The Newsletter of Minnesota Wing, Civil Air Patrol, US Air Force Auxiliary
October & November 2003
Cadets Take Next Steps in Leader
Development at Camp Ripley
Capt Stacy Wegner advises cadets as they work on
projects at the 2003 Basic Cadet Officer Course.
In October Cadet Programs conducted the annual Cadet
NCO School and Basic Cadet Officer Courses at Camp
Ripley. 92 members came together for the 5th
Anniversary of the Cadet NCO School and the 4th
BCOC.
The Cadet NCO School (NCOS) is the second step in
the Integrated Leadership Program (ILP). The School’s
mission is to give students the academic background for
being an effective NCO along with the all-important
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. It also serves as an
opportunity to standardize drill and ceremonies in the
wing to the USAF Standard. 43 cadets from Minnesota
and Iowa wings completed the course.
Students had the chance to learn about leading and
managing others, speaking in front of groups, and drilled
the flight under the direction of the NCOS staff.
The Basic Cadet Officer Course (BCOC) introduced
cadet officers to their new role in the command structure
and provide them the management skills to be
successful at the flight and squadron level. Topics
covered include Project Management, Evaluating
Subordinate Cadets, and Principled Leadership.
Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003
An NCOS Student drills his flight at the 2003 Cadet NCO
School.
As part of the course, the 20 participants work together
to develop projects that would be of value to the wing.
The result was several informational handouts for Cadet
Commanders in the wing on subjects like Mentoring,
Public Affairs, Recruitment and several others.
"In the time I've been in CAP I've seen the level of
professionalism and talent of cadets in this wing
increase since the creation of NCOS and BCOC. I
believe these schools are the single greatest resource
for the development of our cadets that can be found in
this wing." said Capt Andrew Dew, the 2003
NCOS/BCOC Commander.
Cadets recognized for their excellence at the NCOS and
BCOC courses are featured on page 4.
In this Issue of WingTips:
Ø Changes of Command
Ø Duluth Squadron answers the Call
Ø Medal of Honor Recipient Honored by
CAP
Ø Commanders Come Together at
Workshop
Ø First in a Series by LTC Nick Modders
Ø Around the Wing and More!
Page 1
 From The CC
Col Dale Hoium
cc@mnwg.cap.gov

Learning and rejuvenation

were key elements of our
Commanders Workshop.
Twelve new squadron
commanders assembled on
Friday to begin the new
commanders’ portion of the workshop with the rest of the
commanders starting at 0800 on Saturday. Commanders
from all parts of the wing had the opportunity to network
with each other and build friendships.

Our Aircraft Mission Maintenance Facility and Training

Center are progressing. The plans have been reviewed
by the city staff and have been approved. Now we go to
the Planning Commission for a Public Hearing and
before the City Council on 10 November for final
approval. Having this facility will greatly enhance our
mission readiness and ability to respond to the missions
we are given.
If you haven't already I would like to again urge your unit
to become a part of the State Adopt an Airport Program.
Information was sent out a number of months ago to our
units. Talk to your airport manager about the program.
MN Wing now has a Legislative Squadron that is open to
all State Representatives and State Senators. Talk to
your state legislators about joining this unit. For further
information contact Lt. Col. David Skaar.
Capt Chet Wilberg accepts command of Hutchinson Squadron
from Group 2 Commander Lt Col Jim Schlick.
Changes of Command
Several squadrons have recently had changes of
command. These are:
Valley Cadet Squadron: Major Charlotte Miller turned
command over to 1st LT Ernie Moen.
Northland Composite Squadron: 1st Lt Robert Billings
turned command over to 1st Lt Dan Wilcox.
St Cloud Senior Squadron: Major Rich Josephson
passed command to 1st Lt Mike Heneghan.

Safety was in the forefront during our training missions. Hutchinson Composite Squadron: Capt Darlene
The safety of our personnel and equipment can not be Benjamin turned command over to Capt Chet Wilberg.
over emphasized. Your service to safety is your first
duty. Focus your attention on prevention and training.
Operational Risk Management is a key element and tool,
Professional Development Awards
Name Award Unit
develop a culture of safety. Let us all strive to keep our Richard Sudmeier COP WORTHINGTON
members safe and assets unscathed. David Benjamin COP HUTCHINSON
Darlene Benjamin COP HUTCHINSON
Cadet Milestone Awards Todd Walters COP HUTCHINSON
Name Award Unit Gary Lemasters COP DULUTH
Jennifer Willhite MITCHELL 130TH Jim O'Donnell COP VIKING
Neil Mehrotra SPAATZ NO. HENNEPIN Terry Dull COP VIKING
John Sellen WRIGHT BROTHERS VALLEY Janelle Gates COP NO.HENNEPIN
Kelly Collins WRIGHT BROTHERS VIKING Charlotte Miller GARBER VALLEY
Brian Tennessen MITCHELL 130TH Robert Johnson GARBER CROW WING
Christina Dalbec EARHART DULUTH Brian Freseman LOENING DULUTH
Amy Broekema MITCHELL NO.HENNEPIN Gary Lemasters LOENING DULUTH
Nehaniel Roesler WRIGHT BROS. RED WING Bruce Ramsden LOENING ST CROIX
Chet Wilberg LOENING HUTCHINSON
Douglas Kilian WILSON FT SNELLING
Stephen Miller WILSON WING HQ

Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003 Page 2

 Senior Member Promotions
Meanwhile, pilots Capt. LeMasters and Major
Name Rank Unit Schumacher flew IFR inbound to Grand Marais Airport
April Winter 2d Lt DULUTH while honing in on the ELT signal. They informed
Timothy Winter 2d Lt DULUTH
another aircraft flying the pattern to clear the airspace.
Dalen Kruse 2d Lt ST CROIX
John Crivea 2d Lt MANKATO That’s when they heard the pilot, local resident Dan
Rodney Walker 2d LT 130TH Anderson say, “I see smoke and wreckage 1.5 miles
Gary Isker 2d Lt OWATONNA southeast of the airfield.”
Daniel Roth 2d Lt NORTH HENNEPIN
James Kline 1Lt VALLEY The Duluth pilots landed at 4 PM and joined Anderson in
Thomas Settell 1Lt VALLEY his truck. They sped along a paved road, then down a
Sean Skalisky Capt MANKATO gravel road, and bounded along a snowmobile trail. They
John Barsness Maj MANKATO then proceeded on foot through dense underbrush,
William Belanger Major LEGISLATIVE SQDN
where they were soon joined by a Lake County Sheriff’s
Deputy.
New Legislative Squadron
The scene of the air crash was “gruesome” according to
Member Major Schumacher. “All the trees in a fifty-foot circle
were blackened by fire. I could tell the angle at which the
plane came in by looking at trees which had been
clipped off. It was a steep descent. The wreckage was
mostly burned up. We could see the engines and bent
propellers. All that was left intact was the tail, and that is
where the ELT was located. We saw fatalities and feared
for the worst.”

Suddenly the sheriff shouted, “We have survivors!”

Rep Lynn Wardlow, (center) R-Eagan was presented
with his Legislative squadron membership by Col Dale
Hoium (Right) on Sat Sept 20th at the CAP National
Legal Officer College in Minnetonka. Rep Wardlow was
a member for the US Marine Corps, and is a retired
educator. Accompanying Col Hoium and Rep Wardlow
was Col John Wilkes, Commander of the Mississippi
Wing. Col Wilkes is a friend of Rep Wardlow and they
served together in the Marine Corps.
DULUTH SQUADRON ASSISTS
MIRACULOUS RESCUE
2d Lt Eric Nordland, Duluth Squadron
The Duluth Squadron call to action came shortly after
lunch on Wednesday, August 28th, in this manner. “We
have a plane down at Grand Marais Airport. There is a
strong satellite signal and the flight plan says two adults
and two children are on board”. There was a pause in
Captain Gary LeMasters’ cell phone as he informed
Major Charles Schumacher of this, and then added,”
You know, children can survive a crash when adults
might not.” This caught Schumacher’s attention to the
urgency of the situation, and he set aside his work as an
attorney and proceeded to the Duluth International
Airport. They assembled a ground team of six CAP
cadets, led by Captain Brian Fresman, who loaded up
the van and started the 125-mile drive.
Miraculously, it was the two children, aged three and
five, who had been thrown out of the crashing plane
while still strapped to the seat. They were given medical
attention immediately as one girl said, “My mommy died
in a plane crash.”
Other rescuers appeared. A DNR crew began cutting a
four-wheeler trail to the crash site, and the children were
whisked away by ambulance. “It was the most incredible
thing they have seen,” said Sheriff Dave Wirt, regarding
the children surviving such a crash. The Duluth ground
crew were just arriving in Grand Marais when they were
told to cancel and return home.
The crash of the twin engine Baron killed the pilot,
Charles Erickson, and his sister-in-law, Kathryn Wall.
Her two children, Grace, almost give years old, and Lily,
aged three, survived with serious burns.
The Duluth CAP pilots and ground crew were back home
by midnight, saddened at the loss of life, but exuberant
at those lives saved, by their earnest response.
Wing Membership Statistics
As of 31 November 2003
Cadets Seniors Total
577 757 1334

Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003 Page 3

Anoka Squadron Honors Medal of
Honor winner on Veteran’s Day.
Information and Pictures provided by Capt Don Sorenson

Minnesota Wing members came together on Veteran’s

Day to meet and honor a recipient of the Medal of
Honor.

Mike Colalillo, an army veteran of World War II received

the Medal of Honor for his actions as a member of
Company C, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division. He Medal of Honor recipient Mike Colalillo being escorted by
was serving near Untergriesheim, Germany in April the Honor Guard.
1945.

Colalillo was pinned down with other members of his Cadets Take the Next Step in Leader
company during an attack against strong enemy Development at Camp Ripley
positions in the vicinity of Untergriesheim, Germany. Continued from Page 1
Heavy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire made any
move hazardous when he stood up, shouted to the
company to follow, and ran forward in the wake of a
supporting tank, firing his machine pistol.

Inspired by his example, his comrades advanced in the

face of savage enemy fire. When his weapon was struck
by shrapnel and rendered useless, he climbed to the
deck of a friendly tank, manned an exposed machinegun
on the turret of the vehicle, and, while bullets rattled
about him, fired at an enemy emplacement with such
devastating accuracy that he killed or wounded at least
10 hostile soldiers and destroyed their machinegun.

Maintaining his extremely dangerous post as the tank

forged ahead, he blasted 3 more positions, destroyed
another machinegun emplacement and silenced all BCOC Distinguished Graduate
resistance in his area, killing at least 3 and wounding an C/2d Lt Brian Anderson receives his award from
undetermined number of riflemen as they fled. His Capt Andrew Dew
machinegun eventually jammed; so he secured a sub-
machinegun from the tank crew to continue his attack on BCOC A Seminar Honor Cadet
foot. C/2d Lt Ashley Dionne

BCOC B Seminar Honor Cadet

When our armored forces exhausted their ammunition
C/CMSgt Jonathan Pinsonnault
and the order to withdraw was given, he remained
behind to help a seriously wounded comrade over
several hundred yards of open terrain rocked by an
intense enemy artillery and mortar barrage.

By his intrepidity and inspiring courage PFC Colallilo

gave tremendous impetus to his company's attack, killed
or wounded 25 of the enemy in bitter fighting, and
assisted a wounded soldier in reaching the American
lines at great risk of his own life.

Members of the Wing Honor Guard and a Color Guard

from Anoka County Squadron presented the colors and
performed at the Wayzata City Hall.
NCOS Distinguished Graduate
C/SSgt Joshua Waddell receives the “Sexton Award”
from Lt Col Bruce Sexton

Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003 Page 4

NCOS A Seminar Honor Cadet: C/A1C Mark Kubat
NCOS B Seminar Honor Cadet: C/A1C Crystal Gillette
NCOS C Sem Honor Cadet: C/SSgt Stephen Cross
NCOS D Sem Honor Cadet: C/SrA Alexander Hennen
NCOS Outstanding Presentation Award
C/A1C Laura Broker
NCOS A Sem Best Speech: C/A1C Laura Broker
NCOS B Sem Best Speech: C/A1C Timothy Qualye
NCOS C Sem Best Speech: C/SSgt Mason Anderson
NCOS D Sem Best Speech: C/SSgt Sarah Anderson
NCOS Honor Seminar: Alpha Seminar
Honor Staff Award
C/Maj Daniel Nordin
Senior Member Leaders Learn About
Wing HQ Operations @ CLC
The Wing conducted a Corporate Learning Course at
Fleming Field on 25-26 Oct with 6 students completing
the training. Lt Col Tom O’Connor was the director and
assisted by members of the Wing Staff.
The Corporate Learning Course discusses the
relationship the CAP squadron has with the the wing.
Specifically, CLC discusses how wing-level operations
help to accomplish CAP's three missions of aerospace
education, emergency services, and cadet programs. It
describes the working relationships wing staff officers
Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003
have with each other, and their squadron level
counterparts.
CLC completion is a requirement for the completion of
Level III of the senior Professional Development
Program and the Grover Loening Leadership Award.
Pictured L-R: 1st Lt Joel Stepanek, Capt Brian Freseman,
Lt Col Evon Schloe, Lt Col Tom O’Connor, Major Odessa
O’Brien, Capt Don Sorenson, 1st Lt Paul Pieper, Capt Gary
LeMasters, 1st Lt Gerald Zarbinski.
2003 Commander’s Workshop
Col Dennis Rock, Plans & Programs Officer
Minnesota Wing held its 11th annual commander's
workshop for 40 squadron and group adult leaders from
throughout Minnesota in October. Practical information
and exercises to enhance managerial skills were
presented about Recruiting and Retention, working with
Families and Cadet Sponsors, Financial Auditing,
Commander's Emphasis Items, Adverse Relationships
and Volunteer Commitment.
Course graduates were: Capt John Barsness, Lt Col
Keith Bischoff, Lt Col Roger Brogren, Maj. James
Craswell, 2d Lt Patrick Cruze, Lt Col Betty Jo Eckhoff,
Capt. Sherrie Herzfeld, Col Dale Hoium, Lt Col Thomas
Kettell, Lt Col Craig Lommel, 2d Lt James Miller, Lt Col
Stephen Miller, Lt Col Michael Moen, Capt David Odette,
Lt Col John Quilling, Col Dennis Rock, Capt Leslie
Rostad, Lt Col Alan Rustan, Lt Col Bill Rutten, Lt Col
James Schlick, Lt Col David Skaar, 1st Lt John Vadnais,
st
Capt Thomas Van Engen, Maj. Joseph Volding, 1 Lt
st
Dan Wilcox, Mr. William Willis, and 1 Lt Richard
Yeager.
Unit Commander's Course graduates were: Capt Ellen
Browning, Maj. Rolf Carlson, Lt Col Victoria Eckhoff, 1st
Lt J. Michael Heneghan, Capt John Huber, Maj Richard
Johnson, Maj Douglas Kilian, Capt Alan Matson, 1st Lt
Ernest Moen, Capt Michael Rehbein, Capt Arlo Rude,
Col Kevin Sliwinski, and Capt Chet Wilberg.
On Sunday, Col Hoium conducted the semi-annual
Commander's Call and presented the graduation
certificates.
Page 5
Around the Wing:
Major Rich Jospehson formerly of St Cloud Senior
Squadron accepts a Certificate of Appreciation from Col
Hoium for his service as Commander of the St Cloud
Senior Sqdn. Major Jospehson is now the Wing’s Counter
Drug Director.
Major Odessa O’Brien received her Paul Garber Award
from Col Hoium. The Garber Award signifies the
completion of Level 4 of the Senior Member Professional
Development Program. Major O’Brien was also a faculty
member at the 2003 National Staff College.
Capt Chet Wilberg receives Certificates of Appreciation
from North Dakota Wing. Capt Wilberg and Capt Greg
Blakely were recognized for their work in getting the new
ND Wing Website and tech infrastructure set up for our
neighboring wing.
Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003
Welcome to 1st Lt Kim Johnson (sitting next to Major
O’Brien). 1st Lt Johnson has joined the Wing HQ Admin
Staff in addition to her duties at St Croix Squadron.
Welcome Kim!
Capt Chet Wilberg receives his Grover Loening Award
from Col Hoium at the November Wing Staff Meeting. The
Loening Award signifies completion of Level III of the
Professional Development Program.
Lt Col Steve Miller receives the Gill Robb Wilson Award
from Col Hoium. The Wilson Award signifies the
completion of the Senior Member Development Program.
This award is named for the Founder of Civil Air Patrol and
is earned by less than 5 percent of all Senior Members.
Page 6
What happens in that building with all
of the windows that sits in the middle
of many airports?
By Lt Col Nick Modders, 130th Composite Squadron
Twenty-one members of the 130th Composite Squadron
had an aerospace education event during their regular
meeting on September 23rd when they traveled to Flying
Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie and were treated to a tour
of Flying Cloud tower and a thorough explanation of how
the air traffic controllers provide the safe, orderly,
expeditious flow of air traffic around the Flying Cloud
airport.
Prior to taking the tour, members were briefed on the
United States airspace structure and learned that Flying
Cloud is in Class D airspace, when the tower is
operating. A discussion of the nearby Class B airspace
surrounding the Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport and the Class A airspace that is the home of the
contrail making jets flying above 18,000 feet was
included.
The tour of the tower cab included a complete
explanation of the equipment used by the controllers to
perform their duties. This included a demonstration of
the light gun used to signal non-radio aircraft, an
explanation of the radio equipment available in the
tower, the radar display used to identify aircraft in the
area, wind direction and speed indicators and the
runway light control equipment.
The tower positions of Ground Control and Local Control
were completely explained and members learned that
paying attention is the most important thing that a pilot
can do when operating on or in the vicinity of any airport.
During our visit the Ground controller was especially
busy doing two jobs which included handling the Flight
Data position which relayed air traffic enroute clearances
to aircraft departing under Instrument Flight Rules.
Members, cadets and seniors, expressed that they
better understood how air traffic control works at towered
airports after this visit.
(Safe, orderly, expeditious. . . .Who would choose such
words? Certainly your writer it not that clever. These are
the words that were in the first chapter of the Air Traffic
Controller's procedures manual, circa 1965, that
explained to controllers what the purpose was for the air
traffic system. The wording has changed slightly in FAA
Order 7110.65N, he present Air Traffic Controllers
manual, but the essence is still the same.)
Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003
6th CTG
Commander Is
Appointed
Lt Col Vicki Eckhoff,
recently announced
the appointment of
C/Lt Col Aaron
Scicluna as the
Commander of the 6th
Cadet Training Group
(CTG).
The CTG is the cadet led organization that conducts the
annual Cadet Encampment. The 2004 Encampment is
planned for 10 - 17 July 2004 at Volk Field ANGB in
Wisconsin.
The Cadet Encampment's (and CTG’s) primary mission
is to "provide the most significant week of training in a
cadet's CAP career." By creating an atmosphere of
strict discipline and constant energy, engaging and
motivating the cadet to achieve their full potential and
beyond.
All of this training is conducted by advanced cadets who
have been trained in the methodologies and theory of
training and education. Like no other activity, cadet staff
at encampment is given the latitude to make their own
decisions and learn from the rewards and consequences
that come with those decisions. This entire concept is
embodied in the "Cadet Training Group."
Scicluna is a member of Valley Squadron and has been
very active member of the wing. Recently he was the
Cadet Commander the 2003 Cadet NCO School. He is
also a Private Pilot.
Outside of CAP Scicluna is a student at the University of
Minnesota and a member of the University’s Air Force
ROTC Program.
Applications are bring accepted for staff at the 2004
Cadet Encampment. More information is available at the
Cadet Programs Website www.mnwg.cap.gov/cp
In Next Month’s Issue of WING TIPS
Minnesota Wing’s Newest SPAATZ Cadet
Members work with Local Authorities at Fall SAREX
Emergency Services Year In Review
Lt Col Modders Returns With a New Article
And Much More!!!!!
Page 7
 Minnesota Wing Calendar Yeager Aerospace Award Recipients
as of 1 Nov 03
DECEMBER 2003
1 CAP Anniversary
Sandra Willhite 130th
6-7 Emergency Services Leadership Conclave
13 Public Affairs Workshop Seth Grenke Hutchinson
9 - 17 Century of Flight Commemoration David Hobson North Hennepin
Daniel Kuch North Hennepin
JANUARY 2004
2-4 Hutchinson Squadron: Winter Survival Blue- Mark Robbins North Hennepin
CAP Daniel Roth North Hennepin
12-16 Natl SAR School - Inland SAR Mgmt Course David Rovka North Hennepin
24-25 Squadron Leadership School Peggy Schnack North Hennepin
FEBRUARY 2004 Scott Slawson North Hennepin
7 Encampment Staff Selection Exercise Michael Athmann North Star
14 Public Affairs Workshop James Behne Owatonna
Gerald Rosendahl Owatonna
MARCH 2004
12-14 Encampment Prep School Jeffrey Bartelt Red Wing
24-27 NCASE James Wolf St Cloud
APRIL 2004 Andrew Dew St. Croix
2-4 BlackCAP Emergency Services College James Hickey Valley
24 Encampment Staff Training Day
27-29 NCR Chaplain Conference James Kline Valley
Todd Schilling Valley
The latest version of the Wing Calendar can be Eugene Sellen Valley
downloaded at www.mnwg.cap.gov/calendar Ronald Vycital Valley
Gerard Wersal Valley
Alan Matson Viking
Jared Scribner Viking

Senior Members interested in earning the Yeager

Award can contact their Squadron’s Aerospace
Education Officer. The award consists of a
certificate and a ribbon.

WingTips NONPROFIT ORG.

Minnesota Wing, Civil Air Patrol-US Air Force Auxiliary
P.O. Box 11230, St. Paul, MN 55111 US POSTAGE PAID
Or on the Web at: www.mnwg.cap.gov/wingtips PERMIT NO. 7109
Wingtips is published monthly and distributed to each household of Minnesota
Wing Members. Deadline for submissions: 3rd Monday of the Month. The views ST.PAUL, MN
expressed either written or implied are not necessarily those of the U.S. Air Force
or the Civil Air Patrol.
Wing Commander: Col. Dale Hoium PAO: 1st Lt Al Pabon

Minnesota Wing, CAP WingTips October/November 2003 Page 8