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US Enters Viet Nam War

From 1957 to 1965, the war was mainly a struggle between the South Vietnamese army and Communist-trained North Vietnamese rebels known as the Viet Cong. During this time, the U.S. provided military advisors and China and the Soviet Union supported the Vietnamese Communists with war materials but not troops. The first U.S. combat troops entered Vietnam in March 1965 and most of the fighting was between North Vietnam and the United States. By 1969, the Vietnam War seemed endless, and the United States slowly began to withdraw troops.

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1965 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 1965 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Robert B. Ackerman, H. Jack Beamish, James M. Becker, Milton R. Bossier, Don Sterling Boyer, Milton M. Fluegelman, Ray A. Garrabrandt, Robert C. Gilman, James L. Knepler, Earl P. Leiby, Joseph Mancini, Charles B. McKee, Edgar A. Oglesby, Frank H. Wadsworth, William H. Wadsworth and Morgan W. Weed.

Starting in 1965 the DSA medal was changed from a green ribbon to a white ribbon with red embroidered arrows. Previous recipients were asked to change their ribbons.

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Bechtel Family

The Bechtel family has a long and strong Scouting tradition. The Bechtel family runs the privately held Bechtel Corporation, a worldwide engineering, construction, and project management company. The international company is well known for completing major projects, such as the Hoover Dam and the Hong Kong International Airport.

Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. became an Eagle Scout in 1940, and received both the Silver Buffalo Award and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. His uncle, Kenneth K. Bechtel served as National President of the Boy Scouts of America from 1956–1959 and received both the Silver Buffalo Award and the Order of the Arrow’s Distinguished Service Award. Kenneth was the first president who had been a Boy Scout in his youth. The expanding age of flight made it possible for him to cross the country every three months to conduct meetings of the National Executive Board. Using his private plane to attend many other Scouting functions, at the time he became Scouting’s most traveled president.

Scouting’s new high adventure base, and permanent home to National Scout Jamborees will be called The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. It is being made possible in part by a $50 million contribution to the project from the Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. family.

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Paul Siple

NATIONAL LODGE

ORDER OF THE ARROW

Presents

The Distinguished Service Award

To

PAUL A. SIPLE

Explorer, Geographer, Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, member of Alpha Phi Omega Scouting Fraternity, member of the National Committee on Camping and member of the National Court of Honor. Accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd on the first Antarctic Expedition, after selection as the outstanding Scout among 600,000 then enrolled. This being the first of many exploits and assignments as a civilian and commissioned officer in the United States Army. He was the first President of the American Polar Society, and more recently served as scientific leader of the United States participation in the Geophysical Year. Presently he is Director of the Army’s office of Polar Affairs. Through his achievements and personal life he has brought distinction to the organization with which he has affiliated and captured the imagination and admiration of youth throughout the land.

---- excerpted from a Paul A. Siple DSA Certificate awarded in 1958

This statement from the DSA certificate presented to Paul Siple (rhymes with disciple) in 1958 summarizes in one paragraph the life of an extraordinary man.

In 1928 Commander Richard Byrd selected Eagle Scout Paul Allman Siple (December 18, 1908–November 25, 1968) from thousands of applications of Eagle Scouts to accompany him on a journey to explore the South Pole. Siple eventually took part in six Antarctic expeditions.

Siple was born in Montpelier, Ohio but his family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Central High School in 1926 and later became a member of Eriez Lodge. Prior to being selected for the journey, Paul had spent 35 weeks in total under canvas, including four weeks' winter camping in snow conditions as a Boy Scout and a Sea Scout. He became an Eagle Scout in 1923 with 59 merit badges (a far more extraordinary total at that time than it is today).

After an extensive nationwide search in 1928, he was the first Eagle Scout selected for the Antarctic expedition. Siple's place on the expedition had to be publicly funded; "pennies, nickels and dimes" were raised by the Weekly Reader "to help send Paul to the Antarctic."

Paul maintained a log and was determined to document his adventures on his return. Siple’s first of four books, A Boy Scout with Byrd was published in 1931. Admiral Byrd tells in his preface to Siple's book that he had not read Siple's account and had no intention of doing so until it was published, as he had no wish to influence it in any way, knowing that the book would be accurate.

Paul remained active in the WWW after his journey to the South Pole. On September 7, 1936 Eriez Lodge 46 (now Langundowi) bestowed the Vigil Honor and gave him the Lenape name Pehachpamhangik, translated as Seafarer.

After his initial expedition to the South Pole, Dr. Siple attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts where he received a Ph.D. in 1939. His dissertation was on "Adaptations of the Explorer to the Climate of Antarctic". He worked in the Army Scientific Office for most of his career.

Siple received the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to boyhood from the BSA in 1947. His hero and former leader Admiral Byrd presented the award to Siple.

This extraordinary man graced the cover of Time magazine on December 31, 1956. His major scientific accomplishment has dominated winter weather reports for the past four decades. Paul Siple coined the well-known term wind-chill, used to describe human comfort due to the impacts of cold temperatures and wind, in his doctoral thesis research on the freezing rate under breezy conditions.

As an author, Siple wrote a total of four books, A Boy Scout With Byrd (1931), Exploring at Home (1932), Scout to Explorer: Back with Byrd in the Antarctic (1936) and 90 Degrees South (1959).

Siple became a hero among Scouts. He made frequent appearances at area conferences and the National OA Conference. In 1958 Siple was presented with the Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award and the Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society.

Siple is permanently memorialized with the naming of geographical features that bear his name, Siple Island, Mount Siple and the Siple Coast in Antarctica and Siple Station, the United States' scientific installation in Ellsworth Land.

2, OA, Profile, Scouting

George Feil & Son

The Feil family of Kansas City, Kansas served the Order of the Arrow for decades. The first member of the family to hold a leadership position was James R. (Jim) Feil. Jim, of Tamegonit Lodge. He was elected in 1953 to serve as National Conference Chief for the 1954 National Conference held in Laramie, Wyoming. For his service Jim received the Order’s Distinguished Service Award in 1956.

Jim’s father, L. George Feil was appointed to the National OA Committee in 1955. In 1958, George followed his son and received the Distinguished Service Award; the first father / son OA DSA Award recipients. In 1960 George Feil was selected as the fourth National OA Committee Chairman. Feil served in that capacity longer than any other chairman retiring after 18 years in 1978.

During his time as Chairman, Feil’s steady hand guided the Order. Among his and the National OA Committee’s accomplishments during Feil’s tenure:

• Chairman for a record nine NOACs

• Chairman for the OA 50^th Anniversary festivities and activities

• Established the National Standard Lodge Program

• Established the Red Arrow Award

• Established the Goodman Camping Award

• Established the Lodge Achievement Award

• Provided initial support to initiate National Leadership Seminars (NLS)

• Led the Order to a self-sufficient financial status

• Chairman for the start of OA Indian Seminars

• Chairman for the 60^th Anniversary / Bicentennial activities

• Improved growth of training for ceremonies through the use of CAG (Ceremonial Advisory Group)

• Separated youth training from adult training at conferences

• Supported extensive filming of Goodman to insure more archival footage

• Expanded role of the OA at Jamborees

Perhaps Feil’s greatest accomplishment was the establishment of the OA regional structure. This included increasing the number of youth leaders by creating the Region Chief positions, establishment of Regional OA committees each with an appointed Regional Committee Chairman.

After George Feil stepped down as National OA Committee Chairman in 1978 he continued to serve the National OA Committee as a member of the Founder’s Advisory Council until his death on May 26, 1985. In 1979, George’s wife, Mary L. Feil along with the Founder’s wife, Louise Goodman, received the Order’s highest award for non-OA members, the Red Arrow Award.

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Kennedy Elected President

The 35^th President of the United States was also the youngest U.S. President elected to office at age 43. John F. Kennedy was a former Naval Officer (Lieutenant) while serving in WWII. President Kennedy was a Boy Scout in Troop 2 of Bronxville, NY for two years. He also was active in the Boston Council from 1946-1955 as District Vice-Chairman, member of Executive Board, Council Vice-President, and National Council Representative. In 1961, as is the custom of presidents, he was the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America.

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1961 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 1961 National Order of the Arrow Conference - J. Paul Conover, John A. Dunaway, Robert E. Finehout, Howard Gifford, Otto C. Hornung, Daniel S. Ling, Elliott W. Mangam, Louis Marchetti, Richard R. McGee, Cedric D. Sintzenich, Ford E. Smith, Zell Spry, Donald Carl Thom, John R. Vaughn Jr., Charles J. Weber and Willis H. Williams.

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1958 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 1958 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Richard L. Chappell, Paul A. Siple, Kenneth K. Bechtel, John R. Donnell, David M. Dunbar, L. George Feil, Fred J. Gehl, Jr., C. M. "Jack" Hedinger, Carl M. Marchetti, Harry M. Maxwell, John F. C. Sheridan and Russell A. Turner.

2, Awards, OA, Scouting

Goodman Receives Silver Buffalo Award

The BSA awarded E. Urner Goodman the Silver Buffalo in 1954. Three years earlier, Missouri Valley College had awarded him an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

2, Awards, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

NOAC 1954

The OA gathered west of the Mississippi for the first time to for the 1954 National Order of the Arrow Conference (most often referred to as the “39th Anniversary Conference”). The meeting was held at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The barely three-year old Kola Lodge, based in Fort Collins, Colorado together with a chapter of theirs in Laramie served as host. The conference was down in attendance from two years earlier as it was reported that there were 1,400 delegates. This was mainly due to the extra distance required for travel to Wyoming.

For the first time the Conference had a theme, "The OA Strengthens the Unit and Council Camping Programs". Other firsts were awards for top Dance and Regalia competitions. Zit Kala Sha Lodge, Louisville, Kentucky, captured the trophy for the best Regalia display.

Training was again emphasized. This conference had four training sessions, each with ten topics offered. The sessions were led by lodge chiefs and other qualified youth with support from members of the National OA Committee.

At the closing ceremony, Dwight W. Bischel from Wabaningo Lodge, Evanston, Illinois, Editor of the Wabaningo Lodge Emblem Handbook was complimented on his display of Order of the Arrow badges.

The OA Distuingished Service Awards (DSA) were presented. Founder E. Urner Goodman gave the closing challenge. Dwight Bischel had the foresight to record and preserve this address on a reel-to-reel tape recorder.

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Pocket Flap Approved for Uniform Wear

It is strongly recommended by the National Committee that these emblems be made to fit the shape of the right shirt pocket flap. The right shirt pocket flap has been approved by the National Committee on Badges and Insignia for official Order of the Arrow Insignia where the other emblems are only temporary insignia when used on the uniform. It should be realized that this is a great advantage and a compliment to the Order of the Arrow.

In 1954, with the above decree the National Committee on Insignia declared the right shirt pocket flap as the official location for OA insignia. No other organization within the BSA had ever been afforded the honor of having a portion of the uniform designated as a location for their insignia.  

While many lodges had already made a flap shaped badge, following the announcement lodges throughout the country began issuing their first OA flap patches.

In the years since the flap was introduced millions of them have been traded between Arrowmen in fellowship and brotherhood.

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NOAC 1956

The OA returned to Indiana University for a third time. So-Aka-Gha-Gwa Lodge served in its familiar role as host lodge. The official delegate count of 2,201 was a single delegate more than the record from the 1952 Conference. The 280 lodges in attendance was easily a record surpassing the 1952 total of 210 lodges. This was the second Conference with a theme, “Arrowmen! Lead in Service to God and Country” (often shortened to the verbiage on the Conference patch, “Service to God and Country”.)

Highlights at the Conference included an address from Chief Scout Executive and Second Grand Lodge Chieftain Arthur A. Schuck.

On a somber note, a special memorial was dedicated to the memory of H. Lloyd Nelson. Instead of the traditional flowers, the dais was surrounded with headdresses as a special honor to a man who dedicated his lifetime to serving his beloved Order.

There were four group session discussion periods. The dance competition and subsequent barbecue drew some 5,000.

The OA Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) were presented. E. Urner Goodman again gave the closing challenge. Dwight Bischel of Wabaningo Lodge once again recorded the address on a reel-to-reel tape recorder preserving it for today.

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