April 5, 2024

Lt. Col. Jon C. Meyer
Fallbrook Senior Squadron 87
California Wing

No obituary

April 5, 2024

Lt. Col. Lawrence E. McGovern
St. Mary's Composite Squadron
Maryland Wing

Lawrence (Larry) E. McGovern (84) passed away peacefully on March 19, 2024, in Belleville, Illinois. He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Donna McGovern, his three children: Sean McGovern (Stefan Freed), Holly Loyer (Frank Loyer), and Mikelle Rappaport (William Messerschmidt); his step-daughter, Dana Banks (Kevin Banks); his grandchildren: Zach Rappaport, Taran McGovern-Freed and Leah Loyer (predeceased); his step-grandchildren: Carson and Abigail; his brother, Michael McGovern (Joyce) and nieces, Tara McGovern and Meghan McGovern, and nephew, Ryan McGovern.
Larry was born in 1939 in Oakland, California, son of the late Terrence E. McGovern and Gertrude L. McGovern (Simmons). He attended St. Joseph's High School, then San Mateo Junior College. In 1956, Larry entered the military at the age of 17 where his discovered his love of flying, which led him to his career as a Naval Aviator.
Throughout his military career, Larry served on several U.S. Naval Fleet ships in the Atlantic & Pacific theaters. These included: the USS Salem, the USS Preston, the USS Benington, the USS America, the USS Enterprise, and the USS Nimitz.
As a Naval Aviator, he served his country with distinction, including flying multiple combat missions during the Vietnam War, serving as an F-4 pilot aboard the USS America. Throughout his career, he had the distinction of flying several of the Navy's most iconic aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom, the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-6 Intruder, and C-1 Trader. His call name was "Steam".
In 1981, Larry retired from the US Navy at the rank of Lieutenant Commander after 25 years of service.
Although Larry began his military service immediately after graduating from high school, he was a true lifelong learner who eventually earned four academic degrees. In 1961, he graduated from the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA, with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marine Engineering. In 1962, he was stationed at Treasure Island, where, as a young Lieutenant, he studied nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare. In 1974, he earned his Master of Science (MS) in Chemical and Physical Oceanography from US Navy Post Graduate School. In 1986, he earned his Doctor of Science (PHD) in Physical Oceanography from Pacific Western University. Finally, in 2007, at the age of 66, he earned his Master of Science (MS) in Software Engineering at University of Maryland University College.
After his retirement from the Navy, Larry continued to serve his country, working at the Pentagon as a civilian employee under Vice Admiral James Stockdale. For the next 40 years, he thrived in the Defense Information Technology industry in and around Washington DC, where he performed program management, enterprise architecture, electronic warfare, information assurance, and configuration management functions in the development of U.S. Defense weaponry. Two of his notable projects included Battleship Cruise Missiles in the 1980s and work on a version of U.S. Presidential Helicopter, Marine One, in the 2010s. Working in these roles, he held titles of Vice President, Executive Director, and Program Manager for several different companies.
Of all his civilian defense functions, Larry's greatest passion was for enterprise architecture. His final project involved directing aspects of the system architecture for the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray, the US Navy's first Carrier-Based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, a flight system designed for in-flight refueling of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the F-35 Lightening II, and the V-22 Osprey.
Larry was a diehard Washington Redskins football fan and loved to listen to Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel and the Beach Boys. He loved sailing and earned an International Captains License. He was a proud member of the Civil Air Patrol and served as a squadron leader for the Maryland Wing, St. Mary's Squadron #MD-089.

April 5, 2024

Capt. Bruce D. Lessig
492nd Emergency Services Composite Squadron
Wyoming Wing

Bruce Delong Lessig, age 76 passed away February 29, 2024 in Casper, Wyoming. He was born in Pennsylvania on September 7, 1947 to Heber Delong and Blanche "Bonnie" (Brousseau) Lessig.

Bruce grew up in Lisbon, Ohio where he graduated from high school. Enlisting in the U. S. Army, he was a member of the 9th Infantry, and in the elite LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol) in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He was decorated with the Bronze star for bravery. After his honorable discharge from the military, he attended the University of Ohio and received a degree in Geology.

Bruce's employment included Tennessee Valley Authority, as a Uranium Geologist for Teton Exploration, and as a Coal Mine Inspector/Geologist for the Bureau of Land Management. He also worked on BLM fire fighting crews.

Bruce was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and the Wyoming wide open spaces. He also was active with the Caving Club, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Experimental Air Craft Association in the Casper area. Bruce was a private pilot and flew his plane from the U. S. West Coast to islands in the Caribbean. In moving to Casper, he met and married Roberta (Bobbi) Rinegar on November 29th,1985.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbi, and several nieces and nephews. He had a circle of very close friends, that included other Vietnam veterans of Wyoming. He was preceded in death by his parents and his only sister Judith Anne, and of course, his faithful furry friends Jake and Riley.

April 5, 2024

Cadet Dashel E. Barton
Bessemer Composite Squadron
Alabama Wing

Dash Barton, of Hoover, Alabama took his flight to be with his Lord on March 6, 2024. He was born in Birmingham, AL to Jason and Trina Barton on November 1, 2010. Dash was currently a student at Bumpus Middle School in the 7th grade.

Dash's passions included hunting, fishing, aviation, Hoover High School Baseball, riding Jet skis and ATVs. Dash grew up in the stands of his brother's baseball games where he charmed the players' families by feeding off their love and energy. If you spent any time at Shades Mountain Park, you could hear Dash pushing his dump truck all over the ballpark. Dash was an expert at separating the moms from their snacks and convincing parents in the concession stand line to buy him Skittles. Dash was an exceptional student, and his dream was to serve his country as a pilot in the United States Air Force.

Dash was preceded in death by his grandfather; Thelbert (Buddy) Miller. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving parents Jason and Trina Barton; brother, Atticus Lane Barton; grandparents, Linda Watson (Marvin), Danny Barton (Jo), Kathy Kviz (Steve); great-grandmother, Doris Barton; Aunts, Jennifer Dean, Tiffany Fredrick, Windi McCrory, Tara Miller and numerous cousins.

Quote from: farsightusf2017 on April 05, 2024, 01:02:58 PMYup tracking assuming by the name of FDU it was nomex. As I realize now the 2PFDU is the nomex OCP not the green two piece we have in the Navy. I wonder if the blue 2P massifs were considered?

Doubtful. I found that likely a good portion of the people involved with uniform policy outside of general members making recommendations are....somewhat ignorant of current uniforms in real world applications and related technological advances. The only reason Massif flight jackets were added was because of a few people who wear them were able to be involved with one of the drafts.

Oh yeah, Massif jackets both green and OCP were in the draft. I believe they were retained.

Quote from: Dustoff17 on April 06, 2024, 02:13:00 AM

Quote from: Paul Kretschmar on December 30, 2023, 12:05:34 AMSquadron Commander here. .. (we require three visits even for transfers). 
.. In my wing, transfers from out of state require Wing CC approval.

My squadron does not maintain paper records...

-Other than you're the Commander and "it's my way or the highway", by what justification do you hold back a Cadet's promotion by almost half of the norm?

-OP, I suspect that if this Wing Commander micro-manages Cadet transfers to this level, there are WAY more issues in the Wing than we can discuss here.

-Do you upload every CAPF 60-90, SDAs, and rubric forms too?

Cadets promoting every 56 days in the minimum not a schedule and it's the squadron commander's call if the cadet is ready for their next promotion. Promotions, cadet or senior are not automatic.

Quote from: Paul Kretschmar on December 30, 2023, 12:05:34 AMSquadron Commander here. .. (we require three visits even for transfers). 
.. In my wing, transfers from out of state require Wing CC approval.

My squadron does not maintain paper records...

-Other than you're the Commander and "it's my way or the highway", by what justification do you hold back a Cadet's promotion by almost half of the norm?

-OP, I suspect that if this Wing Commander micro-manages Cadet transfers to this level, there are WAY more issues in the Wing than we can discuss here.

-Do you upload every CAPF 60-90, SDAs, and rubric forms too?

Quote from: RiverAux on April 05, 2024, 12:01:14 PMDoes anyone complain that they're horning in on the Red Cross if they set up a shelter or hand out water bottles?

No, because they're not worried about remaining relevant in today's world of disaster response. They get paid either way. I'm saying we should focus on missions that nobody else does or does well to ensure we remain relevant. Because after awhile, if all we do is help the Red Cross then eventually people will realize they just need to join the Red Cross.

Quote from: RiverAux on April 05, 2024, 12:01:14 PMThese days there is a much reduced need for the sort of airborne capabilities that we have, but that isn't a dealbreaker -- the federal legislation organizing CAP says that we can respond to any sort of emergency and doesn't put any limit on what types of activities we can do while responding. 

That being said, CAP has been failing for decades to actually come up with a vision for how we respond to natural disasters that addresses anything other than airborne photography.  Now, I don't see anything wrong with us assisting other agencies in something that they specialize in.  They're probably always going to need more manpower.  Really, is that any different than a lot of what the National Guard does during disasters?  Does anyone complain that they're horning in on the Red Cross if they set up a shelter or hand out water bottles? 

Helping the Red Cross hand out water/meals is what we have done in the past in California Wing.
Something a 16 year old cadet with a GES can do.

Quote from: PHall on April 05, 2024, 04:45:38 AM

Quote from: SierraOneThree on April 05, 2024, 03:30:31 AM

Quote from: farsightusf2017 on April 04, 2024, 02:50:31 PMDon't get me wrong I'm not against 2PFDU although I don't see the benefit for us. I guess minus taking off the blouse when it's hot but at that point we should fly in ABUs/BBDU? Where as that option doesn't exist for those in MiLAV who have to wear the nomex and the 2 piece is great for the crew dogs.

It was mainly one of those we were trying to future-proof, and allow AF/Army aircrews who had them issued be able to wear them to CAP as well as anyone who wanted to get them. It's a very different fabric from the standard OCPs, much more comfortable for general usage, for meetings and staff jobs, etc. I was hoping to not have to blouse my boots, but I guess I'll just stick with the green nomies.

It's a different fabric because they're Nomex.

Yup tracking assuming by the name of FDU it was nomex. As I realize now the 2PFDU is the nomex OCP not the green two piece we have in the Navy. I wonder if the blue 2P massifs were considered?