A well kept secret in the sky

Although not intentionally kept a secret, citizens around the nation and throughout multiple generations have served in a valuable, yet silent, role for the nation while the majority of Americans are unaware it exist. It is the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and available on a moment’s notice to respond to downed aircraft or assist during natural disasters.
Created on December 1, 1941, just days before the bombing at Pearl Harbor which catapulted the U.S. into World War II, the Civil Air Patrol was put into action immediately.
“We’ve been serving the country ever since,” LTC Gary Pickens, SE Regional Earthquake Officer for the Civil Air Patrol, said.
Credited with sinking two enemy submarines during the war, the Civil Air Patrol logged more than 500,000 flying hours and saved hundreds of crash victims in WWII and countless lives and recoveries throughout their years of operation. For many years, CAP has brought its training exercises to the William L. Whitehurst Field Airport in Bolivar. This past weekend, they returned.
“We go all out for the Civil Air Patrol because we want them to have every exercise they can. It helps our fuel sales but it also helps everybody in the community,” Shelby Isham, Airport Manager, said.
Cadets from 12 years old to adulthood volunteer and serve in the Civil Air Patrol for a variety of reasons, but primarily it always comes back to their desire to serve the country and citizens.

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