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 Paul L. Stimpson, 1964 Omega Mu Years 1962 Snow Sculpture 1963 Snow Sculpture Military Career Lieutenant Paul L. Stimpson was the Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Commander attached to the First Aviation Brigade, 145th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 118TH Assault Aviation Company in Vietnam. Paul Stimpson's United States Army Aviator Badge and ribbons First Lieutenant Paul Stimpson, first on the left. 118th on a mission. 118th chopper pilots in action. Note the unit insignia on the helicopter. Paul died on April 22, 1967, Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam. He crashed in a cemetery near Long Binh due to fuel starvation. Stuart W. Gerald, an Omega Mu brother who was serving in Vietnam at the same time, flew his helicopter over the cemetery were Paul died. His picture and comment about Paul and the crash are below. Omega Mu Brother, Stuart W. Gerald As the pilot of a two transport helicopter which was so badly damaged by machine-gun fire and schrapnel that it was inoperable, Paul removed important equipment and men to another helicopter. Thus he received for this action on March 19th, 1967, in action "above and beyond the call of duty," the Distinguished Flying Cross. "When I was a freshman rushing Fiji, Paul was a senior and one we were all so impressed with- given his good looks and great demeanor. He always treated us little Zobies with respect. He was the one who came to my dorm room late one night to inform me that I was a pledge! He was in ROTC, and we all knew his strong desire to fly when commissioned. He married a beautiful girl before going to chopper training. We learned of his death after flying many missions in one day, landing in a booby trapped LZ. All of us in my pledge class were shocked and really saddened to lose this classy big Brother." Mike McInnis, '68 "Think not the longest life the happiest: That which is best employed, doth man the most honor." Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington D. C. “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
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