Kappa Kappa Psi - Alpha Chapter

Oklahoma State University

Serving the OSU Bands and Striving for the Highest Since 1919

History Snippets

Snippet #11 - "Gold Star Members", taken from the May 1947 issue of The Baton.

Steve Nelson:  "'Gold Star' refers to those who were killed during WWII.  Gold Star Mothers are those mothers who lost a son during the war.  If you look at old magazines, etc. from that period, you may see that it was the habit of people to put banners in their front windows, showing white stars in a red and blue frame.  One star for each son on active duty.  If one of those sons was killed, the white star would be changed to gold as an indication of the sacrifice that that family had made.  Gold Star members, then, are those brothers who were killed during the war.

    What follows is a report from the 11th National Convention, held in Stillwater beginning on March 6, 1947, the first post-war convention.  It was reported in the May, 1947 issue of The Baton."

    The Alpha Chapter presented a Memorial Service during the morning session of the Convention in recognition of their Gold Star Members.  Pictures of the six members lost in World War II were unveiled, following a Memorial address by Rev. Kenneth Copeland of the First Methodist Church, Stillwater.

    Brother Kenneth McCollum acted as master of ceremonies.  The father and mother of Robert Heath were present to represent the fathers and mothers of all Gold Star members of the fraternity.  The six Gold Star members were the representatives of all Gold Star Members of every chapter.

    The Roll Call of all Gold Star Members was given, which was as follows:

Alpha Chapter, Oklahoma A&M College, Stillwater, Okla.
Lt. Billy Grantham, U.S. Army, Pacific Area
Pfc. Robert Heath, 14th Armd. Div., Germany
Lt. Maurice Little, U.S. Army, Pacific Area
Ac. Albert Webb, U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S.
Lt. Frank Lahman, U.S. Army Air Corps, Pacific Area

Delta Chapter, Oklahoma University, Norman, Oklahoma
Mark F. Nation
Edward Halback
Howard Fielden
Robert Widlake

Eta Chapter, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Lt. Ned Smith, AAF, China-Burma-India

Mu Chapter, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.
Verne Augustine, Lt. Navy Air Corps
Robert Goodman, Ensign in Navy
Bert Kampf, Ensign in Navy Air Corps
William Sherman, Sergeant In Infantry
Merton Swenson, 1st Lieut., U.S. Army

Alpha Zeta Chapter, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
Lt. Col. Oliver P. Robinson, Jr., USA, Honshu
Lt.(jg) Lawrence H. Harpold, USNR, plane crash in Virginia
Lt. Robert P. Keller, USA, France
Lt. Frank A. Kralis, USA, France
Capt. Charles I. Littell, USA, France
Lt. Samuel Mitchell, AAF, plane crash near Houltrie, GA
Lt. Joseph B. Swartzkopf, USNR, South Pacific
C.P.O Robert G. Taylor, USNR, Naval Hospital in Maryland
Lt. James H. Wangelin, Field Artillery, France

Alpha Omicron Chapter, Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas
Lt. Paul Coe, Marine Air Corps, Pacific
Lt. R. L. Flood, AAF, plane crash in Florida
Pfc. C. E. Roberts, Jr., 100th Inf. Div., France

Alpha Pi Chapter, Tulsa University, Tulsa Oklahoma
Lt. Lee Dunham, AAF

Alpha Sigma Chapter, Tampa University, Tampa, Florida
Lt. William E. Webb, AAF, Pacific

Alpha Tau Chapter, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Lt. Walter S. Amsler, Jr., AAF, Ledo, India