A Proud History-A Bright Future

Irwin Shepard

Irwin Shepard, from Chelsea, enlisted August 7, 1862. He rose through the ranks to become an Orderly Sergeant and served with Echo Company until May 6, 1864 when he was wounded at "The Wilderness." He was discharged on account of his wounds on May23, 1865. Mr. Shepard was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during an attack on his unit by snipers. The date was 20 November, 1863 and the place Knoxville, Tennessee. The citation reads as follows: Having voluntarily accompanied a small party to destroy buildings within the enemy's lines, whence sharpshooters had been firing, disregarded an order to retire, remained and completed the firing of the buildings, thus insuring their total destruction; this at the imminent risk of his life from the fire of the advancing enemy.

The Bentley library, located on the campus of the University of Michigan, has a collection of Mr. Shepard's letters to his family written while he served with Echo Company.

Major Frank Maki

Major Frank Maki was born in 1928 to a family of Finnish immigrant farmers in Rudyard Michigan, a small community in the Upper Peninsula. He would serve a prestigious career of 25 years before his untimely death at age 43 in Vietnam. During this time he earned numerous awards including the Silver Star with Valor, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.

Sergeant Maki accepted a reserve commission as a Second Lieutenant while serving in the Korean War. He continued to serve in the Regular Army as an NCO, as he was promoted as a reserve officer.

He taught ROTC at Eastern Michigan University for four years, where he led the rifle team to the championship and served as an advisor to Arm of Honor Fraternity. During this time, he accepted his promotion to Captain even though he was rated number one on the list to be promoted to Sergeant Major.

He then served as a Company Commander at Fort McClellan where his troops would earn four consecutive Best Company awards.

Captain Maki was killed in action at Fort Base Fuller while coordinating medical aid to wounded soldiers on June 22, 1971 during his third tour in Vietnam. He was then posthumously promoted to Major.

Surviving Major Maki are his wife, Gay, and daughters, Tye and Kim.

Award of The Silver Star

For gallantry in action: Captain Maki distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 20 - 22 June 1971 while serving as Senior Advisor to the 1st Battalion, 2d Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam at Fire Support Base Fuller in Quang Tri Province. Captain Maki heroically participated in the defenses of Fire Support Base Fuller by accompanying and assisting his Vietnamese counterpart against the North Vietnamese Army thrust. After more than two continuous days of intensive direct and indirect fire and ground attacks, the NVA managed to breech the defenses. Captain Maki then directed many tactical air strikes and aerial rocket artillery against the enemy. During this time he continued to reappraise the tactical situation, adjust supporting fires and coordinate medical aid to the wounded Vietnamese soldiers. Though he had been sixty hours without rest, he continued to assist his counterparts up until the moment he was mortally wounded by an enemy artillery round. His extraordinary example of leadership and valiant courage radiated throughout the Fire Support Base and inspired the Vietnamese to repulse the enemy attack. Captain Maki's conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

(As written in Major Maki's Award of the Silver Star announcement, by LTC August G. Seifert)

17th Michigan “The Stonewall Regiment”

At the end of May 1862 the Adjutant General of Michigan Announced that a new regiment was to be formed, designated the 17th. General order No. 150 specified that the new regiment should be ready in 30 days, serve for three years and rendezvous at Detroit barracks. The order also stated that the regiment was to be clothed, armed and equipped before leaving the state. On 15 June 1862 the rendezvous commenced at the Detroit barracks. Col. James E. Pittman was charged with putting the regiment under military drill and discipline, and to prepare it for the field. Among those trying to recruit for the new regiment was Thomas Matthews, a senior classman at the Michigan Normal School (Now Eastern Michigan University). He had written an a letter to the editor of the Detroit Free Press, it stated:

“We are emphatically of the student persuasion, and shall carry the student’s constancy and energy into our soldier life. We know the value of our “free” institutions, and shall defend them to the death. We fight for our country without regard to personal emolument or pay, and, in the name of our holy cause, ask all strictly moral young men, to join our ranks.” -DFP 7 Aug 1862

Many other Normal School students took it upon themselves to recruit for the new regiment. One set up a recruiting station in Kinne & Smith’s book store on the north side of Congress Street. He mailed out a circular to both past and present students. Response was quick. Company E would be composed of one-third Normal school students, One third from Jackson County, and the last from Washtenaw County. By august 9th over 900 men had enlisted in the regiment. As soon as each company was filled, it was mustered into Federal General Service. Other Company’s were mustered first, Company E (the Normal School Company), officially joined the ranks on 18 August 1862. This Quote from the Detroit Advertiser and tribune describes the youthful regiment:

“The seventeenth has, probably, more of the youth of the state in its ranks than any other regiment that has yet gone… but they can handle a musket as well as anybody.”

-DAT, 16Aug1862

South Mountain, MD, September 1862
Antietam, MD, September 1862
Fredericksburg, VA, December 1862
Kentucky, April-July 1862
Vicksburg & Jackson, MISS, August 1863
Kentucky, September 1863
Knoxville, TENN, September-December 1863
East Tennessee, January-April 1864
Wilderness & Spotsylvania, VA, April 1864
Cold Harbor- N Anna, VA, June 1864
Petersburg, VA, July-December 1864

Eagle Battalion History

Army ROTC at Eastern Michigan University was introduced to the campus in 1952. At that time, EMU was known as the Michigan State Normal School and had 213 freshmen enrolled in ROTC classes. From its inception, the ROTC program at EMU has been a strong, respected, well-supported campus institution. Prior to the 1968-69 school year, ROTC was mandatory for all first-semester freshman males for their first two years of college. Classes were taught in Welch Hall. Extracurricular activities included: Scabbard and Blade, and AUSA Company, a Counter-Insurgency Unit, Drill Team and a Drum and Bugle Corps.

Major changes came in 1968 when ROTC became fully elective. The program moved to Roosevelt Hall (its current location) in July 1973. The university allowed the residing cadre liberty to design the new facilities themselves. They included a multi-level firing range, supply room and plenty of day room space for the cadets.

The period of greatest enrollment was in 1966 with 1,856 cadets in the program. In 1974, enrollment dropped to 74 cadets. Today, there are 170 cadets in the ROTC program.

Extracurricular activiites include

• Raiders (Ranger Challenge)
• Rifle Team
• Color Guard

Distinguished graduates of EMU include:

• Lieutenant General Oren DeHaven
• Congressman Carl D. Pursell
• General John C. Coburn (Commander U.S. Materiel Command)
• Brigadier General John Rowland and Colonel William J. Stephens.