Drake University Theta Chi Chapter Initiates Vietnam Vet 47 Years After He Left School For The Army

drake

A Vietnam War veteran was recently initiated into Theta Chi 47 years after he attended college and pledged the fraternity. Bob Fagan went to Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, and pledged Theta Chi in 1966. He still remembers his fraternity days.

“We had pets that were named Theta and Chi, two German shepherds.”

However, Mr. Fagan was never able to become an active because he decided defending America’s freedom was priority number one, and left for the Army before completing pledgeship. While in Vietnam, Fagan served with a team of five Green Berets and a Vietnamese interpreter. In 1971, Mr. Fagan returned to Drake to complete his Bachelor’s degree, but he never returned to Theta Chi. 47 years later, Theta Chi members heard Fagan’s story and agreed that he deserved to become an active. Theta Chi member Sean Duncan said of Fagan, “We didn’t want to forget about it. We thought he deserved to be active.”

Mr. Fagan was initiated and a banquet was thrown in his honor. In addition to honoring Fagan, Theta Chi raised $500,000 for a new house. Well done gentleman.

[via KCCI]

  1. Dick_Nixon

    A real life Joseph “Blue” Pulasky. Well done guys, way to fulfill a man’s dream and make him apart of a brotherhood.

    11 years ago at 1:58 pm
  2. vandette

    It’s stories like this that really show how much the tenants of each fraternity’s “ritual” follow you throughout your life. This man had been through hell and back, and still chose to become a initiated member of a fraternity almost 5 decades later.

    11 years ago at 3:56 pm
  3. Channel4NewsTeam

    Good things come to those who perform good deeds. Mr. Fagan gets initiated, and Theta Chi gets $500,000 towards a new fratcastle. Make sure to invest in a solid fratio boys.

    11 years ago at 4:44 pm
  4. Manderson

    Shout out from up the road at Iowa State, Alpha Mu chapter, proud to call you guys brothers.

    11 years ago at 6:11 pm