Ted Rule and Wheeler Brooks Memorial Alpha Gamma Rho Achievement Grant

 

This award has been established in memory of First Lieutenant Ted Rule and Staff Sergeant Wheeler David Brooks through contributions from a number of alumni who were classmates and friends of Brother Rule and Brother Brooks.  This award was established to honor their sacrifice and ensure their legacy endures to future generations.  They gave their all for our country and our freedom and we have never forgotten their sacrifice. They had their future ahead of them and it was cut short.  We should never forget them!

 

 

Ted Rule was an exceptional person and friend. He was born March 24, 1943, in Marshalltown, Iowa. The family then moved to the Lime Springs area and Ted attended Crestwood High School in Cresco, Iowa. In high school, Ted’s leadership was evident by the number of sports and student organizations in which he participated.

 

 Following high school, Ted attended Iowa State University and was initiated into ETA Chapter in 1962.   He was in ROTC for two years and worked as head waiter for the Sigma Chi Fraternity House.  He enlisted in the Army in 1968 and graduated from Ranger school in Fort Benning, Georgia, in October 1968. Earlier that year, on March 9, 1968, he married Mary Ellen Shindler at Fort Ord, Monterrey, California. He was then deployed to Vietnam, arriving on November 7, 1968.

 

On November 29, 1968, Ted Rule’s unit was, as the official report stated, “engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam,” north of Loc Ninh, Phuoc Long Province“.  Serving as a platoon leader with his mechanized company and advancing toward an enemy base camp from which it was receiving enemy fire, Lieutenant Rule directed his men’s movement from atop an armored personnel carrier.  When an insurgent bunker halted the advance of his element, Lieutenant Rule disregarded his personal safety and maneuvered through the hail of hostile rounds toward the fortification. He then threw several hand grenades into the emplacement which killed its occupants and destroyed the structure. Lieutenant Rule mounted his track and while moving toward another bunker, he was mortally wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade.”

 

 Just as he had been recognized for his leadership abilities throughout his life, prior to his death Ted was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Sharpshooter Badge with automatic rifle and rifle bars, Marksman Badge, and Ranger Tab.

 

 For his actions at Loc Ninh, Lieutenant Rule was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart, and The Silver Star for gallantry in action. He is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall panel 37W, line 007.

 

 

Wheeler David Brooks was born in Ollie, Iowa, a small town in Keokuk County in the southeastern portion of the state. He attended high school in the neighboring town of Pekin, where he was involved in many activities was an honor student. He was full of life and devoted to his friends and family.

 

Wheeler enrolled at Iowa State University in the fall of 1966, majoring in agricultural engineering and he was initiated into ETA Chapter in 1967.   Wheeler was involved with the Agriculture Engineering Club, the Agricultural Council and student government.  Outgoing and charismatic, Wheeler also had a keen sense of humor, and he loved practical jokes.

 

Wheeler deployed to Vietnam on August 13, 1970, and joined the Aero rifle platoon, Delta Troop, 1^st squadron, 1st cavalry regiment, America I Division, United States Army Vietnam.  He was stationed in the Quang Ngai province and was due to come home in a few short weeks when his platoon was summoned to help another platoon in trouble on June 20, 1971. It was on that day that Wheeler was killed in small arms fire. His body was recovered and returned home, and he’s buried in his hometown of Ollie, Iowa. He was 23 years old when he died.

 

Staff Sergeant Brooks was awarded many medals for his service: Bronze Star for Valor, Bronze Star for Merit, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal. He is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall panel 03W, line 083.