Holiday Party Celebrating 2013

By 2Lt Hollerbach and Maj Luneau, photos courtesy of Lt Col Tinnirello 

On December 21, Squadron 188 celebrated a year of significant achievements and got into the holiday spirit over dinner at Scott’s Seafood restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square.

Capt Rivas, Patricia Farrar-Rivas,
Maj Luneau, Sylvia Luneau

Maj Luneau highlighted the year’s accomplishments, including:

January

• We fought for a new Cessna G1000 to be based at Oakland and Concord and won!
• We finagled a hangar and spent 5 weeks painting the floor, walls, finding and moving in furniture, hooking up an Internet connection and adding a radio. 
• We hosted a UDF Course.

1Lt Hipp, Capt Coreas,
Carmelita Miller

February

• We hosted a G1000 Ground School. 

March

• With Squadron 18, we hosted the Mission Scanner School. 
• Squadron members attended the Palo Alto SAREX. 
• Because of our hangar, CAWG loaned us another new plane for the hangar.
• We put around 200 hours on 445CP in less than a year.
• We attended the Tsunami Warning Exercise. 

1Lt Chavez, Sandra Lindman,
Alicia Tinnirello

April

• Squadron members and 445CP attended the Half Moon Bay Airshow. 
• Squadron members attended the USCG Aux Aviation Safety Workshop. 

May

• Squadron members and 445CP attended the Hayward Open House. 
• Squadron members attended and flew in the CAWG EVAL where we received an “Exceptional” grade.
• We did a presentation to the 99'ers and showed them 445CP. 



1Lt Rugroden

• Squadron members connected the hangar and HQ to each other with two new wireless antennas.

June

• Squadron members and 445CP attended the San Carlos Airport Open House.
• Squadron members attended the Mountain Flying Course in CCR as Students and Staff.
• We had a number of counter drug flights in support of various counties.

July

Squadron 188 Members and
Guests at Dinner

• We hosted the Oakland SAREX.
• We hosted the Mission Aircrew School Ground School in Oakland.
• Squadron members took part in a short-notice tissue transport mission that saved two lives.
• Squadron members attended the Fourth of July flag presentation at Oakland A's.
• Squadron members attended the National Emergency Services Academy.

August

Tara Stevulak, 2Lt Stevulak

• Squadron members attended the CAWG Mission Aircrew School as students and staff.
• Squadron members and the aircraft attended the Watsonville Fly-in and Airshow.
• We hosted a G1000 for Mission Observers course in Livermore.
• We won Top Senior Squadron in GP2 and Juan won Lifetime Achievement Award for GP2.

September

Squadron 188 Members and
Guests at Dinner

• 1Lt Hipp continued to paint the squadron, thank you!
• Squadron members attended the Livermore Open House.
• Squadron members flew in two F-16 Air Interception missions.
• Squadron members attended the CAWG Conference in SMX.

October

• Squadron members attended the Auburn Sarex.
• 100% of our members achieved the Yeager award. 

Squadron 188 Members and
Guests at Dinner

December

• Squadron members participated in a National Communication exercise. 
• 445CP received its Find sticker. 
• We sold almost 200 Wreaths in support of Wreaths Across America and participated in the WAA ceremony at Golden Gate National Cemetery. 

2Lt Kelly, 1Lt Rugroden, Joan Allan, 1Lt
Michelogiannakis, Capt Eichelberger

Throughout the year, we also added a number of new members, including:

• Capt Chris Johnson
• Capt Kathy Johnson
• Capt Steven DeFord
• 1Lt George Michelogiannakis
• 2Lt Robert Kraus
• 2Lt Eric Choate
• 2Lt Karin Hollerbach
• SM Dan Lunsford

Maj Luneau, Sylvia Luneau, Carolers

The dinner was a wonderful opportunity to get to know something about fellow squadron members’ lives outside of CAP and to meet a number of their spouses and significant others, without whose support our squadron’s activities would hardly be possible.

During the dinner, we enjoyed beautiful holiday songs sung by a quartet of a cappella carolers, who even included a number of our requests.

Wreaths Across America - Coast to Coast

By Maj Misra and 2Lt Hollerbach

This year, our Squadron participated in the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony coast to coast – well, at least in one East Coast ceremony in Florida and in our “home” ceremony in California!

I [Maj Misra] was able to attend and participate in the Wreaths Across America ceremony with/in collaboration with CAP Squadron 182 of Group 3 based at Albert Whittled Airport in St. Petersburg, Florida.  The ceremony was held at Veterans Memorial Park and Museum in Tampa, Florida.  There is no cemetery there; however the memorial as erected has a tribute to each branch of service.

Maj Misra and Art Stoutenberg, CAP

The event was hosted and directed by CAP Squadron 182 and was initiated with a presentation of the colors and the pledge of allegiance to our nations flag.

Then there was a salute to each branch of service followed by a descriptive narrative about the history and origins of WAA.  Unfortunately the wreaths themselves were not delivered in time by FedEx to be displayed as intended.  Nevertheless there were two wreaths that the organizers were able to use for the ceremony.

 The ceremony was approximately 15-20 minutes in length and attended by approximately 10-12 people from the local community.  This venue has a dedicated memorial to the Korean War and there was a veteran of the conflict from the Korean peninsula who was in attendance named Mr. Horace M. Clark.  He is a disabled veteran and a veteran of the unit named the “92nd AFA Red Devils” who were of the first American military presence to engage in battle during the Korean War.

Maj Misra and Mr Clark

I was immediately drawn to him on account of him uttering some unique Masonic phraseology during salute to the flag, which prompted me to approach him.  He and I belong to the oldest fraternity known today called the Freemasons and he also completed Scottish Rite as I did.  I informed him how much I appreciate his service not only to us broadly as a nation but that he also protected my family in Korea then, as my in-laws were just children when this horrible war happened.  If not for the bravery and distinction with which men like he and thousands others served, my own personal family would likely be very different today.  I am almost brought to tears when I give thought to this fact, which is why I support Wreaths Across America and all efforts that emphasize the depth that we owe these heroes who were either killed in action or gravely injured protecting our nation and its future generations – people they either never met or are unlikely to ever meet.

Honoring of Each Branch of Service

Closer to home, I [2Lt Hollerbach] and 1Lt Bitz attended the ceremony at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California, along with members of Cadet Squadron 18. This was my first time attending this event, and I found it incredibly moving.  The cadets did an exceptional job in their presentation of the colors.

Presentation of Colors by the Hillsborough County
Fire Department Honor Guard

Both ceremonies shared a lot in common with each other - and with other WAA ceremonies across the country:  At exactly noon Eastern Time, we observed one minute of silence in memory of the fallen, prisoners of war, those missing in action, and those who have served and are still serving.  Opening remarks by the Master of Ceremonies (Art Stoutenberg of CAP in Veterans Memorial Park and Museum in Florida and Marston Watson at Golden Gate National Cemetery in California. Presentation of the colors by the Hillsborough County Fire Department Honor Guard (Florida) and the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron 18 (California).  All branches of the military were honored, as were POWs and MIA. Prior to the laying of the wreaths, we had a rifle salute, closing remarks, and taps.

The Civil Air Patrol salutes the men and women of the armed forces. Our thanks to all who support this great event honoring our veterans and those who donated wreaths for the ceremony.

December 2013, All Hands Meeting

By Lt. Col. Juan Tinnirello and 2n Lt. Karin Hollerbach, CAP Sq. 188 PAOs

The meeting started with the allegiance to the flag lead by Lt. Col. Tinnirello.  Commander Major Noel Luneau reflected on the many accomplishments of the squadron during 2013. He looks forward to the many activities already planned for 2014 and expects it to be an even better year.  He thanked all the members for their accomplishment.
Following Capt. Luis Rivas talked about the upcoming squadron holiday dinner at Scotts Seafood restaurant in Oakland and asked whether anyone else was attending.

The promotions and awards followed as listed below:

2Lt Hollerbach, Maj Luneau, 2Lt Choate

Promotions:

SM Karin Hollerbach promoted to 2nd Lt
SM Eric Choate promoted to 2nd Lt











Red Service Award:
Qualification: Awarded at the end of 2 years to members in good standing.

Maj Luneau, 2Lt Adams

2nd Lt Robert Adams














Find:
The Rescue Find Ribbon is awarded to any CAP member by his or her wing commander for making a Find (distress or nondistress) on a search and rescue mission. A distress Find involves a downed aircraft or persons in distress.

Capt. Steven DeFord
2nd Lt. Gabriel Fletcher-Hernandez

Maj Luneau, 1Lt Hipp

Achievement Award:
1st Lt. Jim Hipp
He was presented with an Achievement Award for his outstanding performance in continuing with the painting of the interior of the building, all by himself.




Other business: 
2nd Lt. Gabriel Fletcher-Hernandez commented on the ELT mission he participated in and that ended with a Find.

1Lt Hayes

1st Lt. Jordan Hayes talked about the upcoming communication exercise this weekend, Dec. 6-8.  Anyone interested, please contact him.








The Safety Program conducted by Maj. Frank Riebli followed with a very timely presentation about Safety around Food.

Maj Riebli

The very informative and interesting Power Point presentation depicted safety rules to follow while preparing food as well as during the time food is left at the table for people to eat later.  Maj. Riebli also discussed how to save and store leftovers as well as how long they can be kept.  We are sorry for those of you that did not attend the meeting, because you missed a very descriptive sequence of events that can lead to food poisoning and it is good to know what to do to avoid it.





After completion of the program, Maj. Luneau invited all members to go to the hangar where the “Find” ribbon was placed on N445CP.

Maj Luneau, N445CP

Have a very Happy Holidays and we will see you in the New Year!