Laurie J. Greenleaf, 1943

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
Laurie J. Greenleaf,
1942

Omega Mu Years

Laurie J. Greenleaf, first row, fourth brother in from the left.

Laurie J. Greenleaf, back row, first on the left.

1940
​Snow Sculpture

1941
Snow Sculpture

"Phis Gam's snow sculpture last week was probably the most beautiful this university
​has ever seen."

"One of the finest examples of snow and ice sculpture.......was executed by the members of Phi Gamma Delta."

John D. Utterback was responsible for designing and building Omega Mu's 1940 and 1941 snow sculptures.

Mrs. Vickers

World War II

Laurie J. Greenleaf was a first lieutenant during World War II. He left the University of Maine during his junior year and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, but he transferred to the Army Air Corps and was the P-47 Thunderbolt pilot. On August 20th, 1944, he shot down a German Me-109 in a dogfight over Paris. In a previous mission, he was cited for his "outstanding courage and technical proficiency in the execution of a difficult attack upon a heavily-defended dam."

"Outstanding courage and technical proficiency in the execution of a difficult attack upon a heavily-defended dam."

​P-47 Thunderbolts near Paris, France, 1944

P-47 Thunderbolt, above and below

"He shot down a German Me-109 in dogfight over Paris."

​Lieutenant Greenleaf's Thunderbolt was hit by flak near Reifenberg, Germany, and it crashed near  Saarbrucken on November 8th, 1944. He was buried in a cemetery in the neighboring town of Schmitshausen, but on January 24th, 1949, he was given fully military honors and reburied in Arlington National Cemetery. Lieutenant Greenleaf had completed 47 missions, with 117 combat hours and 88 sorties to his credit.

Saarbrucken

American soldiers entering Saarbrucken

Captured German officer in Saarbrucken

Laurie J. Greenleaf was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters. Excerpt from the Distinguished Flying Cross citation for his precision bombing: “The flying skill and deep devotion to duty exhibited by Lieutenant Greenleaf on this occasion are in keeping with
​the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces."

“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