Success Despite Adversity: Former Cadet Overcame Racism to Become Physician |
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Civil Air Patrol recognizes Black History Month by honoring the late Dr. Fabius "Jack" Fullwood Russell, an Ohio Wing cadet in the late 1940s who persevered through obstacles to achieve success.
Even though CAP was open to everyone regardless of race, the 19-year-old Youngstown Squadron member was denied admission to the 1949 Michigan Wing summer encampment because he was an African American. He wrote President Harry S. Truman, who had desegregated the U.S. military.
The cadet received a reply from the White House assuring him that "the President has a deep personal interest in seeing to it that persons like yourself are not denied an opportunity to join in activities that are shared by other citizens."
After a U.S. Air Force career that included intelligence gathering, Russell became the nation's first African American osteopathic radiologist and practiced both radiology and general practice medicine in Michigan.
Throughout his life, Russell lived by the CAP core values he learned as a teenager. His was truly a life of service.
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After Reaching 2,000-Unit Goal, Ariz. Wing, CAP Announces Expansion of Blood Donation Effort |
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On Feb 4, David Fynn of Mesa, Arizona, donated the 2,000th unit of blood collected through the Arizona Wing’s COVID-19 blood donation mission that began in April.
That meant Operation Pulse Lift, which opened the wing's squadron facilities as emergency American Red Cross blood donation centers in response to the COVID-19 panemic, was 10 days early reaching its goal of collecting 2,000 units by Valentine’s Day.
Donations reported by CAP members across the country brought the 10-month-long mission total to 2,021 units by week’s end.
Meanwhile, John Desmarais, CAP’s operations director, has announced a plan to expand the mission nationwide after the Red Cross provided a list of 26 cities and metropolitan areas across the U.S. where the need for CAP assistance in collecting blood is greatest.
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Calif., Colo., N.C. Teams Make CyberPatriot Finals |
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Two familiar names from past championship rounds and a first-time finalist will represent Civil Air Patrol next month in the finals of the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot XIII National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.
The CyberPatriot team from the California Wing’s Fullerton Composite Squadron 56 is returning to the finals, having been there in 2018 and 2019, while the team from Colorado Wing’s Air Academy Cadet Squadron is returning to the national spotlight after participating in the CyberPatriot III finals 10 years ago.
The team from Union County Composite Squadron in Matthews, North Carolina, rounds out the CAP field, having secured the wildcard slot in the All Service Division of the competition.
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Once Again, CAP Contributes to Super Bowl Safety |
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For 20 years now, CAP has helped the U.S. Air Force ensure the safety and security of airspace around the Super Bowl.
Aircrews from the Florida Wing had that honor this year, as participants in North American Aerospace Defense Command air defense exercises designed to protect Super Bowl LV’s airspace over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay.
CAP's involvement in the exercises, known as Falcon Virgo, often results in national publicity for the organization. That was the case again before the game on Feb. 7. These three media links serve as good examples:
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P.R. Wing Trains 11 New Flight Marshallers |
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Training and evaluation conducted Jan. 23 by Puerto Rico Wing Group 3 ensured that the wing can call on 11 new flight marshallers when needed.
Members from five squadrons and Group 3 headquarters –including Capt. William Báez of the Maj. William Biaggi Cadet Squadron, seen in action here – participated in the session at Mercedita International Airport in Ponce.
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N.J. Cadet Earns Private Pilot Certificate |
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Cadet 2nd Lt. Preston Geerinck of the New Jersey Wing's Ocean Composite Squadron is the 68th CAP cadet to earn his private pilot certificate through the Cadet Wings program.
Geerinck is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he is majoring in aeronautical science.
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Commander Offers Tips for Effective Leadership
National Headquarters' Marketing & Strategic Communications team is reprising National Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Smith’s Tips for Effective Leadership Video Series from 2019.
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'NHJ' Seeks Articles for 80th Anniversary Issue
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The Civil Air Patrol National Historical Journal editorial staff is seeking authors for its issue marking the organization's 80th anniversary, set for publication in July for the summer and fall.
Do you have a story to share that relates to CAP in the last 80 years? If not, the journal's staff has lots of topics to be researched. The staff wants to hear your topic requests and article ideas as they relate to CAP’s eight decades.
Having a scholarly article published in the NHJ is one of the suggested performance requirements for the CAP Historian Senior and Master ratings outlined in CAPP 40-110’s Historian specialty track. The NHJ welcomes feedback, questions, ideas and article submissions emailed to mhenderson@cap.gov. |
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Is It Time to Renew Your CAP Membership? |
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National Headquarters' Member Services would like to remind you that when it's time to renew your membership, you'll see a renewal link in red at the top of your eServices homepage.
For more information on how to renew, click on this link.
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For “This Week in CAP History” we are taking a look back at the Illinois Wing’s emergency response efforts to a flood in the Villa Grove community in 1959.
“About 70 men including police, civil defense, Civil Air Patrol and firemen, worked throughout Monday night without sleep to evacuate families from flooded homes.” - Herald Review (Feb. 11, 1959)
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This Week's Top Headlines
“Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Fights Coronavirus Spread Through the Air”
“5 Black Service Members Shaping Contemporary Military History”
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CAP Marketing & Strategic Communications
877-227-9142
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