north central region - sep 2007

8/9/2019 North Central Region - Sep 2007

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More than Meets the Skies

North Central Region NewsVolume 2007 September

CAP Supports Flood Relief

Minnesota Wing members 1stLt Jay Spreitzer, and CadetsHanna Olsen and Cadet Emily Tholen assist victims of theSouthern Minnesota Flooding from a boat on the Root Riv-

er near Houston, MN. Photo by Capt Andy Bosshart.

Members of squadrons from the Minnesota and Wis-consin wings assisted with mandatory evacuations, roadclosure assistance, security, traffic control, road repair andcleanup of debris in the wake of flooding in southern Min-nesota, combining for more than 5,600 man-hours of sup-port from Aug. 19-22.

The U.S. Air Force activated the U.S. Civil Air Patrol inresponse to a request by the Houston County, Minn., Sher-iffs Department to assist with search, rescue and recoveryoperations in Houston County, an area devastated byheavy rains, mudslides and flash flooding. Operations were

later expanded to Winona and Fillmore counties. On the af-ternoon of Aug. 21, the Air Force directed CAP to move todisaster relief operations.

With the La Crescent Fire Department and CommunityCenter in Houston County served as a staging area andmission base for about 200 senior members and cadets,

(Continued on page 5)

In This Issue:

Commander's Column.................................................Page 2

South Dakota says Goodbye to Rod Horn..................Page 2Des Moines Sqdn Supports Buddy Walk.................... Page 3

MOWG Provide Youth Near Space Experience..........Page 4

Missouri Cadet Earns Mitchell Award......................... Page 5

Sioux Falls Sqdn Assists Veterans Reunion...............Page 7

Photo Gallery Galleries

Missouri Holds Successful Encampment............Page 8

September NamedNational Preparedness MonthSeptember is National Preparedness Month, a

nationwide effort to encourage citizens to take sim-ple steps to prepare for emergencies in theirhomes, businesses and schools.

During National Preparedness Month, the U.S.Department of Homeland Security will work with awide variety of organizations to highlight the impor-tance of emergency preparedness and promotecommunity involvement through events and activi-ties across the nation.

"One of our underlying missions at Civil Air Pa-trol has always been to contribute to the communi-ties where we live and work," said Brig Gen AmyCourter, CAP Vice Commander. "This month wehave an extraordinary opportunity to make a differ-ence by joining forces with companies and commu-

nities throughout the nation to help prepare ourfamilies, friends, colleagues, neighbors and com-munities for emergencies, whether naturally occur-ring or man-made."

Courter asked key staff members at all levels inCAP to review and update their emergency plans,to include subordinates in the process, and to holdat least one community preparedness event.

Visithttp://www.ready.gov/for more information.
http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=22148400&sid=2782110&m=362472&u=CivilAir&s=http://www.ready.gov/http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=22148400&sid=2782110&m=362472&u=CivilAir&s=http://www.ready.gov/http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=22148400&sid=2782110&m=362472&u=CivilAir&s=http://www.ready.gov/http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=22148400&sid=2782110&m=362472&u=CivilAir&s=http://www.ready.gov/


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North Central Region News

Commander's Callby Col. Sean P. Fagan

My fellow members, it isSeptember again, and like ev-ery September for the last sixyears, our thoughts are drawnto that tragic day of September11, 2001. That day, whenonce again we were remindedof just how precious our free-dom is, and the lengths thatare enemies will go to try totake that freedom away from us.

Since that day, the citizens of this Country have become moreaware, with the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, that our free-dom is not free. That there are brave men and women who are at

this moment serving to protect us, far away from their homes andfamilies. Their dedication and service before self is truly an inspira-tion to us all.

On September 11, 2001, our enemies attempted to break theresolve of this Country through a terrorist attack on our own soil.This attack however failed to break our resolve, it only deepened it.Our Country is now more vigilant then it has been in years. Therehave been several more attempts by our enemies to attack thisCountry and the countries of our allies, however these attempts havefailed. They have failed because this Country is now, more thenever, aware of the cost of letting our guard down.

Our duties in the Civil Air Patrol are an important part in the pro-tection of this Country. We must not forget that every sortie we fly,

frees a military aircraft for other duty. Our work in the area of boarderpatrol, counter narcotics, and homeland security are an importantpart of keeping this Country safe and secure.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your service andask that when you close your eyes at night and give thinks for whatyou have, that you dont forget to give thanks for the men and wom-en who have served and are now serving to ensure our freedom.

Semper Vigilans

The North Central Region News is publishedmonthly by North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol,

Lt.Col. Mike Marek, editor and NCR/PAO; Col. SeanP. Fagan, Region Commander.

Please send submissions by the 10th of each

month to:

[email protected]

South Dakota says Goodbyeto Lt Col Rod Horn

Lt Col Rodney Horn died July 12, af-ter a long battle with cancer. Horn wasa veteran of almost 20 years of serviceto CAP and South Dakota Wing.

Horn joined CAP in 1989 and held anumber of wing and squadron positionsduring his 18 plus years. He was acommand pilot, mission check pilot,squadron commander, operations offi-cer and incident commander for SouthDakota wing, and flew over 2,200 hoursfor the wing. He was credited with three

finds in search and rescue operations.He also earned the Paul E. Garberaward. He was the South Dakota WingEmergency Services Officer of the Yearfor 2002.

Rod held the position of CEO for theNorthwest South Dakota PCA. He andhis wife, Karen, later owned a ladiesclothing and shoe store. He was theowner/broker for Horn Real Estate, andHelp U Sell Real Estate of the BlackHills. He had served in the U.S. Army inKorea and met his future wife, KarenHaberman, while on the South DakotaState University rodeo team after hismilitary service.

"I cant think of anything to top it,"Horn once said about CAP. "It is agreat feeling when my wheels touchdown at the end of the day knowing thateach and every one of us from flight op-erations, ground units and cadets havedone everything humanly possible tomake a difference. It takes all of uspulling together to get it done. That iswhat makes this nation so great. It is allabout caring."

Members of Rod Horn's homesquadron, Lookout Mountain CompositeSquadron in Spearfish, S.D., agreedthat he was a credit to the Civil Air Pa-trol and that his positive demeanor andprofessionalism were beyond reproach.


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St. Louis Sqdn commander promoted,Find Ribbons awarded

St. Louis Composite Squadron One members saw their commander,Capt Carl Cope, promoted to the rank of major and three squadron mem-ber receive Find Ribbons during a recent squadron meeting.

Maj David A. Miller, Group II commander, performed the promotion cer-emony. Cope also serves as Group II supply officer and Missouri Wing as-sistant logistics director east.

Find Ribbons were awarded to: Maj James Ed Main, nondistress Emergency Locator Trans-mitter find. Capt Leah Fugate, nondistress Emergency Locator Transmitterfind. Cadet Lindsey Johnson, distress missing aircraft find.

St. Charles Sqdn CadetsRespond to First Mission

Three cadets from St. Charles

Composite Squadron of MissouriWing (C/2Lt Josh Brandt, C/SSgtRobert Lass, C/A1C Coty Ruether)were asked by to be part of aground team to help search for areported ELT signal coming fromthe downtown St. Louis area onJuly 28.

They had attended a CAP planewash and cadet orientation ridefunction at St Charles Municipalairport. They were all very eager togo on their first actual mission and

put their training to the test. Thesecadets remained very focused andprofessional. They operated the DFequipment like seasoned proswhile taking several readings.

The coordinates supplied by LtCol Gene Rugh (incident comman-der) were very close to ARCH AirMedical Services in the downtownarea. An aircrew consisting of CaptBrian Thompson, mission pilot, andCapt Mike Smith, mission observer,reported a strong signal in that im-

mediate area. The ground teamproceeded to ARCH's location andthe cadets triangulated the signalseveral times -- narrowing thesearch area each time from out-side, to inside the hangar, to oneparticular helicopter out of four. Itwas verified by an ARCH manager,pilot, and mechanic, and then dis-abled.

These cadets represented CAPand their squadron in the finestfashion throughout the entire mis-sion process and each earned awell deserved Find Ribbon.

The St. Charles Municipal Air-port Staff also commended all ofthe cadets who were at the airport,saying, "They were polite, courte-ous, and extremely well behaveddespite the BDU's and the hotweather, and are welcome at theairport anytime."

Des Moines SQDN Supports Up with Down Buddy Walk

Des Moines MetroCadet Squadron supportthe Up with Down BuddyWalk this summer.

I am very proud thatour cadets took time fromtheir busy schedule to helpraise awareness for thoseindividuals with Down Syn-drome, said Lieutenant

Betty Kelly, SquadronCommander. The Buddy Walk was created by the National Down Syn-drome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month and ac-ceptance of people with Down Syndrome.

Kellys son, airman Michael Kelly, above right, has Down Syndromeand participates actively in Civil Air Patrol Activities. Airman Kelly recentlycompleted his cadet orientation flight curriculum which allows cadets fromthe age of twelve to seventeen the opportunity to fly a single-engine air-craft with a qualified pilot.


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MNWG Cadets Present ColorsBefore NFL Preseason Crowd

Almost 63,000 fans watched as the

Valley Composite Squadron ColorGuard and two members of the Min-nesota Wing Honor Guard presentedthe colors at the Minnesota Viking'sgame Aug. 30 against the Dallas Cow-boy at the Hubert H. HumphreyMetrodome in Minneapolis.

The match-up marked the final pre-season tilt for both teams, and the Col-or Guard and Honor Guard were asanxious to give the fans and players agood show as were the players com-peting for the final spots on their re-

spective squads' rosters.Cadets Mike Kenney of the Anoka

County Composite Squadron and An-drew Puckett of the Hutchinson Com-posite Squadron represented the Min-nesota Wing Honor Guard. Members

of the Valley Composite Squadron Color Guard were cadets Mark Albrecht, Tim Blesi, Kaelyn Olson and CalebPatrin.

The cadets assembled at the Metrodome two hours before game time for run-throughs on the field. Withkickoff scheduled for 7:05 p.m., at 7 p.m. sharp the cadets marched out to the 25-yard line and presented thecolors while a member of the Vikings' cheer leading squad sang the National Anthem.

After they marched off the field, the cadets and their chaperons had a good time watching the contest fromgame floor seating and celebrating a Viking win over the Cowboys.

Photo by 1st Lt Norine Olson

MOWG Helps Provide Near Space Ex-perience for Boys, Girls Clubs Youth

Children from all walks of life find the subject ofouter space fun and fascinating, and teenagers atthe Boys and Girls Clubs of Kansas City got thechance recently to pursue that interest.

Using high-altitude sounding balloons, theyouths designed, built, launched and recovered ex-perimental satellites that traveled more than100,000 feet as part of a Near Space Workshop of-fered during the 2007 Federal Aviation Administra-tion Regional Aviation Career Education Academy

at the Boys and Girls Club in Kansas City, Mo.Cadets and senior members from the Cass

County Composite Squadron assisted in theproject.

The joint venture between the FAA and CAPnSpace -- the U.S. Civil Air Patrol's division of the Near Spaceproject -- was guided by Lt Col Troy Campbell, Missouri Wing vice commander.

Students attending the workshop, ranging in ages 12 to 18, took part in the three-day class. That allowedthem to experience, from start to finish, the technical and scientific development of demosats -- shoe-box-sized satellites. Inside the satellite boxes were digital cameras designed to take a picture roughly every minute,allowing students to see far beyond their everyday surroundings.


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CAP Respondsto Flooding

Continued from Page 1

CAP assisted not only state and local law enforcement and emer-gency management personnel but also the Minnesota Department ofTransportation.

CAP ground teams worked throughout the night of Aug. 21 conduct-ing security operations to deter looting, looking for additional mudslidesand cleaning up mud and debris to keep roadways open in Houston

County.CAP also launched aircraft to provide communication support for

ground operations, provided aerial photography of the devastated tri-county area (Houston, Winona and Fillmore counties) and flew Houstoncounty officials over Houston, Hokah, Brownsville and La CrescentTownship, some of the hardest-hit areas.

About 30 CAP members assisted the Winona County Sheriff DaveBrand with search and rescue operations near the Enterprise RestArea. The missing person was located about noon Tuesday about 4miles downstream from the rest area.

Others helped direct traffic around road repair operations by Hous-ton County and local governments and also participated in cleanup op-erations in the towns of Brownsville, Hokah and LaCrescent. Members

performed storm drain cleanup and helped keep traffic flowing throughthe towns by manning checkpoints to ensure only residents were al-lowed into damaged areas.

In turn, the La Crescent American Legion provided hot meals,snacks and beverages throughout the operations, including transportingfood to ground teams at various locations in the county.

We have had great support from the local residents. They havecooked many meals for us and provided us with areas to sleep andwork out of, said CAP's incident commander, Maj Chet Wilberg of theHutchinson Composite Squadron.

Missouri Cadet EarnsMitchell Award

Cadet Joe VanWinkle became thefirst cadet of the Springfield Regional

Composite Squadron to earn theMitchell Award, and was promoted toCadet Second Lieutenant on August 7,during the squadron meeting.

Cadet VanWinkle joined Civil AirPatrol in June, 2005. He has attendedtwo Missouri Wing encampments,serving as a flight commander at themost recent encampment held atCamp Crowder. He serves thesquadron as a flight commander and isa qualified ground team member andmission radio operator. Cadet VanWin-kle also assisted with the Color Guardcompetition team.

At the same ceremony, Red Ser-vice ribbons were presented to 2nd LtSam Kahre, Cadet Joe VanWinkle,Cadet Kevin Petersen, and Cadet JoeKahre. Second Lt Stacy Workman waspresented with the Yeager Award.Cadet Joshua Carr received his Arm-strong ribbon.

Pictured above, Cadet VanWinkle'smother, Ms. Laurie Moore, and Cap-tain Garland Henson of the SpringfieldSquadron remove Cadet VanWinkle's

stripes and slide on the epaulets of acadet officer.

New Kansas Wing Address:

3024 Arnold Ave.Salina, KS 67401

785-825-0009785-825-1116 FAX


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Missouri holdsSuccessful Encampment

Ninety-five cadets and twenty-two senior members, from as far away as

Iowa, completed the 2007 Missouri Wing Summer Encampment held June 23through July 2 at Camp Crowder Army National Guard Base near Neosho,Missouri.

In addition to the usual drill, physical fitness training, classroom instruction,and military customs and courtesies, cadets also enjoyed:

Blackhawk helicopter orientation flights 40 foot rappelling tower Weapons simulation training with laser equipped

M-16 rifles Land navigation course Low ropes team building competition Model rocketry launch

CAP-n-Space nearspace balloon program orienta-tion

"The Missouri Wing summer encampment at CampCrowder, was a shining success, due to the brilliant cadetand senior staff, said Maj Robert Stusse. I have neverbeen to a CAP activity wherepeople acted more in unison,than at this years encamment.Having the honor of command-ing such a fine activity, meansthat I can never say thank youenough, to those that gave their

total support.


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South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds, a former CAP cadet, stoppedto talk with members of South Dakota Wing during the veterans re-union.

Sioux Falls CAP Members Assist Veterans Reunion

A group of cadets and officers of the South Dakota Wings SiouxFalls Composite Squadron assisted at a local veterans reunion heldat the W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds.

The event, sponsored by numerous area businesses, hosted vetsand their families for food, fun and entertainment. The activity alsofeatured a special patriotic ceremony and flag presentation. CAPmembers assisted with food serving, cleanup chores and visited with

the veterans.These young men and women represent whats right with Ameri-

ca! commented one Vietnam era veteran. The Sioux Falls CAP creweven got a visit from a high ranking state official who was more thana familiar face.South Dakota Governor M. Michael Rounds.

Rounds learned to fly as a CAP cadet growing up in Pierre, SD.The governor thanked the CAP members for their service and tooktime to join the group for a brief photo.

This Squadron has a long tradition of community servicefromair shows to the annual Sidewalk Arts Festival to the Parade ofLights. People in Sioux Falls know that, where theres an event,theres CAP! said Squadron Commander, Lt Col Rick Larson.

Were finding more and more that, through our involvement and

participation, community leaders look to us to provide the structurefor a variety of events, said SFCS Community Manager, 2nd Lt LoriAnderson. Anderson works on the Squadrons Public Affairs staff,headed by Lt Shawn Anderson, to make sure CAP is involved andout front at every occasion.

Cass County Promotes DDR atKids Aviation Day in KansasCity

Wheeler Downtown Airport in KansasCity, Missouri, buzzed with kids and air-craft on August 11, for Kids Aviation Day,sponsored by the EAA, Experimental Avi-ation Association.

Pilots from across the Midwest flewinto the city-surrounded airport to providefree airplane rides to kids ages 7 to 18.Civil Air Patrol cadets and senior mem-bers from the Cass County CompositeSquadron and Platte County CompositeSquadrons provided flight line protectionfor the event.

A variety of aeronautical organizations

added to the day by hosting booths en-couraging kids to look to the skies for en-tertainment and education. Cass Countyfurnished a DDR (Drug Demand Reduc-tion) booth.

Using Fatal Vision Goggles as a dis-couragement for drinking and driving,families could don the goggles and at-tempt to walk a taped line. Adults react-ed in amazement at how realistic thegoggles made them feel when trying towalk a straight line.

Cass County members participating

were:C/A1C Kyle Cass, C/Amn Nicholas

Gietzen, C/Amn Jonathan Fairchild,C/CMSgt Alex Mannion, C/SSgt KarraMiller, C/Lt Kenna Eggenberger, C/Lt Lu-cas Eggenberger, Lt Shaun Grace, CaptTony Belto and Capt Tammi Miller.

C/Lt Kenna Eggenberger


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Sioux Falls Squadron FliesDuring Music Festival

The volunteer professionals of SiouxFalls Composite Squadron of the U.S.Civil Air Patrols South Dakota Wing, as-sisted local authorities during the 10thannual LifeLight Christian Music Festi-val. The missions were requested byMinnehaha County Sheriff Mike Mil-stead. Squadron Commander Lieu-tenant Colonel Rick Larson was contact-ed on Monday, Aug. 27 with a requestfor aerial reconnaissance and photosupport.

South Dakota CAP Wing Comman-der Colonel Mike Beason and Opera-

tions Officer Lt Col Chuck Trumble werecontacted for approval and coordinationwith CAPs National Operations Centerat Maxwell AFB, AL. Lt John Seten, wingemergency services officer ,coordinatedflight teams and prepared for the mis-sions.

Three flights were launched from theSioux Falls Squadron HQ at Joe FossField, using the SDCAPs new Cessna182 glass cockpit technologically ad-vanced aircraft. Each mission consistedof traffic over-watch and photographic

documentation of the event, which hasgrown to attract some 250,000 atten-dees during a three day run. Two CAPaircrew and a Minnehaha CountyDeputy comprised the team for the twohour flights.

Those participating as aircrew for themissions included Lt Col Rick Larson,Capt Lauren Greenhoff, Lt John Seten,Lt Walt Marty, and Lt John Daniels. LtLori Anderson served as mission baseassistant. Minnehaha County SheriffsOffice crew included Capt James Hoek-

man, Deputy Derek Kuchenreuther andSergeant Pete Jaros.This is a perfect example of the part-

nership between local authorities andCAP, coming together to serve publicsafety, said Lt Col Larson. We arequite pleased with how the whole mis-sion came togethereveryone workedas a team to get the job done!

Change of Command for theNorth Hennepin Squadron

After four-and-a-half years as squadron commander, Lt ColRichard Johnson relinquishes command to Lt Col Tom Hollenhorst

during a ceremony held on September 4th at the North HennepinSquadron hangar. During the ceremony, Johnson also received theCommanders Commendation Award from Lt Col Tom Kettell, MNWGVice Commander.

Johnson first took office in June, 2003 as squadron commander of

the North Hennepin Squadron. He has also served as the squadron'sfirst supply officer, asst. operations officer, operations officer, anddept. cmdr. seniors. Lt Col Johnson first joined CAP in 1967.

As Lt Col Johnson steps down Lt Col Hollenhorst takes over theflight controls. Lt Col Hollenhorst has an extensive military back-ground outside of CAP:

27-year member of the U.S. Army Reserve with the currentrank of Colonel

Graduate of the Army War College and awarded a mastersdegree in Strategic Studies

Lt Col Hollenhorst served in Desert Storm and was award-ed the Bronze Star

He is a career prosecutor for the U.S. Army Reserve Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Minnesota He has been with the Justice Department for 22 years

Lt Col Hollenhorst is a current Mission Pilot with the North Hen-nepin Squadron. His Vision for the Squadron is to continue to main-tain a strong squadron with particular emphasis on (1) cadet pro-grams; (2) mission ready pilots and crews; and (3) strong communityoutreach.

north central region - sep 2007

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