Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Purdue University

S A Page 3 Announcing the Phi Alpha Explorer W e are pleased to announce a new feature on our web site, www.saepurdue.com. You now have full access to our directory of Indiana Beta alumni using our new app, Phi Alpha Explorer. Try it today under the alumni tab. You can use this search engine to identify contact information for an individual, your pledge class, or graduation year. You can also locate Indiana Beta alumni by geographical area by selecting all in the pull down menus and then click on the specific map location. In addition, you have the ability to find SAE alumni by job function or industry. Use this as an addition to your other networking tools. Above all, please make sure your contact information is complete and current. You can do so under the alumni tab and be sure to opt-in to use your information in the Phi Alpha Explorer. Indiana Beta Officers Eminent Archon Daniel Romano '15 Bettendorf, Iowa dannyr.romano@gmail.com Treasurer Jared Placek '13 Bloomington, Ill. EDA Internal  Kevin Finley '15 Ada, Mich. EDA External Jack Beathard '15 Bellaire, Texas Recruitment Chairman Eric Kluge '15 Darien, Ill. ekluge1@gmail.com Eminent Recorder Calvin Dumer '15 Saint Paul, Minn. Risk Manager Nate Barrett '15 Shelbyville, Ind. Pledge Educator Steven Greco '15 Gate Mills, Ohio Scholarship Chairman Spencer Khoury '16 Burbank, Calif. Social Chairman Cameron Calvert '15 Evansville, Ind. Philanthropy Chairman Alex Dunker '16 Rockford, Ill. Remembering the Fallen Bill Kiesel '43 Embodied the True Gentleman during WWII "I didn't know my name wasn't 'Shut Up' until I was 14," joked Bob Kiesel '51. By means of a lively phone conversation with Bob, I was fortunate to learn about one of our brothers' heroic war stories: that of Bob Kiesel's older brother, Bill Kiesel '43. Bill spent his first year of college at the University of Pittsburgh where he played football in the early 1940s. His second year, however, he wanted to pursue an engineering degree. Thus, Bill found himself at Purdue where he became a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Being 6'1" and extremely athletic, Bill played softball for the chapter in an inter-fraternity league. He could often be found spending time with his Theta girlfriend, whom many found to be quite attractive. However, while Bill attended Purdue, war loomed in the horizon. It was the dawn of World War II. He decided it was his calling to fight for his country as a naval fighter pilot. After joining the Navy V-5 Program, Bill traveled around the country to complete various phases of his training. Bob notably recalls Bill spending time in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Not to mention, Bill was known to enjoy playing football with the other Navy trainees at some of his locations. Eventually, Bill completed his training with flying colors, finishing in the top 10% of his class. Due to his excellent performance in training, he was granted the opportunity to choose what kind of plane he wanted to fly in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Bill chose a gull-winged Corsair fighter aircraft. At the time, gull-winged aircrafts were top-notch. With slightly bent wings, the planes struck fear in the hearts of the Japanese as they were impressively quick and deadly. Finally, the United States saw light at the end of the tunnel. Fantastic efforts by the Allies brought the Third Reich to its knees. Victory in Europe was declared on May 7, 1945. It was quickly becoming evident that the Axis Powers, though in many regards more militarily advanced than the Allies, could not deter the valiant bravery of men like Bill Kiesel, who fought to protect our freedom from tyranny. Allied morale was at a record high. Sadly, on July 24, 1945 (just weeks before Victory in Japan was declared), Bill was flying off the coast of Japan when a typhoon struck. William Kiesel was declared missing in action on this day. He would then be declared dead one year later at only 23 years of age. Part of the True Gentleman reads, "…who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own." I am honored to have been given the opportunity to share the honorable life and death of Bill Kiesel, a man who thought of the needs of his country rather than his own. However, this story could have never come together without Bill's younger brother, Bob. Bob, who is also an Indiana Beta brother, graduated from Purdue in 1951. He resides in Chicago and is a friendly and detailed man. Bob has a grandson who is a Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Montana. Phi Αlpha, Bob! Written by Michael Cody '15 SAE brothers at their formal event in downtown Chicago. E

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