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HONORED BY THE
PRESIDENT BATTERY 223 ----OUR
HISTORY
It looks like something from the set of a
science fiction movie or a building
washed up from the mythical city of
Atlantis. But whatever it looks like, it is
right there on the beach of Cape May
New Jersey and it is part of our heritage
and history. Battery 223 is
approximately 200 feet wide and 100
feet deep. The walls inside and out are
made of 6 foot thick reinforced concrete.
On January 19th, 2009 I was given the
privilege of representing Hanby Middle • Besides
School by laying a wreath at the Tomb being big
of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington what is it In This Issue
National Cemetery. In October of 2008, I and why is
wrote an essay explaining why I wanted it part of our
to go to the inauguration of the 44th history?
President of the United States. My essay • PRESIDENTIAL
Shortly after HONOR page 1
was ranked in the top four out of all the Pearl
essays written, allowing me to lay a Harbor the • OUR HISTORY
wreath. It was an amazing honor to page 1 & 2
military
stand at the steps of the tomb and lay believed • STORIES OF A
the wreath in front of it and to know that the WWII HERO page 4
that I was paying tribute to those who attack in the • DRILL TEAM
fought and died for our country. Pacific was WINS PRIZE page 5
By Neallie C Payne only part
• IF NOT WHY NOT
one of a like Our Challenge Coin
Neallie is a Cadet basic in the New Castle Cadet attack on the page 5
Squadron East Coast.
• WING CALENDAR
1
With only a few Military bases to help out. But the real targeting
protecting the East Coast, the Defense reliability could only come from
Department came up with the idea of airborne reconnaissance. That is where
building these enormous structures as we came in. Pilots were being trained
sub stations to the main Military fort. and planes were being built as fast as
possible. But they were all going to the
• That is fine, but what is it and why is
front lines in Europe and the Far-east. It
it part of our history?
was the Civil Air Patrol that did a
In front of this structure are two substantial amount of that targeting for
concrete pads about 60 feet in diameter places like Battery 223. 'It was because
and 10 to 15 feet thick. On those pads of those damned little red and yellow
stood a carousel On top of each carousel planes!'[1] that the Army and Coast
stood a 6” canon that could fire a 2200 Guard were able to spot the enemy U-
lb shell 25 miles into the ocean. That is Boats far enough out at sea to be
sort of like throwing a VW Beetle from effective in protecting American ships
Wilmington to Philadelphia. leaving the harbors of New Jersey and
Delaware.
The Federal Government has
determined that it is not going to
preserve Battery 223. By the way it
was built, Battery 223 will be around
for quit some time. At the same time it
will never be in better condition than it
is now. The bank vault doors that
protected the openings have already
Sergeant Raymond Russo (retired) WWII hero with the Squadron of North
Chesapeake Squadron
4
formed flying squadrons. Some were
wealthy young men who left colleges such
as Yale and Harvard in order to enlist in the
military.
North Chesapeake Squadron at the Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the
Christmas Parade lieutenant's aircraft was severely damaged
by ground fire during a mission. He was
The Chesapeake Cadet Squadron is again to forced to land behind enemy lines where he
be congratulated. The Drill and Parade team was captured by a German patrol.
captured second Prize in the Cecil County
Christmas Parade. The team dressed in their In order to discourage his escape, the
BDU’s proudly carried their squadron colors Germans took all of his personal
along the parade route. There is no doubt the identification except for the small leather
Cadets were cold but not a single Cadet pouch around his neck.
showed even the slightest discomfort. The
only thing you can see on their faces is the He was eventually taken to a small French
pride of representing this nation's very best town near the front lines where he managed
and Northern Chesapeake Cadet Squadron. to escape during a night bombardment.
They performed their drills near flawlessly During the attack, he donned civilian clothes
and for that they were awarded Second and fled without personal identification.
Place in the Youth Marching Category.
Along with Second Place came a small cash
prize that we hope they will use it to have
some fun. From the Wing, well done. From
all of us we are proud of you. We hope next
year you will be the first place winner. We
will be rooting for you.
****
5
After escaping, the brave pilot succeeded in In or out of uniform, on or off duty we carry
avoiding German patrols until he reached our coin. If you begin to talk about your
the front lines. With great difficulty, he unit/squadron/wing a fellow service
crossed no-man's land and stumbled into a member has ask to see the coin to test your
French outpost. loyalty. If the challenged can not produce
his coin it is usually a moment of great
Unfortunately, the French in this sector had embarrassment, but atonement can be had
been plagued by German saboteurs, who by purchasing a drink of choice for the
sometimes masqueraded as civilians and member who had challenged him.
wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the
young pilot's American accent, the French If the challenged member produced his coin,
thought him to be a saboteur and made then the challenging member was required
ready to execute him. to pay for the drink.
This proud tradition continues today. In
Just in time, the American remembered his some cases a coin can be earned
leather pouch containing the bronze meritoriously for a job well done. In any
medallion. He showed the medallion to his event it is the reminder that we as Civil Air
would-be executioners. When the French Patrolmen have a code that we live by "We
captors recognized the squadron insignia on will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate
the medallion, they gave the pilot enough among us anyone who does."
time to confirm his identity. Instead of
shooting him, they gave him a bottle of Regardless of how they are acquired, the
wine. history of the challenge coin remains a part
Eventually the pilot made it back to his of Army Air Corp, Civil Air Patrol and Air
squadron, where it became a tradition to Force tradition, and I will continue to
ensure all members carried their medallion display mine proudly for years to come. By
or coin at all times as a symbol of pride. the way my drink is Coke Zero.