Emerson L. Gorham, Jr., 1969

Our Omega Mu veteran-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 we can all 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 be grateful for the military service of every Omega Mu veteran from the Civil War to the present. Thank you.

Omega Mu Veteran
Emerson L. Gorham, Jr.,
1969

Omega Mu Years

Housemother Clara Hammons

Christ Tremblay on Tom Richardson's shoulders.

L-R: Jim Hayes, Mike Sullivan, Paul Wood, John Zinno, Paul Roy, Buster Marzinzak, Jim Walsh,
Bill Pond, Jim McLean, Dennis McKenna, Russ Ross, Pat Ladd, Ed Obara, John Halloran, Jim Brown.

Back row, L-R: Spook, Anthony Flaherty, dave Smith, John Rhodes, Jim Dunn, Glenn Smith,
Paul Dulac, Rod Macklin, John Dolan, George Wiest, Jim Chaplin.
Front Row, L-R: Ernie Niles, ?, Bob Duetsch, Bob Van Dyke, Tyler Liby, George Thomas,
Jack MacBrayne

Ray O'Keefe with the broom. On the left, in the white shirt is Tom Richardson. To Tom's right is Dan Dodge and then Dan Hare. In the back, with his arms crossed, is Mike McInnis.

L-R: On the bench, James Wolf; standing, Cliff Goudy; sitting, Tyler Libby, John Collins, and Emerson Gorham.

Sitting on the bottom step is Mike McInnis; Ray O'Keefe is on the fourth step. L-R: The two brothers standing are Dave Smith and Dan Dodge. The brother straddling the railing is Pete Frost.

Ray O'Keefe and Emerson Gorham.

Graduate Omega Mu Brothers

L-R: Dave Smith, Ray O'Keefe, Emerson Gorham, John Lothride, Mike O'Leary.

Military Career

Emerson Gorham served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade was assigned to Landing Zone English in Bong Son.

Landing Zone English

Emerson Gorham was injured in an attack in the LZ and was medivaced to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and when he returned to Vietnam for his second tour he was assigned to Military Assistance, and was stationed in Cam Ranh Bay. Emerson served with MACV 11 until the last day that regular troops could remain, and he flew home on March 28, 1973. 

Cam Ranh Bay

“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