new hampshire wing - dec 2008

8/2/2019 New Hampshire Wing - Dec 2008

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ABENAKI NEWSVolume 11, Issue 4 “ Semper Vigilans!” WINTER 2008

WING CALENDARLtC Lesley M. Lara

CAP Executive Administrator

COMMANDERS CORNER

Col Donald C. Davidson, Commander

This has been a relatively quiet quarter for your

Wing. In October, we had our bi-annual Emergency

Services “test” by the USAF. The SAR/EVAL was

operated out of PSM and we thank Major Goupil and his

Seacoast team for all of their support. The EVAL

showed us a few areas that we need to improve, but

overall our ES cadre did a great job.

The NER Region is again planning to have aRegion SAR/COMP as we had in 2007. It is being

timed for late spring and will again be held at Westover

AFB. The NH Wing came in second overall last time

but we will have its sights set on first place this year.

With all of the “Top Guns” we have, I am confident that

we will prevail!

Several Staff changes at the Wing have occurred

since my last message. Major Paul Mondoux has taken

over at Emergency Services, Major Cliff Vendt has been

named our new Chaplin, Major Robert Shaw is the new

DCP and Major Luane Mondoux is our new PersonnelOfficer and CISM Director. LTC Carroll Bewley will

be taking over Wing Safety in January. Acting ES

Ground Ops. director, Major Shaw, has also created

several GT Assistants around the State to better enhance

response times in the event of Ground Team callouts.

In December, the Wing was again very involved

with the “Wreaths across America” program at the State

veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. LTC Santos Lara did

an outstanding job filling in for me as the M.C. at the

formal ceremonies. This program has been starting to

get much more national media recognition around the

country and is becoming one of CAP’s most visible

events.

The National Winter Boards will be held in

Washington, DC on February 26, 27 and 28. On the

26th, all Wing Commanders visit with their

Congressional members to update them on the progress

of CAP both in the State and nationally.

Cont. pg. 7

JANUARY

17 Table Top SAREX 1000

21 Commander’s Call HQ 1900

24-25 Unit Commander’s Course

HQ

30-31 Hidden Valley Bivouac

FEBRUARY

1 Hidden Valley

07-08 SLS

18 Commander’s Call

28 SAREX — Concord

MARCH

07 NCOA Cadet staff selection bd.

14-15 TLC Training cadet leaders


20-22 Hidden Valley Bivouac

28 SAREX — Lebanon

APRIL

13 Easter


18-19 SMC Course Mgmt.

24-26 Hidden Valley cabins

25-26 SMC alt. date25 SAREX--Keene

Published by

New Hampshire Wing Civil Air Patrol

Wing Commander

Colonel Don Davidson, Sr. CAP

Public Affairs Officer /Editor

Major Penny H. Hardy, CAP

[email protected] “SEMPERVIGILANS”



ABENAKI NEWS

MIT

AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS

MITCHELL AWARD

Christopher Clarkson NashuaAlicia Hagman Seacoast

Tristian Hills Nashua

Manuel Mather Lebanon

Robert Piazza Seacoast

Parker Sorenson Lebanon

Gregory Williams Lebanon

CONCORD

Lauren Joyce C/Col

Brittany Hanes C/1Lt

Connor Morroney C/2LtNick Schaper C/CMSgt

Joe Hogan C/CMSgt

Estelle Andersen C/SMSgt

Ben Loll C/MSgt

Fredrick Dowd C/SSgt

Arthur Gould C/SSgt

Erika Schaper C/SrA

Devin Concannon C/A1C

Heather Eastman C/Amn

HAWKMax Haas C/1Lt

Leanne Doucet C/CMSgt

Michael Wallace C/CMSgt

Mark Chapman C/ TSgt

Douglas Driscoll C/ TSgt

Daniel Powell C/ A1C

Michael McLaughlin C/Amn

LEBANON

Noah Johnson C/MSgt

Harrison Linowski C/TSgt

Daniel Ferrao C/TSgt

Marcus Lewis C/SrA

James Bassette C/A1C

Christian Brechbuhl C/A1C

Eric Peterson C/A1C

Atticus Rollins C/Amn

MONADNOCK

Ivan Somero C/CMSgtJustin Heavner C/SrA

Travis Somero C/SrA

Sam Moran C/A1C

Cotton Seppala C/Amn

SEACOAST

Adam Madore C/SMSgt

Rachel Hockhousen C/SSgt

Brandon Patterson C/SSgt

Jon-Luc Comtois C/SrA

Brian Colford C/A1CTravis Comtois C/A1C

Thomas Cifrino C/Amn

Cristian Davila C/Amn

Leroy Hutton C/Amn

Matthew Piazza C/Amn

SENIOR MEMBERS

Keith Giles LTC

Robert Karsten Major

Ken Pepperisa MajorRuy Costa Capt

Wayne Doucet Capt

Michael Balog 1/Lt

Wayne Maxwell 1/Lt

Kevin Staveley 1/Lt

Lisa Somero 2Lt

David Ohlson TFO

SOLO WINGS

Christopher Clarkson Nashua



ABENAKI NEWS

SQUADRON NEWSSubmitted by Individual Units

CONCORD SQUADRONCadet Commander Ariel Feindel has turned CC duties over to C/1Lt Brittany Hanes. Three cadets

and one senior enjoyed a rainy day at the NASCAR races at NHNS. A ground of cadets went to

Strategy Zone to play laser tag. A presentation was given on opportunities for joining the ROTC

program at Norwich University. Members attended the dedication of the AF Memorial at the NHSVC

in Boscawen on Veteran’s Day. Squadron members marched in the annual Holiday Magic parade in

Concord. December meeting and party was held at the IBEW Hall.

GREATER NASHUA SQUADRON

Squadron members marched in the Nashua Veteran’s Day parade with six cadets and Col

Davidson. Alex Hosage was chosen Sq. Cadet of the Year and received a find ribbon. The squadron

was asked to assist the Greater Nashua Chapter of the American Red Cross in setting up a shelter at the

Mascenic Regional High School in New Ipswich on December 20th. Members Costa, Melanson,Staveley, Dauphinais and Johnson responded. They arrived at the shelter at 1730 and assisted with

setting up sleeping quarters, moving supplies and signing in volunteers and citizens needing shelter.

HAWK SQUADRON

Two cadets attended the NER conference. December 4th

was the annual Christmas party. C/TSgt

Driscoll was awarded Squadron Cadet of the Year. C/1Lt Haas received cadet officer and Honor Guard

cadet of the Year. Cadet TSgt Driscoll received ES Cadet of the Year award. C/CMSgt Doucet

received NCO of the Year award. The honor guard participated in a dining out event for the NH

National Guard. A number of cadets and two seniors laid wreaths at the Bayside Cemetery in Laconia

to assist the local Lions Club with their Wreaths Across America project.

HIGHLANDERS SQUADRON

Squadron members participated in the SAR/EVAL and acted as trusted agent. Sixteen membersattended the Veteran’s Day memorial service and Rochester Christmas parade. The Dec SAREX was a

good double team effort that efficiently found its target without air support. Capt Gilbert has assumed

Commandant of Cadets position from Capt. vanDintel whose last son will attend college next year.

LEBANON SQUADRON

Squadron members and Color Guard cadets Sorenson, Johnson, Rollens, Kondi and LaFountaine

participated in the Lebanon Veteran’s Day parade. The local VFW commended the color guard as did

Mayor Hill and they were asked to participate again next year. Two seniors and one cadet participated

in the SAR/EVAL.

MANCHESTER SQUADRON

Held a joint holiday party with the Naval Sea Cadets from the Naval Reserve Center group. The

Honor Guard presented the colors at the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Boscawen on Dec. 13.

A bivouac was held at Pawtuckaway for the EVAL. Several members were to be interviewed on WGIR

radio on Nov 3.

MONADNOCK SQUADRON

C/Capt Gwen Hummel will assume duties as squadron Cadet Commander in January. Squadron

provided a color guard for Veteran’s Day parade in Swansea.

SEACOAST SQUADRON

Members of Seacoast Squadron sponsored a rocket day at the NHNG Training Site in Ctr.

Strafford in October for dependents of ANG personnel. They helped the attendees make foam rockets

then after lunch held a rocket competition.



ABENAKI NEWS

December saw a number of squadron members assisting the ANG with their annual Winter Carnival.Pilot meetings continue to be held on the first Thursday of each month with the next one being on Jan

8th

due to the holiday. The squadron sponsored wreaths for Wreaths Across America as a squadron

fund raiser. The wreaths went to Laconia as we did not place wreaths at the NHSVC this year. A cadet

Christmas party was held on Dec 18th

and a senior party at the Olive Garden was held on Dec. 30th

. A

special Mitchell Award presentation was held at 157th Refueling Wing ANG Commander Robert

Martell’s office for Robert Piazza who left to attend college before his award could be presented.

Piazza’s whole family, all in uniform, attended the ceremony as did Maj. Goupil, Maj. Hall and former

cadet commander Tim Brennan. Cadets took the Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge in November

and five cadets earned the national level. The squadron “adopted” the family of a deployed Air Nat’l

Guard member and provided the fixins for Christmas dinner, several gift cards for Market Basket, gifts

for the two children, and a wreath for the door. Seven members have earned their ground team badges.

Three members received red service ribbons for years of service.

WINTER SURVIVAL WEEKEND

Maj. Brian Barrington

Sixteen cadets and leaders used the winter camp at Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp in Gilford for a

winter ground team training exercise. They spent the weekend in the cabin on a trail on the reservation

past the chapel. You can drive to the cabin which was convenient for unloading gear. The cabin has

seventeen beds and a wood stove with a huge supply of dry split logs. The beds were much more

comfortable than sleeping on the ground. The building has plexiglass windows and many gaps but the

wood stove put out plenty of heat. The weekend was mild so a fire was only had by the water. The

cadets played no boundary Capture the Flag until midnight and had a great time. Lt. Buck won the

snoring award.

The next day everybody cooked over the open fire with 48 hour gear. The cadets brought their own

food to learn how to fit up. The cadets did some lost person search in the form of mock downed airman

survival and evade mode. The cadets enjoy search, rescue then kill. Imagination is still alive in

teenagers if you just let them be. This all teaches them how to be in the woods at night with no lights

and feel at ease. A flag football game was held at a field northwest of the cabin. Lt Rebecca Behr ran

the the “wrong Direction” and then doubled back to score a touchdown with a 150 yard run! We

finished with a line search with plenty of clues in fairly rough woods and streams. We cannot do this



ABENAKI NEWS

enough as they missed seeing 90% of the clues without being told to double back. We found Sgt

Meredith Leno before she froze in a steadily increasing rain shower and carried her out with a

fireman’s carry. All agreed it was a nice site and weekend.

Hidden Valley Weekend Bivouac

UNIT COMMANDER’S COURSE

Capt Gilbert has announced the new dates for the UCC are Jan 24-25. If you plan to attend

please get your Form 17 to him as soon as possible so that the required number of coursematerials can be ordered. For more information contact him at: [email protected] .Squadron commanders who took this course some time ago may want to repeat it as there isa lot of new material.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICAMaj. Penny Hardy

The NH Wing was again the lead agency for the 2008 Wreaths Across America program.This year we had a convoy stop on Dec 8th for the wreaths and escorts on the way to

Arlington National Cemetery. The stop, attended by Col. Sambold, Col Hardy and Maj. Hardywas at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton. There were many veteran’s groups inattendance as well as the Marine ROTC Color Guard and other ROTC cadets fromWinnacunnet. Mr. Morell Worcester founder of the wreaths program spoke a few words tothe assembled group concerning his reasons for starting this now national program.On December 13

th the annual WAA ceremony was held at the NH State Veteran’s Cemetery

in Boscawen. Due to the previous days storms Col Davidson was called on by FEMA, butLTC Santos Lara did a fine job on short notice as the emcee. LTC Mead Herrick alsoassisted me with lining up the persons to lay the wreaths as Col Hardy was called to fly apower line patrol in support of the power companies. Ceremonial wreaths were laid for eachbranch of the service as well as Merchant Marines and POW/MIAs. These wreaths were



ABENAKI NEWS

placed by active or reserve members of our armed forces except for the Merchant Marinesand POW/MIA one. Manchester Honor Guard cadets C/SMSgt Ricky Bennett(commander),C/2Lt Timothy Lahan and C/MSgt Elizabeth Clough presented the colors in fine style.In addition to these two ceremonies, Hawk Sq. assisted the Laconia Lion’s Club with theplacement of several hundred wreaths at the Bayside Cemetery in Laconia. Some of thesewreaths were sponsored by Seacoast Sq. members.

HAWK CADETS AT BAYSIDE CEMETERY

VERNA RECEIVES DIST. SERVICE MEDAL

Maj. Joseph “Mickey” Verna a member of Seacoast Composite Squadron which was thePortsmouth (Blackcat) Squadron during its early years was presented with the DistinguishedService Medal and promotion to Colonel at his home recently. Verna joined CAP in the earlyyears of WWII and returned to put in over 50 years of service with CAP. He retired in 2003.As a member of the Seacoast Sq. he was a pilot and squadron finance officer for manyyears. He was instrumental in the lemonade fundraiser the squadron had at Market Sq. Dayfor a number of years. Cols Margie Sambold and Dale Hardy and Maj. Penny Hardy visitedVerna at his home in November to present him with his awards, promotion and lifemembership. He was expected to attend the wing conference but due to the weather wasunable to make it.

Col. Dale Hardy, Col Verna, Col Margie Sambold



ABENAKI NEWS

COMMANDER’S CORNER CONT. FROM PG. 1

. Any NH member who desires to accompany me on the visits to our delegation, are welcome. Last

year, Lt. Cheryl Piazza from Seacoast went to the N.B.’s and had a very educational experience. If you

plan to go, please contact me to coordinate with the activities. CAP has a special rate at the Marriott

Crystal City for those dates.

And finally on a lighter note, your Wing CV, LTC Bill Moran is happily back doing what he

enjoys most in CAP, flying and instructing. You may not be aware but Bill had a flight medical

setback a few months ago but was returned to flight status in December. Since then, we have been

issuing daily NOTAMS, warning all Pilots that he is back in the air.

Thank you all for your service to your State and Nation. I look forward to a great 2009 for the

NH Wing and wish you and your families a great year, also.

C/2Lt Robert Piazza Receives Mitchell AwardFrom Col. Robert Martell, NHANG 157

thAir Ref Wing CC

CPO Charles Piazza, USN, C/Amn Matthew Piazza, C/2Lt Robert PiazzaC/1Lt Michael Piazza, 1Lt Cheryl Piazza

new hampshire wing - dec 2008

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