UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 8
October 24, 1996
Honoring alumni :  ROTC Hall of Heroes to be inducted Saturday

     Twenty-one alumni who have served with distinction in
military conflicts-from the Revolutionary War through the
conflict in Vietnam-will be inducted into the newly formed
Fightin' Blue Hen Battalion Hall of Heroes at 9 a.m., Saturday,
Oct. 26, in Mechanical Hall.
     Framed photographs of each inductee and a volume including
biographical resumes will be displayed at the ROTC headquarters,
and more than a dozen of the honorees are expected to attend.
     To qualify for election to the Hall of Heroes, the alumni
must have received a commission from the University's ROTC
program or one of its predecessors, and have one or more
significant personal or professional achievements. These can
include earning the Medal of Honor or other combat decoration,
election to a state or national office, achieving a leadership
position in an organization or corporation, recognition for state
or national service or other professional contributions.
     The Fightin' Blue Hen Battalion Alumni Association,
incorporated in 1995, is responsible for maintaining the Hall of
Heroes display. An ROTC advisory council, composed of
representatives from many academic disciplines, assists in
evaluating nominees.

Honorees

      Robert Kirkwood, a distinguished Revolutionary War
 soldier, who attended Newark Academy, predecessor to the
 University of Delaware.
      John W. "Iron Mike" O'Daniel, Delaware '17, '56 H, who is
 also listed in the University's Wall of Fame, served more than
 40 years in the U.S. Army. He died in 1975.
      Joseph H. Harper, Delaware '22, who served 37 years with
 the U.S. Army, was promoted to colonel in 1942, and was
 assigned command of a glide infantry regiment of the 101st
 Airborne Division. He died in 1990.
      T. Alan Bennett, Delaware '32, a member of the Alumni Wall
 of Fame, began his 35-year Air Force career in 1933 as one of
 the first 75 flying cadets. He died in 1992.
      Jerome D. Niles, Delaware '39, after graduation was
 commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery
 Corps, U.S. Army, retiring as a brigadier general.
      Ernest A. Davidson, Delaware '39, received a Purple Heart
 and seven battle and campaign awards for his service as an anti-
 aircraft battalion commander.
      Edward W. Cooch Jr., Delaware '41, who served in World War
 II, practices law in Wilmington, where he is senior partner of
 Cooch & Taylor.
      Robert H. Papy, Delaware '47, who was the first UD
 distinguished military student, served in the U.S. Air Force
 during World War II, receiving a Bronze star, campaign ribbon
 with three battle stars and both presidential and unit
 citations.
      Berwyn N. Fragner, Delaware '50, whose military career
 spanned more than 40 years, rose to the rank of major general
 and commander of the 63rd Army Reserve Command. He died in
 1989.
      Fred G. Harvey, Delaware '50, rose to the rank of
 lieutenant colonel and was graduated from the Command and
 General Staff College in 1969.
      William E. Hart, Delaware '51, a first lieutenant, served
 on active duty from 1952-54. After receiving a Ph.D. in marine
 science, he taught at George Washington University while
 holding a first chair in mapping.
      Robert R. Smith, Delaware '51, who graduated from Command
 and General Staff College in 1976, rose to the rank of colonel.
      Walter F. Williams, Delaware '51, who served as a first
 lieutenant in Korea, received a Bronze Star Medal. He joined
 Bethlehem Steel, rising to the position of chairman, president
 and chief executive officer in 1986.
      Elmer Paul Catts, Delaware '52, commanded a 90-mm anti-
 aircraft artillery battery during the Korean conflict,
 receiving a regular commission as first lieutenant. He was
 widely regarded as a noted forensic entomologists. He died in
 1996.
      Harry S. Hughes, Delaware '52, was an air defense officer
 during the Korean conflict, serving in various reserve
 assignments in Delaware and Puerto Rico from 1954-84. He
 graduated from Command and General Staff College.
      Joseph M. Lank, Delaware '52, entered military service as
 a distinguished military graduate. He accepted an appointment
 in Delaware in 1981 and served as adjutant general with the
 rank of major general.
      Kenneth L. Rieth, Delaware '53, received a commission in
 artillery and served in Alaska from 1954-56. In 1958, he fired
 the first successful nuclear-capable NIKE-HERCULES guided
 missile.
      Jules J. Schwartz, Delaware '53, served from 1953-57 in
 the U.S. and Germany. A graduate of the Command and General
 Staff College, he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1982.
      Lewis W. Wright, Delaware '53, served 28 years on active
 duty, including assignments as a battalion commander in Vietnam
 and comptroller of the Army in the Pentagon.
      Joseph V. Marra, Delaware '54, served on active duty from
 1954-59 and on reserve duty for 22 years.
      Arthur R. Vande Poele, Delaware '54, commissioned a second
 lieutenant upon graduation, served with the 1st Cavalry
 Division in Japan. Joining the Delaware Army National Guard in
 1956, he served in various positions. Promoted to lieutenant
 colonel, he was selected for the Army War College.
     The formal induction ceremony is open to the public.
     However, those planning to attend are asked to call 831-1763
in  advance.