Clifton Beckwith Brown was the first Cornellian to die in battle. He died in the battle of San Juan Hill, 1898. In 1899 Governor Theodore Roosevelt came to campus and planted two Norway Spruce in his memory at his fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon, at 13 South Avenue. You will only see one tree today. One had to be removed for safety reasons in 2019. To the left of the stairs is a plaque commemorating the planting of the spruce trees. [1] This is one of two memorials dedicated to Clifton Beckwith Brown. The second is in East Sibley Hall.
To the left of the stairs is a plaque commemorating the planting of the spruce trees by, then New York State Governor, Teddy Roosevelt.
The Delta Kappa Epsilon plaque commemorating the planting of the spruce trees reads:
“On June 20, 1899, then New York State Governor, Teddy Roosevelt, Delta Kappa Epsilon Alpha ‘80, Planted these two Norway Spruce trees in the memory of his fallen comrade, Clifton Beckwith Brown, Delta Kappa Epsilon Delta Chi ‘00, who left his studies at Cornell to serve as an officer in Company M of the 71st New York Regiment immediately upon the outbreak of the Spanish American War. Brown died in combat at the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, becoming the first Cornellian to give his life for his country. These trees stand as tribute to Brown’s sacrifice and are listed on the New York State Register of Historic Trees.
Dedicated June 12, 2004 by the grateful Alumni if Delta Chi of Delta Kappa Epsilon
Donald Alford Weadon, Jr., Chairman”
Delta Kappa Epsilon is also home to a plaque dedicated to Military Aviators killed in the line of duty.
The following ΔX of ΔKE aviators lost their lives in military aviation mishaps and are listed on the plaque:
Gwendell Barden Newman ’16 1st Lieutenant, U. S. Marine Corps Reserve
b. 17-Mar-1894, i. 10-Dec-1912 (ΔX #430), d. 2-Feb-1920
Died from septicemia due to injuries from the crash of a Loening “Kitten” monoplane on 31-Dec-1919 at Bolling Field, Washington DC.
Buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Hofstetter Hill, Blk. K Lot 73/74, St. Louis MI.
Clayton Caskey Ingersoll ’18 1st Lieutenant, U. S. Army Signal Corps (Aviation)
b. 5-May-1896, i. 21-Nov-1914 (ΔX #464), d. 26-Apr-1918
Perished by stalling a Nieuport trainer aircraft at Flying Field #5, Issoudun, France.
Buried initially at Flying Field #13, Issoudun, France. Remains repatriated to Rockford IL.
Archibald Cyrus Edson Gregory ’19 Sr. Lt., Canadian Royal Flying Corps
b. 15-Aug-1896, i. 22-Apr-1916 (ΔX #477), d. 13-Feb-1935
Died, age 38, of pneumonia, the indirect result of injuries from the August 1918 crash of his aircraft in England.
Buried at Fairview Cemetery, Red Bank NJ.
John Talman Whiting, Jr. ’41 1st Lieutenant, U. S. Army Air Force,
b. 18-Sep-1919, i. (not initiated), d. 12-Aug-1945
Perished in crash of a PT-19 trainer aircraft at Thompson Field, San Marcos TX.
Buried at Washington Memorial Chapel Cemetery, Valley Forge PA, Gen. Wayne, Lot 150.
William Hunt Eisenman, Jr. ’43 2nd Lieutenant, U. S. Army Air Force
b. 11-Mar-1921, i. 15-Feb-1941 (ΔX #765), d. 28-May-1943
Perished in crash of C-46A Commando cargo aircraft near Conifer CO.
Interred in Knollwood Cemetery and Mausoleum, Cleveland OH, Crypt 454, Row E.
George Frederick Hewitt III ’43 Ensign, U. S. Naval Reserve
b. 8-Nov-1920, i. 15-Feb-1941 (ΔX #766), d. 14-Apr-1943
Perished in mid-air collision of two F6F-3 Hellcat fighter aircraft near Moyock NC.
Buried at Arlington National Cemetery VA, Section 7, Site 9007-E.
Edward Livingston Feakes ’49 1st Lieutenant, U. S. Air Force
b. 18-Oct-1923, i. 5-May-1946 (ΔX #827), d. 31-Dec-1953
Declared MIA/KIA following a B-26B Invader bomber mission over North Korea.
Remains not recovered.
St. Clair McKelway, Jr. ’52 1st Lieutenant, U. S. Air Force
b. 24-Aug-1931, i. 4-Mar-1951 (ΔX #889), d. 3-Jun-1954
Perished in crash of H-19B Chickasaw helicopter 25 miles SW of Bordeaux, France.
Buried at Arlington National Cemetery VA, Section 2, Site 4934-1.
Frederick Ernest Weicker, Jr. ’55 Lieutenant (Junior Grade), U. S. Navy
b. 11-Dec-1932, i. 16-Mar-1952 (ΔX #903), d. 1-Dec-1958.
Perished landing his F4D Skyray fighter on the USS Roosevelt off Florida coast.
Remains lost at sea.
Gordon Samuel Perisho ’61 Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy
b. 7-Mar-1939, i. 24-May-1958 (ΔX #986), d. 31-Dec-1967
Declared MIA/KIA following an A6A Intruder strike mission over North Vietnam.
Remains not recovered. [70]
The Delta Kappa Epsilon or “Deke” House on the campus of Cornell University, was built in 1893 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The original 1893 building was designed to house only 16 students. It was expanded in 1900 and again in 1910 to its present size. It was occupied by Navy personnel being trained at Cornell during World War II.