Page 4 - Eta Survey - Spring 2019

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Thomas E. Digan ’81 (continued from page 1)

How did you become involved on the board, our missions were antisubmarine warfare, duty, becoming a commercial helicopter pilot
house corporation board? logistics, and search and rescue. We did every- didn’t seem feasible. Although I had never really
This past year, I stopped by the house the night thing from tracking Soviet submarines to carry- planned to go into law, while at Illinois, I had been
before Homecoming, and fortunately, one of the ing passengers, mail, and cargo to the smaller a member of the Interfraternity Council judicial
active members was able to give me a flyer about ships from the carrier. board and, later, served as the legal officer for one
the Homecoming activities. I went to the meeting One night on search and rescue duty stands of my squadrons, so it seemed like something I
the next day and saw Steve Maske ’83 for the first out more than most; it was “dark and darker” could do with my wife working in the Washing-
time since the early 1980s, when we were both out, and I was part of the four-person crew. We ton, DC, area. After law school, I joined a large
in the Navy. During the alumni had been having some trouble firm and was actually able to use my undergradu-
meeting, Steve encouraged me with our aircraft and were ate biology degree as part of the firm’s food, drug,
to volunteer for the open board planning to bring it back and and medical-device practice section.
position. This was a chance to change aircraft after the fix- Because my wife was still on active duty,
payback some of what I had wing aircraft had completed we were not able to stay in Washington, because
gained from being part of the their landings. Unfortunately, the Navy needed her elsewhere. Fortunately, I
house. It also didn’t hurt that I an E-2 Hawkeye early warn- was able to return to Illinois, because she was
had two children at Illinois, so ing radar plane didn’t catch assigned to the naval hospital in Great Lakes,
I would be periodically visit- the arresting-gear wire but Illinois. But I was not able to continue working
ing the campus anyway. had already reduced power in the food and drug practice area, because at the
After graduation, what when they touched down, so time, it was highly Washington centric. Thank-
inspired you to pursue they continued off the end fully, a position opened up at the naval legal-ser-
aviation in the Navy? of the deck and crashed into vice office, providing legal assistance to military
I had wanted to be a naval the water. We immediately members, retirees, and their family members. I
aviator since I was about six proceeded to the scene of the like to say that I am still in the search-and-rescue
years old. My father had served crash to begin the search for business. I just do it from behind a desk, trying to
in the Army for a while, but I survivors. As the aircraft com- help people solve their legal problems.
grew up reading about and Tom around 1986, when he was stationed mander, I directed the other Were you surprised to have been
watching movies on World War in Japan flying the SH3 Sea King. pilot as he struggled to main- awarded the Meritorious Civilian
II and the carrier war in the Pacific. We also had a tain a stable hover while we Service Award?
Naval air station at Glenview, where reserve units lowered our swimmer into the water. We were Yes. I was extremely surprised. I never saw it
used to fly and where one of my neighbors flew able to rescue one of the pilots and assist with coming. My focus had always been helping peo-
A-4 Skyhawks. I attended the University of Illinois some other members of the Hawkeye crew. But ple, not on awards. I am grateful to my then com-
on a Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps schol- unfortunately, that night, two naval aviators paid manding officer for putting me in for the award.
arship, and after graduating and gaining a commis- the ultimate price for freedom. What advice can you give the actives
sion, I was finally selected to attend flight training. Years have passed, and I still remember and alumni about dedication and
Which achievements are you most that night. The Midway is now a museum in bravery?
proud of? San Diego, California. Amazingly enough, if If you are doing something you believe in
you visit and take the tour, you might see a pic-
I was winged as a naval aviator and assigned ture of 26-year-old me in the helicopter ready and enjoy, the dedication comes naturally. I
to fly the SH-3 Sea King helicopter aboard the room along with my name on the posted flight always wanted to fly and to be able help people.
USS Midway during the cold war. While on After leaving the military, flying helicopters
schedule. That, along with seeing my name in a
museum exhibit at the Nation Museum of Naval became cost prohibitive, so I focus on helping
people. There are many types of bravery, not
Leave A Legacy Aviation in Pensacola, came as a complete sur- just those that you see in the military. Stand-
prise to me when I happened upon them. I guess
being an exhibit in two museums makes me old. ing up and doing what’s right and making good
onsider a lasting gift that will support When your service wrapped with decisions, even when not popular, is also an
C Kappa Delta Rho long after you are gone. Desert Storm, why did you choose to important form of bravery. Honor Super Omnia
By including Eta in your estate plans, you ensure go into law? shouldn’t be just words.
the long-term health and success of our fraternity. I served aboard the USS Nassau (LHA 4) on
Here’s what you and/or your advisor might need to
know; the most common ways to include Eta are my last active duty tour in the Navy. I joined the
through your will or life insurance. Sample lan- ship at the beginning of a six-month Mediterra-
guage: I leave the sum of ($xxxxxx.xx or xx% of nean deployment about a week after getting mar-
my estate) to: Eta Building Association of Kappa ried. I was deployed to support President Bush just
c
Delta Rho, tax ID number 37-6048873, /o the off the coast of Columbia when he attended a drug
National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho, PO Box summit there and then deployed for over eight
777, Latrobe, PA 15650, for their general purposes. months for operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm. We were gone a lot. Additionally, the mili-
PlEasE NotE: This information is not presented as tary was beginning its post-Cold War drawdown.
legal or tax advice. Always consult your advisors It was time to go. I had an undergraduate degree
for questions you might have.
in biology and a master’s degree in international
relations, and with my wife remaining on active Isabel, Gabrielle, and Tom Digan at an Illinois game.

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