Henry “Hank” F. Vassel – Distinguished Service Award – 1956
Henry began his journey in Scouting as part of Troop 194 under the guidance of
Major Greany of St. Cecilia’s Parish in Detroit. He would serve as an Assistant
Scoutmaster for many years. Hank would make his first of many trips to Mackinaw Island as part of his troop as a youth. The Island Service Corp was an important part of Henry’s life. He would serve on the Governors Honor Guard as a youth and an adult director for more than 60 years. His passion inspired others to follow in his footsteps and he contributed to the building and many of the improvements in the Scout Barracks located at the top of the hill on the Island. April of 1944, Henry would pass his board of review and become an Eagle Scout in Troop 194.
Henry’s involvement in the Order began in 1940 with his induction. He would
quickly be motivated into many positions within the Lodge. In 1943, he was
appointed by the Lodge Chief to be the Activities Committee Chairman. Henry had a knack for singing. His talent was well known as he would often be asked to lead a song or two at Lodge events and other scouting activities. In 1945, Henry would hold a duel role as Chapter 1 Chief and Chairman of the Dance Social Committee. This was not just for this year, but he showed his dedication to scouting on other levels as well. 1947 the National Order of the Arrow Committee started developing an Area organization which made the entire State of Michigan one such Area. Henry would be elected its first chief that year. Hank would also seal his membership in Migisi Opawgan Lodge that same year. He would continue to contribute to the Area as an Executive Scribe 1948-51. 1948 – 1951, Henry served as the 1947 Lodge Vice Chief of Activities, 10th Anniversary Committee member, attended the Area Chief’s Meeting in
New York, Vice Chief of Service in 1949. Henry would also serve two terms as Lodge Chief from 1949- During his second term he would be selected for the Vigil Honor and be given the name “Achgiguwen”, meaning Energetic One. A fitting tribute to an arrowman that had been involved in so many things, but did them so well. During the summer Henry would serve many seasons at Charles Howell Scout Reservation on Waterfront staff. While Lodge Chief he served as the President of his Alpha Phi Omega Chapter Eta Pi at the University of Detroit. He would finish his Masters of Social Work from U of D in 1952 then begin work at the Catholic Youth Organization in Detroit.
Starting in 1950, Hank’s involvement with swimming and instructing would place him on several National Jamboree staff as a waterfront director until the last Jamboree offering it in 1961. In 1953, Hank developed the first all Arrowman Troop to attend the National Jamboree. He would also be a long
time swimming director of Corp 5 from the 1960’s until the 1990’s. Also that same year his lodge would bestow upon him the Robert Rutherford Award, named after the 2nd Lodge Chief who parish during World War II. This was the highest honor award given to an Arrowman besides the Vigil Honor.
His dedication to the Order was marked in 1956 at the National Meeting at the University of Indiana, because of his involvement at the Area level as well as his development of the National Meeting Registration process, Henry was selected to receive the National Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award. Henry would continue to serve Migisi Opawgan Lodge #162 in other capacities such as being Vigil Chairman in 1958 and 1959.
In 1968, Henry would receive the Silver Beaver. During his lodge’s 60th Anniversary in 1999, he was asked to be the guest speaker. His speech spoke of how the Order of the Arrow influenced his life and he had challenged each youth to do their part to make a mark of their own. Henry had always been
unselfish in his approach to scouting, always lending a hand or offering to help. Whatever he was doing, he gave it his all. As a longtime Catholic Youth Organization employee, Henry coordinated CYO camps, scouting religious emblems programs for both boy and girl scouts for the Archdiocese of Detroit
for more than 50 years. Henry never gave up on the youth in his neighborhood and the surrounding community. It is a testament to his love for others, his belief and his love for scouting. Henry passed away February 11, 2015 in Lake Orion, Michigan. He was 88 years old.
Bottorff, J. (n.d). 100th Anniversary MigisOpawgan -Lodge History 2015c. p.259
1956 DSA Recipients
The following were presented the DSA at the 1956 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Indiana University – Herman Brandmiller, William D. Campbell, Jack Champion, James R. Feil, Julius Hayworth, Lyndon S. Holm, Walter Hubbard, Sidney B. North, Jack Obermeyer, Henry Vassel, and James L. Waters.
Boy Scouts Of America Order of the Arrow. Retrieved on October 14, 2020 from https://oa-bsa.org/taxonomy/term/854?page=15
