James Van Valkenburgh, 1965

Our Omega Mu brothers who served in the military are cherished and constant fraternal friends, and we would like to say thank you for the steadfast, purposeful commitment you made to our nation to defend those four freedoms we all believe in: “Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.” For those brothers who were killed in defense of these freedoms, they will always occupy a consecrated place in our linked fraternal heart because they exemplify the idea of superlative commitment, strength, and fortitude for the good to the end itself. The greatness of their collective purpose and will, on our nation’s behalf, will never be forgotten. By their “clear-eyed faith and fearless heart,” these brothers have left us a fraternal legacy that echoes what we often say about Omega Mu Fijis: “Perseverance and determination are omnipotent.” Their code of integrity, courage, duty, responsibility, and self-sacrifice on behalf of our nation is a powerful legacy that we will always be proud of as Omega Mu Fijis. 

​Whether it was at New Orleans, Red River, Fort Blakely, Marianna, San Juan Hill, Santiago de Cuba, Chateau-Thierry, Verdun, El Guettar, Elba, Monte Della Vedetta, the Battle of the Bulge, Rabaul, Inchon, Pusan, Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill, Hue, Easter Offensive, Phu Cat, The Iron Triangle, Hamburger Hill, la Drang Valley, Bien Hoa, Khe Sanh, Rumaila,  Al-Batin, Medina Ridge, Kabul, Kandahar, our Omega Mu brothers have demonstrated devotion to duty in defense of freedom and liberty. They are the stability of our nation, and we, the Omega Mu brotherhood, revere, honor, and salute their persevering and determined spirit within our great nation and our historic brotherhood. We will always honor the heroism of all of our brothers who have served in the armed forces from the Civil War to the present. Thank you.

Omega Mu Veteran
James Van Valkenburgh,
1965

Omega Mu Years

Omega Mu Housemothers
Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Blaisdell

1962
Snow Sculpture

1963
Snow Sculpture

1965
Snow Sculpture

"Games, stories, and presents made the evening fun for children of all ages."

University of Maine Athlete

Football Team
Inducted in 2023

"Maine's 1961 team was one of the best in UM history."

Omega Mu Fiji Brothers
on the 1961 Football Team

James Van Valkenburgh

David H. Crabtree

John R. Roberts

Military Career

James taking the oath of enlistment into the United States Navy, and he became a
​Grumman E-1 Tracer pilot.

The Death of Omega Mu Brother Paul L. Stimpson
In Vietnam

Omega Mu Brother,
Paul L. Stimpson

James Van Valkenburgh was a very close friend of Paul Stimpson, and after Paul Stimpson died on April 22, 1967, near Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, James Van Valkenburgh was personally contacted to provide military escort for Paul's casket from Dover Air Force Base to
Portland ​for his funeral.

Paul L. Stimpson

The bottom of the tombstone reads:
"Think not the longest life is the happiest:
​That which is best employed, doth
man the ​most honor."

U.S.S. Hornet
To Vietnam
​1968-1969

From 1968-1969, Lieutenant Van Valkenburgh was deployed on the U.S.S. Hornet stationed at Yankee Station off of North Vietnam, a location that allowed air craft carriers to conduct air strikes on North Vietnam, as well as to provide surveillance for ground troops, and the accurate vectors for enemy targets.

U.S.S. Hornet to
North Korea
1969

In response to North Korea shooting down a Navy EC-121 by a MIG 21, the U.S.S. Hornet was one of the ships sent to the Sea of Japan.

1969
Apollo 11
Landing On The Moon

James Van Valkenburgh's plane was the primary recovery aircraft to locate the Apollo 11 capsule upon its reentry and splashdown in the
​Pacific Ocean.

​“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge