Calling All WWII Civil Air Patrol Members
You Earned A Congressional Gold Medal
New Jersey Wing Seeks WWII-Era Members to Honor Them for Their Service
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ. – The New Jersey Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is conducting a very important search mission – it is seeking CAP members who served during World War II in order to provide them the recognition they deserve. Late last year, Congress awarded CAP with the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of its founding members’ role in protecting the homeland against deadly German U-boat attacks during World War II and carrying out other vital wartime domestic missions. Now, New Jersey members from that time are to be honored.
“Here is New Jersey – the birthplace of the Civil Air Patrol – we are searching far and wide for our World War II volunteers or family members of those members so we can honor them properly – with a replica of the Gold Medal presented on Capitol Hill in December,” said Col. Steven M. Tracy, New Jersey Wing Commander. “We’re planning a special ceremony in their honor.”
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can bestow upon a civilian.
“This is a call to our New Jersey neighbors – if you are, or know, a World War II CAP volunteer, please reach out to us so we can recognize you,” said Col Tracy. “Go to www.njwg.cap.gov to share your story.”
One week prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Civil Air Patrol established its first Coastal Patrol Base at Bader Field in Atlantic City. This historical airport, also known as Atlantic City Municipal Airport, was closed in 2006.
Some 200,000 men, women and teenagers from all walks of life – including stars of the silver screen and successful businessmen, future Tuskegee Airmen and aspiring pilots – participated in CAP during the war years, largely without recognition or reward. CAP volunteers supported the war effort by patrolling our coasts, escorting thousands of convoys and providing countless other critical services.
In-depth information about CAP and its World War II missions can be found at www.capgoldmedal.com.
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About the Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 60,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 85 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 70 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 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for over 70 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. 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, www.capvolunteernow.com and www.capgoldmedal.com for more information.