WingTips

The official publication of Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol May 2005

FAA awards Thompson its Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

by Maj. Shannon Bauer, award, the pilot must have
Viking Squadron soloed 50 years ago and
The Federal Aviation still be an active flyer, be
Administration awarded Lt. recommended by at least
Col. John Paul Thompson, three certified pilots, pro-
Viking Squadron, its Wright vide documentation of avia-
Brothers Master Pilot tion ratings and experience
Award at the Minnesota and not be involved in any
Wing Conference in aviation accidents.
Breezy Point, Minn., Thompson served as a pilot
April 29-May 1. in the U.S. Air Force from
Thompson is the first pilot 1953 to 1973, retiring as a
in Minnesota to receive this lieutenant colonel. He first
distinguished award. soloed in 1953 in an AT-6
Texan. During his Air Force
This FAA award is career, he additionally flew
designed to recognize pilots the T-33 Shooting Star, the FAA principal operations inspector Gary Pendleton
that have been involved in L-19 Birddog, the F-84G (right) presented the Wright Brothers Master Pilot
aviation for 50 or more Thunderjet, the F-86 Sabre Award to Lt. Col. Paul Thompson, Viking Squadron
years with a record of safe and the C-123 Provider, (center). Members of Thompson's family are standing
operations and outstanding with him. Photo by 1st Lt. Mark Helseth, Viking
achievement. To receive the Pilot Award / Page 2 Squadron

Military Chaplain Association honors Mikitta with Distinguished Service award

Chaplain Lt. Col. Donald
Mikitta, Jr., Red Wing
Squadron, Minnesota Wing
headquarters and North
Central Region, received
the Distinguished Service
award for a Civil Air Patrol
Chaplain during the 2005
Military Chaplain
Association National
Institute Recognition
Ceremony, in Alexandria,
Va., April 14
Mikitta is a 25-year CAP
veteran. He presently serves
as the Minnesota Wing
director of cadet programs,
the North Central Region
deputy chaplain and the
Red Wing Squadron chap-
lain, as well as is a Boy
Scout chaplain to Troop 32
in Red Wing.
"He has been considered a
role model for chaplains in
the North Central Region
for many years," said
Chaplain Lt. Col. Ron
Tottingham, North Central
Region.
Mikitta has been a member
of CAP since 1979. In
2004, he received the CAP
headquarter’s Senior
Chaplain of the Year award.
Mikitta’s vision is to equip
the CAP youth to become
dynamic leaders by provid-
ing living leadership labora-
tories experiences. He uses
the ministry of presence to
expose the young members
to spiritual truths, and to
show his concern in their
success.
MCA holds the National
Recognition Ceremony
each year in conjunction
with its National Institute.
This year, the conference
drew around 100 members
from throughout the nation.
The three-day event includ-
ed business meetings, the
election of new national
officers and training semi-
nars.
MCA is the professional
organization for chaplains
of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs and the
Civil Air Patrol.
MCA Award / Page 3
Page 2 WingTips May 2005

Commander’s Column: Phone often better to use than email

by Col. Steve Miller, back given. would be if you receive a
wing commander
Email is quick in the short message such as "That's
By the time this WingTips run. However, in the long just great!" This sentence
is published, we completed could be perceived several
run, you may spend more
our 2005 wing conference. time trying to clarify your- ways.
Those members who self or straighten out some- When you talk with people,
attended the conference thing that was taken out of voices convey emotion,
should take back to their contest. By picking up the such as happiness, anger,
units information they phone and discussing your teasing or humor. Instant
picked up from the wing subject, you will accom- feedback is extremely
staff and from members in plish a lot more. important in communica-
other units. tions. It makes communi-
Col. Steve Miller First of all, you will receive
This forum, the wing con- instant feedback. The per- cating effective. It doesn't
ference, is an excellent way people? It really depends son with whom you are waste time with misinter-
in which to learn more on the message and the tar- speaking can immediately preted messages.
about CAP, meet other get audience. ask for clarification on When communication is
members and, overall, have Due to the ease of using something you just said. really important, emails
an enjoyable weekend. email, I believe we use it may be misunderstood. For
Second, when you read a
The subject of communica- for way too many tasks. It sentence, you do not hear subjects that may be misin-
tions comes up all time. is very easy to shoot off a the inflection or tone of terpreted, let's all make an
Being a "comm guy," how- note to someone. And yes, voice from the writer. You effort, at all levels of CAP,
ever, I am not talking about for a call down or for dis- to pick up the phone and
don't know if the writer is
radio communications. I am tributing information to a pulling your leg, being sar- call instead of using email.
referring to communicating broad audience, email is an castic with you or very -Semper Vigilans
with family members, fel- excellent and economical serious. An example of this
low squadron members, tool.
members from different However, for important
squadrons/groups and Wing items, it is my opinion and Pilot Award / from Page 1
staff members. personal standard, the which he flew on troop re-supply and night flare missions
What is the most effective phone is a better communi- in Vietnam, often in isolated areas. For his gallantry and
way to get a really impor- cation tool. Use of a phone skill exhibited during these missions he was awarded the
tant message out to a spe- allows emotions to be con- Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
cific person or group of veyed and immediate feed-
Thompson continues to fly in CAP today as a Cessna 172
mission pilot. He has been an active member of Civil Air
WingTips is a publication of
Patrol and Viking Squadron for more than three years.
Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol,
Unbeknownst to Thompson, members of his squadron
U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
nominated him for this award.
P.O. Box 11230, St. Paul, MN 55111
www.mncap.org Gary Pendleton, FAA principal operations inspector, pre-
wingtips@mncap.org sented Thompson with his award in front of his family and
friends. He said, this award “speaks to that passion for
The views expressed, either written or implied, are not neces-
sarily those of the U.S. Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol or excellence which has been realized in the ability to satisfy
Minnesota Wing. Submissions should be sent to the above a vital spiritual need, the need for connection to something
email address. larger than ourselves, to feel alive, to make us certain that
Wing Commander: Col. Steve Miller we walk this planet for some purpose.” And Thompson,
Wingtips Editor: Maj. Shannon Bauer he continued, “exemplifies that passion for excellence.”
May 2005 WingTips Page 3

St. Paul cadets train for

upcoming Group 3 exercise
by 2nd Lt. Tyra Cerny
St. Paul Squadron
St. Paul Squadron cadets
successfully completed
flight line marshalling
training at Fleming Field in
South St. Paul, April 3.
Exceptional flight line
training was planned and
executed by Lt. Col. Paul
Adams, with assistance
from 1st Lt. Matthew
Barrett and C/2 Lt. Tyra
Cerny. (Left to Right) Chaplain Col. John Murdoch, Military
Chaplain Association president; Chaplain Lt. Col. Don
The training began in the Mikitta; and Lt. Col. Robert Hicks, deputy director of
classroom and was fol- CAP Chaplain Services.
lowed, in the afternoon, by
MCA Award / MCA is an advocacy group
marshalling CAP aircraft that is the voice of the
from Page 1
on the flight line. The stu- chaplaincy in Washington,
dents were led through Membership is made up of D.C.; and nationally. MCA
drills and protocol with all faith groups and those is the only national organi-
emphasis on safety. C/AB Dominic Marchetti, who are in the active serv- zation to strengthen the
The class was held in St. Paul Squadron, learns ice, Reserve, Guard, retired bonds of friendship and
preparation of the Group 3 flight line marshalling or former chaplains. MCA cooperation between chap-
Search and Rescue skills April 3. is an educational organiza- lains that covers all services
Exercise, or SAREX, to be newly acquired skills, tion providing training and faith groups.
hosted by St. Paul where they will play a vital opportunities for chaplains
For more information on
Squadron in August. The role in flight line mar- and a national magazine for
MCA, see <www.mca-
cadets are excited to use the shalling and aircraft safety. and about chaplains.
usa.org>.

Minnesota’s Cadet
Advisory Council elects
new officers
Minnesota Wing’s Cadet Advisory Council elected
new officers at its April 1 meeting in Breezy
Point, Minn. (Left to Right) Cadet Patricia Friese,
Valley, will serve as vice chair; Cadet Brian
Anderson, 130th, will serve as chair; and Cadet
Matt Dunlevy, Anoka, will serve as recorder.
Photo by Lt. Col. Don Mikitta
Page 4 WingTips May 2005

Group One sponsors senior development

Senior member and cadet
officer promotions
Major
Sherrie Herzfeld, Anoka
Jim Abeler, Matt Dean, Tom Emmer, Patricia Pariseau and
Neil Peterson - all Minnesota State Legislative
Captain
William Hienz, Viking; Richard High, Grand Rapids;
Douglas Ployhar, 130th; Mark Robbins, North Hennepin;
Antonio Rossini, 130th; and Eugene Sellen, Valley
1st Lt.
Melinda Brown, Susan Holmgren
and Thomas Lucey - all Anoka
2nd Lt.
Michael Pierce, Owatonna; Tyrel Schue, Grand Rapids;
and Robert Swearengin, Viking
C/Col.
Jacob Heffron, Crow Wing
C/Capt.
Joshua Waddell, Viking
C/2nd Lt.
Steven Parker, North Star and Scott Wright, Duluth
by Capt. Paulette Odette
Group One sponsored a
Squadron Leadership
Course, or SLS, in Grand
Rapids, Minn., April 2-3.
Grand Rapids Squadron
hosted the event.
The graduates included:
Capt. Jim Harris, 1st Lts.
Dianne Harris and Brian
Grey and 2nd Lt. Tom Hill,
Cass County Squadron; 1st
Lts. Terrance Best and Ken
Hartwig and TFO Mat
Shadrick, Northland
Squadron; 1st Lt. Earl
Gibson and SM Mike
Blowers, Northwest
Minnesota Squadron; 2nd
Lts. Penny Hadrava and
Fred Hoshal and SMs
Adam Dimich, Tom
Flemming and Tyrel Shue,
Grand Rapids Squadron;
and 2nd Lt. Mark Johnston,
Duluth Squadron.
Instructors and staff includ-
ed: Cols. Steve Miller and
Kevin Sliwinski, Minnesota
Wing; Bill Willis,
Minnesota state director;
Maj. Dave Odette, Group
One; Maj. Bob Stein,
Grand Rapids Squadron;
Capt. Rich Yeager, Cass
County Squadron; and
Capt. Brian Freseman,
Duluth Squadron. Maj.
Dave Odette served as the
director, Capt. Paulette
Odette as assistant director
and 1st Lt. Jim Miller as
logistics officer.

Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol,

U.S. Air Force Auxiliary NONPROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE PAID
P.O. Box 11230, St. Paul, MN 55111 PERMIT NO. 7109
ST.PAUL, MN

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