 1944. Hissem received one battle star for World War II service. After
decommissioning, the ship's bell was presented to the city of Mt Carroll,
Illinois.
In Rockford, Illinois the American Legion post 193 is
named the Fickbo-Hissem Post.
Brother Hissem is memorialized at Honolulu Memorial
Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii, and at a tombstone in Greenwood Cemetery, West
Galena, Illinois next to those for his parents.
On the same date, during the
Battle of Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, World War II Veteran and KS
Beta Brother Captain George Wayne
Thornbrough, U.S. Army Air Forces made the ultimate sacrifice while piloting
a B-26 Marauder. During the
battle, Brother Thornbrough flew bravely attacking a Japanese aircraft carrier
that was launching strike aircraft at Dutch Harbor. Although his torpedo struck
the carrier, it failed to explode. He returned to his airfield to refuel and
rearm and then took off to rejoin the fight. His aircraft and entire crew were
lost during their return from this mission, when they were unable to land at
Cold Bay. The wreckage of Captain Thornbrough's aircraft was found 50 miles
from Cold Bay on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula the following month.
While the exact citation of General Order Number 67
(1942), Headquarters, Alaska Defense Command is unavailable, the following is a
synopsis of that order, “Captain (Air Corps) George W. Thornbrough, United
States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
(Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-26 Medium Bomber in the
73rd Bombardment Squadron, 28th Bombardment Group (C), ELEVENTH Air Force,
while participating in an air mission on 4 June 1942, against enemy targets in
the Territory of Alaska. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty
displayed by Captain Thornbrough on this occasion have upheld the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the
11th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.”
George and his unit flew from Fort Randall Army Airfield which
was renamed Thornbrough Air Force Base in 1948.
Brother Thornbrough is remembered with a headstone at Lot 3,
Block 43, Section 4, Lakin Cemetery, Lakin, Kansas.
03 JUN 1967
Vietnam
Veteran and PA Iota President Second Lieutenant Charles Joseph Schultz, U.S. Marine Corps made the ultimate
sacrifice on this date. On 02
JUN, during Operation UNION II in the Que Son Valley, the Marines found the
enemy entrenched in and around the Vinh Huy village complex. Heavy fighting on
the 2nd and 3rd cost 67 American lives as the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st
Marines and elements of two other Marine battalions took on and decisively
defeated the 3rd NVA Regiment. The 2/5 Marines lost 32 men over the two day
period including Brother Schultz.
Born in 1944,
Charles graduated from Metuchen High School in 1962 with aspiration for a
career in medicine. During his senior year at Muhlenberg College, he was
president of the PA Iota, and is remembered by his chapter brothers as “full of
character and leadership” and “the optimism and patriotism we all had in the
early 60s.”
He is remembered through the Richard Herold-Charles
Schultz Scholarship Fund which carries his legacy through his name and that of
a fellow young Vietnam War veteran from Metuchen High School, Metuchen, NJ. Send
contributions to: Herold-Schultz Scholarship Fund, c/o Jackie Owen, 1612
Mountain Top Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.
Charles is
honored at the Veterans Memorial Park in Metuchen, and on Panel 21E, Row 52 of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial – The Wall – in Washington, DC.
Respect can be paid to Brother Schultz at Hillside
Cemetery in Metuchen.
06 JUN 1969
On this date,
Vietnam War Veteran and WA Beta Brother First Lieutenant Michael Stuart LaFromboise, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve made the
ultimate sacrifice on this date during action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam on
the 366th day of his tour. Brother LaFromboise was an Artillery
Officer attached to Headquarters Battery, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division,
III Marine Amphibious Force. He
was 26 years old.
Michael was a
member of Company N, Officer Basic Class 6-67 that graduated on 01 NOV 1967.
Brother LaFromboise
was a rower at the University of Washington and he is remembered through an
endowment there, as well as with an annual memorial scholarship through the
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Michael is honored
on Panel 23 West, Line 88 of the Vietnam War Memorial – The Wall.
Respect can be
paid to Brother LaFromboise at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park and Funeral
Home in Seattle, WA.
07 JUN 1970
IL Delta
brothers Ted LaBedz and Bill Ward were commissioned as second
lieutenants in the Air Force on this date.
08 JUN 1970
On this date, IL Beta Brother Stephen Downs was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air
Force, and IL Beta Brother Robert
Henderson was commissioned an Army second lieutenant.
09 JUN 1983
On this date,
U.S. Marine Corps World War I Veteran, Governor (Virginia), U.S. Congressman
and VA Zeta Brother William Munford Tuck died in South Boston,
Virginia. Bill was born in 1896 near High Hill, Virginia. He left the College
of William & Mary for two years, and following a year as a
principal-teacher, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War I. Following
his discharge, Bill entered the law school of Washington and Lee University,
and after graduating in 1921 was admitted to the Virginia Bar the same year
before commencing his practice in South Boston, VA.
In 1923, at age 27, he entered the political arena by
running for a seat in the House of Delegates, and starting a successful career
of service to the citizens of Virginia. Brother Tuck served in that capacity
from 1924-32, the Virginia
State Senate (1932-42), as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
(1942-46), Governor of
Virginia (1946-50), delegate to Democratic National Convention from
Virginia (1948 & 1952), and as Chairman of the Virginia State Democratic
Central Committee in 1952 before being elected to the Eighty-Third U.S. Congress
and the seven succeeding Congresses serving as the U.S. Congressman, Virginia
5th District (1953-69).
His memberships include the American Bar Association,
Sons of the American Revolution, Omicron Delta Kappa, American Legion and
Freemasons.
William M. Tuck
Airport in South Boston is named in his honor.
Respect can be paid to Brother Tuck at Oak Ridge Cemetery
in South Boston.
10 JUN 2004
Brother Crews earned a B.S. degree from The University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He was a long-standing member of the First
Presbyterian Church of Danville, where he served as a deacon, elder, trustee,
and chairman of the Mission Committee. He was with J.C. Bradford for 20 years
and retired from Legg Mason in 2003.
Respect can be paid to Brother Crews at Mountain View
Cemetery in Danville.
05 JUN 2005
Korean &
Vietnam War Veteran and KY Beta Brother Colonel Richard Lawrence
“Larry” Mehr, U.S. Air Force (Retired) died on this date at his home in
Rockford, IL. Many of Larry’s fellow pilots knew him for a complex and daring
rescue operation he directed the summer of 1967 in Southeast Asia for which he
was awarded the Air Force Cross – second only to the Medal of Honor.
Department of the
Air Force, Special Order GB-293 (11 AUG 1967) reads, “The President of the
United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States
Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Major Richard
Lawrence Mehr, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military
operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an A-1E Pilot in
the 602d Tactical Fighter Squadron (Commando), Udorn Royal Thai Air Base,
Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 02 and 03 JUL 1967. On 02 JUL, Major
Mehr flew through intense hostile fire to provide cover for an F-105 pilot
downed in a heavily defended area of North Vietnam. With the onset of darkness
and diminishing fuel, Major Mehr returned to base for minimum rest. He
volunteered to continue rescue operations that were set up for the next day and
took off at first light. Amidst MiG fighters, deadly missiles, anti-aircraft
fire, and hostile small arms fire, he located the downed pilot. Braving this
deadly arsenal that damaged his aircraft, he continued to direct air strikes
against the hostile positions and thereby protected the downed pilot and
permitted a helicopter to rescue the pilot from the area. Through his
extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of
hostile forces, Major Mehr reflected the highest credit upon himself and the
United States Air Force.”
A member of the Air Force ROTC at University of
Louisville, he began his active duty in July 1952. Trained as a supply officer,
he served as such with the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Korea from JAN 1953
– JAN 1954. He began pilot training in JUN of that year, and received his pilot
wings at Webb AFG in JUN 1955. In addition to his accomplishments in combat, Brother Mehr completed a Master of Science
degree and a doctorate in business and finance, both from George Washington
University, and graduated from the U.S. Naval War College. He retired from the
Air Force in 1972.
His awards include the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished
Flying Cross (with “V” and two oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal, 22
Air Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), and National
Defense Service Medal (two awards).
Respect can
paid to Brother Mehr at Section 68, Site 3411 at Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, VA.
04 JUN 2008
U.S. Veteran
and NY Beta Brother James Greene of
Auburn, NY, and Fripp Island, SC, passed away on this date. Brother Greene was
Vice President of Greene Air Control, and prior to that the experimental design
engineer with Auburn Spark Plug. He was also active in civic and community
affairs.
Respect can be paid to Brother Greene at Saint Josephs
Catholic Cemetery, Auburn, NY.
05 JUN 2009
Vietnam War Veteran and VT Alpha Brother Lieutenant
Colonel Richard E. Munsell, U.S.
Army / Vermont Army National Guard (Retired) died on this date. Brother Munsell graduated from Norwich in 1954, where in addition to SigEp he was on the football team, and a member of Drill Team, Newman Club, and Varsity Club. Upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army where he served as an armor officer for 21 years. Brother Munsell retired as a lieutenant colonel and the senior Army advisor to the Vermont National Guard. A combat veteran of two tours of duty in Vietnam, he was the recipient of numerous medals and awards, including a Bronze Star Medal (two oak leaf clusters), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm (2nd Award), the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star.
Following his retirement, he was the owner and operator of the Village Cobbler in Essex Junction and of DePaul's Shoe Store in Winooski. Dick was a member of St. Lawrence Parish, the VFW Post 6689 in Essex Junction, the Vermont State Guard, and was very active in, and passionate about, the Lions Club of Essex Junction where he was past president of that club and past district governor for the State of Vermont. In addition, he put his efforts into the Veteran's Memorial Fountain at the Five Corners in Essex Junction by designing the initial plans for the memorial.
03 JUN 2010
Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM Veteran, UT Beta Brother and MT Alpha President Lieutenant Colonel David Yockey, U.S. Air Force (Retired) died on this date. During his 20 years in the Air Force, Brother Yockey’s service included Officers’ Candidate School at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas; Officer-in-Charge, Norton AFB, California; completing a master’s degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology; Logistics Support Manager, C-17 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Squadron Maintenance Officer and Director of Operations, Rota, Spain; at Scott AFB he was the C-17 Weapon System Manager, and later become the Executive Officer, Directorate of Logistics, HQ Air Mobility Command.
During this combat assignment, Brother Yockey deployed to the Middle East as Deputy Director of Logistics, Air Force Forward, in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. After his deployment he became the military deputy, hand-picked by the wing commander to initiate aerospace maintenance throughout an 8,500-person wing.
Prior to graduating from high school in Utah, Senator
Orrin Hatch nominated Dave to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and
Representative Howard Nielson nominated him to the United States Air Force
Academy and the U.S. Military Academy.
Instead, he spent his freshman year in college at Utah State University, where he pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon and was selected as a member of the President’s Leadership Council. After his freshman year his family moved to Hamilton, Montana, and Dave transferred to University of Montana to complete his B.S. in business administration.
At UM, Brother Yockey held the office of president of the MT Alpha Chapter, and was one of three students in the United States to be elected to hold a position on SigEp’s national board of directors. He was also a Montana University Peer Advisor and was invited to membership in Silent Sentinel, the only honor society selecting from the university at large.
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, (two oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (two awarded), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
06 JUN 2010
Instead, he spent his freshman year in college at Utah State University, where he pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon and was selected as a member of the President’s Leadership Council. After his freshman year his family moved to Hamilton, Montana, and Dave transferred to University of Montana to complete his B.S. in business administration.
At UM, Brother Yockey held the office of president of the MT Alpha Chapter, and was one of three students in the United States to be elected to hold a position on SigEp’s national board of directors. He was also a Montana University Peer Advisor and was invited to membership in Silent Sentinel, the only honor society selecting from the university at large.
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, (two oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (two awarded), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
06 JUN 2010
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and DE Alpha Brother James
Robert McCarthy died on this date in Hoover, Alabama at the age of 81. After
graduating from high school, James served four years in the Marine Corps before
attending the University of Delaware and receiving a degree in Mechanical
Engineering.
Brother McCarthy joined United States Steel Corporation
after graduating from the advanced management program at Harvard, accepting
many moves and promotions in his 31 year career. He moved to Birmingham,
Alabama after working in the company's home office in Pittsburgh, and retired
there as General Manager Sales, Southern Division, in 1986. He was involved
with many business and civic groups throughout his career and was an active
member of New Horizons and Friends of Hoover.
07 JUN 2010
Korean War Veteran and NE Beta Brother First Lieutenant Paul Edgar Fesler, U.S. Air Force died
on this date in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 77. Respect can be paid to Paul
at Westlawn-Hillcrest Cemetery in Omaha.
08 JUN 2010
OH Nu Brother Lieutenant Commander David Lee Balint, U.S. Navy (Retired) died on this date in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. David is the
former Director, Field Liaison Office, Navy International Logistics Control
Office, Philadelphia, PA. Prior to that assignment, he held a variety of
acquisition management positions.He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University, an MBA from Temple University, and is a 1982 graduate of the Navy War College.
Following his service the Navy
Supply Corps, Brother Balint began a career that included time with Teledyne
Corporation, Boeing Aircraft and most recently with ITT Corporation. At
Boeing he had company-wide responsibilities for coordinating export compliance
activities internally, as well as with supporting industry, cognizant U.S.
government agencies, foreign governments, and other participating foreign
entities.
Brother Balint is a former President of the New Jersey
Epsilon Alumni Volunteer Corporation at Glassboro State College, and was a
member of the Board of Governors of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational
Foundation. He also served as Chairman of the Huntsville [Alabama] Corporate
Volunteer Council, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Volunteer
Center of Huntsville and Madison County and the Family Services Center of
Huntsville.
The David L. Balint Alumni Office at Cleveland State was
named in his honor.
10 JUN 2010
TX Beta Brother Lieutenant Commander Raymond Kendel Banks, U.S. Navy died on this date in Tyler, Texas.
He was born in 1933 in Little Elm, Texas, and attended North Texas University
on a basketball scholarship. After graduation, he joined the Navy and had an
outstanding career as a carrier pilot. After an honorable discharge, he began a
long career as a pilot for Central Airlines and Frontier Airlines, later
retiring from Continental Airlines.
10 JUN 2011
Korean War Veteran, Vietnam War Veteran and KY Alpha
President Colonel John Mason Taylor,
U.S. Army (Retired) – community leader, scientist, and longtime Greenbelt,
Maryland resident died on this date at 79 years old. Before graduating, he
joined the Army, and after serving in Korea he joined the reserves and moved
his family to Maryland.
While a Plant Pathologist at the USDA in Beltsville he
worked on his Doctorate at the University of Maryland. In Greenbelt he
committed years of service to the community. He was a board member, Scoutmaster
of Troop 202, travel chairman for the Golden Age Club and President of
Greenbelt GIVES. He helped run the church food pantry until advancing
Alzheimer's made it impractical to continue.
Brother Taylor was laid to rest with full military
honors, and respect can be paid to him at Section 55, Site 2664, Arlington National
Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
03 JUN 2012
U.S. Navy World War II and Korean War Veteran CA Beta
Brother Lee Dale Heitzig died unexpectedly
on this date. Born in 1926 in Fresno in 1926, he lived there his entire life
except for two tours in the Navy during WWII and Korea.Lee's 65 years in the tire business began as a teen working in the family business of Heitzig and Shirkey and later for Schoettler Tire. While at the University of Southern California he became a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, but the school of his heart was Roosevelt High School where he played football and ran track. He was very proud of winning a 1st place medal in hurdles at the 1944 West Coast Relays.
Remembrances may be made to Alzheimer's & Memory Center, 313 N. Hillard Lane, Fresno, CA 93726; or AA Serenity Retreat, c/o Bill Hamilton, 176 Anderson Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612.
Respect can be paid to Brother Heitzig at Clovis Cemetery
in Clovis.
RECENT LOSSES TO
THE ROLL
* 30 MAY – U.S.
Air Force Veteran and PA Gamma Brother Nicolas
Lee “Nick” Goodman passed away suddenly in Rowlett, Texas.* 06 JUN – World War II Veteran and NC Delta Brother Dr. Wardell “Ward” Hardee Mills passed away at Well Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Guilford Park Presbyterian Church, 2100 Fernwood Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408. U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and TX Upsilon Brother John E. Fahrlander, 87 of Prairie Village, Kansas passed away peacefully at Lakeview Village in Lenexa, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the chapter brothers, family, and friends of
Nick, Ward and John.
Fraternally and Very Respectfully,
Brother Ed Jones, NY Eta ‘96
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve
Founder, SigEp Patriots Project
