Five CC-CAP Officers receive Award for Hurricane Ike Service

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

Corpus Christi, Texas— Five CAP Officers were honored on Tuesday 10 March 2009 for their service last September in support of the disaster relief operations for Hurricane Ike.Lt Col John Barfoot, Lt Col Rene Velazquez, Major Joe Ely Carrales, 1st Lt Mike Garmon and 2d Lt Bill Barnes were presented a Civil Air Patrol Disaster Relief Ribbon with “V” Device.

This marks the first time in the recent history of the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron that the unit has had the operational acumen to deploy in support of a Major disaster relief operation. Each of the above officers did their best for various parts of the deployment. Lt Col Barfoot and Lt Col Velazquez were active at the mission base When it moved into the effected area of West Houston. Major Carrales and 2d Lt Barnes were active during the Stinson Phase of the operation, the initial Air Operations run out of San Antonio. 1st Lt Garmon was instrumental in a communications exercise that was run out of CAP Station Corpus Christi involving the monitoring of the general evacuation of hospitals and other care facilities as the storm approached.

The Disaster Relief Ribbon with “V” Device. may be awarded to any CAP member who participates in a disaster relief effort for a Presidential declared disaster. Participation must be verified by the on-scene commander. Participation in any Presidential declared disaster since 1990 qualifies. Cadet Bryce A. Nix also participated in the preliminary COMM Exercise but was not included on the award Personnel Action. A CAPF 2a has been filled out and is “in channels.” We are looking forward to writing an article on said award.