William C. Levere compiled The History of Sigma Alpha Epsilon in the World War. It was published by the George Banta Company in 1928. It was indeed a labor of love for “Billy” Levere, who himself served the county. He and more than 7,000 Sigma Alpha Epsilons answered the call to service. To present a view of how many fraternity men left chapter houses and went to serve their country, I offer a sampling from one fraternity and showcase the men for whom May 3, 1917 had some significance.
E. Wayne Hight (IL Delta – Millikin University, 94 enlistments). In service with 130th Infantry, 33d Division when U. S. entered the war; commissioned 2d lieutenant May 3, 1917; served in France; promoted 1st lieutenant January 17, 1918; promoted captain May 3, 1918. Engagements: The Somme, Saint-Mihiel offensive, Troyon Sector, Meuse-Argonne offensive.
James A. Powers (IA Delta – Drake University, 61 enlistments). Enlisted private May 3, 1917; assigned to Camp Alfred Vail, N. J.; sailed for France December 8, 1917; stationed at Paris; promoted master signal electrician May 1918; served with 1st and 3d Divisions; discharged August 23, 1919. Engagements: Cantigny, Chateau-Thierry. Cited for especially meritorious service.
Adlai Cornwell Holler (MA Gamma, Harvard University, 186 enlistments). Enrolled apprentice seaman U. S. Naval Reserve Force May 3, 1917; detailed to U. S. Naval Training Station, Norfolk, Va.; changed rating to fireman 3d class June 5, 1917; attached to USS New York June 6, 1917; assigned to Medical Corps andrate changed to hospital apprentice 2d class June 24, 1917; sailed for foreign waters December 7, 1917; detailed to patrol duty in the North Sea; detailed as reserve ship for the English fleet on the attack on Zeebrugge and Heligoland, April 24, 1918; served in President Wilson’s convoy; returned to United States December 26, 1918; detailed to Cuba for the winter practice; returned to United States April 15, 1919; attained rank of pharmacist mate 1st class; released from active duty June 14, 1919.
C.T. Garnsey (NH Alpha, Darmouth College, 133 enlistments). Enrolled U. S. Navy as mechanic’s mate, 2d class. May 3, 1917; attended Radio School, Newport, R. I.; rated electrician 1st class June 20, 1917; transferred to Nantucket, Mass., September 1, 1917; returned to Newport, December 11, 1917; rated chief electrician September 1, 1918; discharged December 13, 1918.
Lionel John Gottschalk (NY Alpha, Cornell University, 147 enlistments). Commissioned ensign U. S. Navy April 7, 1917; detailed to training camp, Charleston, S.C, April 9, 1917; appointed officer in charge of Engineering Division, New Orleans Navy Yard, May 3, 1917; ordered as 1st assistant Engineering Officer aboard USS Wheeling patrolling around Azores Islands, June 28, 1917; appointed senior watch officer and member of examining board for engineering personnel November 4, 1917; appointed officer in charge, Arkansas Recruiting District, March 1, 1918; transferred to U. S. Naval Reserve Force June 1, 1918; promoted lieutenant (junior grade); released from active duty August 5, 1919.
Roland H. Spaulding (Delta, Syracuse University, 122 enlistments). Enlisted private and detailed to Camp Syracuse, N. Y., May 3, 1917: assigned to 4th New York Ambulance Company; appointed limited service clerk and transferred to Draft Board No. 3, Onondaga County, N. Y., August 1917: promoted chief clerk December 1917; discharged March 31, 1919. Served as Y.M.C.A. secretary at Syracuse University April 1, 1919 to June 15, 1919.
Joseph Dallas Fox (PA Zeta, Bucknell University, 80 enlistments). Enrolled U.S. Naval Reserve Force May 3, 1917; stationed at Wisahickon Barracks, N. J.; detailed to communication office at Section Base, Cape May, N. J., March 12, 1918; promoted yeoman 3d class, August 1, 1918; transferred to Bucknell University Naval Unit October 2, 191S; released from active duty May 3, 1921. Gardner, Arthur Funk. Bucknell University Unit, Students’ Army Training Corps.
Theodore H. Ross (PA Phi – Carnegie Institute of Technology, 64 enlistments). Enrolled U. S. Naval Reserve Force May 3, 1917; detailed to Seaman’s Barracks, Philadelphia, Pa.; transferred to Wissahickon Barracks, Cape May, N. J., August 1917; commissioned ensign October 3, 1917; detailed to U. S. Naval Home, Philadelphia, Pa., May 1918; to USS Charleston, North Atlantic Fleet, June 1918; to Distributing Barracks, Philadelphia, Pa., January 1919; released from active duty April 4, 1919. Engagements: Several U-Boat engagements while escorting convoys.
Robert H. Wettach (PA Chi-Omicron, Univerity of Pittsburgh, 95 enlistments). Enrolled U. S. Naval Aviation Service May 3, 1917; detailed to Ground School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass., January 1918; to Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., April 1918; commissioned ensign; sailed for France; assigned to submarine patrol work with bases at Paulliac, Moutchic, and He Tudy, France, August 1918; released from active duty January 1919.
Robert Newell Oakley (TN Eta – Southwestern Baptist University, 84 enlistments). Enrolled apprentice seaman, U. S. Naval Reserve Force May 3, 1917; detailed to San Francisco, Calif., May 5, 1917; rated electrician 3d class (Radio) August 1, 1917; transferred to Harvard Radio School, Cambridge, Mass., September 1, 1917; rated electrician 2d class (Radio), December 12, 1917; ordered to New York, N. Y., February 5, 1918; to New London, Conn., March 2, 1918; to USS San Francisco, May 13, 1918; sailed in European waters May to December 1918; returned to United States January 2, 1919; to Portsmouth, N. H., January 22, 1919; discharged electrician 1st class (Radio), July 18, 1919.
William W. Meek (TN Kappa, University of Tennessee, 111 enlistments). Graduate 1913 of U. S. Naval Academy; commissioned lieutenant, U.S. Navy, June, 1917; promoted lieutenant-commander, U. S. Navy, November 5 1918. Saw service on board destroyer Conyngham in anti-submarine campaign based on Queenstown, Ireland, from May 3, 1917 to June 1, 1918. Continued in service, lieutenant-commander on board destroyer Tracy as executive officer.
John W. Craddock, Jr. (VA Sigma, Washington and Lee University enlistments). Entered 1st Officers’ Training Camp, Fort Myer, Va., May 3, 1917; commissioned captain and assigned to 317th Infantry, Camp Lee, Va., August 15, 1917; to 155th Depot Brigade, March 1, 1918; promoted major August 24, 1918; transferred to 154th Depot Brigade, Camp Meade, Md., September 25, 1918; discharged December 5, 1918.
Charles M. Burgess (WI Alpha, University of Wisconsin, 101 enlistments) Enlisted private April 15, 1917; detailed to Officers’ Training Camp, Fort Sheridan, 111., May 3, 1917; commissioned 1st lieutenant 336th Field Artillery and transferred to Camp Pike, Ark., November 29, 1917; to Fort Sill, Okla., April 9, 1918; to Camp Dix, N. J., July 1, 1918; sailed for France August 27, 1918; detailed to Bordeaux, September 6, 1918; transferred to Camp de Souge, October 1, 1918; appointed commanding officer of Auto Section, Field Artillery Motor Training Center, on General Staff A.E.F., October 14, 1918; transferred to Lc Blanc, December 1918; to Gondrecourt, Meuse, December 29, 1918; to St. Joire, March 5, 1919; returned to United States April 23,1919; discharged at Camp Meade, Md., April 27, 1919.
