Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol Decorates World War II Sub Chaser

LAS VEGAS - Dec. 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Las Vegas— It was the dark days of the early 1940’s. The drums of war could be heard even in the distance, ever approaching. Many knew it was only a matter of time and the US was not ready. In many countries General Aviation was banned due to the needs of the war. Men who knew the US would need resources for home defense and a wanted to keep flying had an idea. From this the Civil Air Patrol was born 1 Dec 1941. Little did they know in one week they would be so desperately needed. From then until 31 August 1942 Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol contributed much to stopping the Axis submarine threat along the American Coast.

On 14 Dec 2013 Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol honored one of the few original CAP Members and Sub chasers still with us. Vigil McCarron of Sun City Summerlin Las Vegas was honored with an Exceptional Service Award and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was an aircraft mechanic and sometimes mission observer with Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol Base 12 in Brownsville Texas later moved to San Benito Texas. He served from the base opening till the close of the coastal patrol mission. After that he joined the Army Air Corps and was assigned as a B 26 mechanic.

After the war Virgil was a founding member of West Coast Airlines. He eventually retired in Las Vegas after a long distinguished career in aviation.

The award was presented by Col Tim Hahn CAP the Nevada wing commander. In attendance was Ms Dixie Hubbard his caregiver, Col Herman Bishop CAP Nellis Senior Squadron Standard and Evaluation officer and retired Kentucky Wing Commander, Lt Col Doris North CAP Nevada Wing Personnel Officer,  Lt Col Harvey Irby CAP, Maj Carol Lynn CAP Nevada Wing Chief of Staff, Maj Thomas Cooper Commander Henderson Composite Squadron Commander and Capt Bill Edwards Nellis Senior Squadron Commander.

As a newly minted Lieutenant Colonel, Virgil is now considered part of the Nevada Wing Staff. We welcome into the Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol and are very proud to have one of our founding members as part of our Wing, Nevada Wing, Every Day!

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 72 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.