Cadet Master Sgt. Elizabeth Lake Little

Started by ironputts, July 08, 2019, 04:27:00 PM

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ironputts



July 8, 2019

Cadet Master Sgt. Elizabeth Lake Little
Golden Triangle Composite Squadron
Mississippi Wing

Little, 18, a loving daughter, sister, and friend, earned her wings on July 6, 2019 following an airplane accident. She was born in Flowood, MS, on February 12, 2001. Lake grew up in the Starkville community where she graduated from Starkville Academy in May 2019 with plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi to study Speech Pathology.

While her time on Earth may have been short, the brevity of her life did not impede her many accomplishments. Lake was not only an honor student in the classroom, she was also an all-star on fields of athletic competition across Mississippi. Lake's leadership was displayed as captain of the soccer, tennis, and archery teams and her induction into the Starkville Academy Hall of Fame.
Friends and family know Lake truly excelled in the countless hours spent in her passion for volunteer service to others. Through her program "Reading Matters," she helped teach the importance of reading and literacy to people of all ages.
Lake shared her gifts in volunteer service in her Starkville home community and likewise in foreign mission work overseas. First Baptist Church Starkville is where Lake came to know the Lord Jesus Christ and where she led others to grow in their faith.
Earlier this year, Lake was designated as Starkville's Miss Hospitality. In that role, she took great pride in representing her community while promoting tourism and economic development. Lake was scheduled to compete later this month in the statewide Miss Hospitality Competition.
Lake Little discovered her love for flying at a young age, reflected in her decision to join the Civil Air Patrol. In the sky, Lake said she felt at home and there was best able to envision her life goals. Lake recently enlisted in the Miss. Air National Guard to serve her state and nation. Lake dreamed of later becoming a U.S. Air Force pilot and later flying for FedEx, while working on the ground as a Speech Pathologist.

Lake is preceded in death by paternal grandfather Archie R. Little, maternal grandfather Ernest Lowery, Sr., and uncle Gary Little and aunt Debbie Little of Hattiesburg.

She is survived by her parents, David and Pattie Little of Starkville, brothers Layton and Patton of Starkville; paternal grandmother Barbara Bass of Petal, MS; maternal grandmother Sydney Douglas; uncle Ernest Lowery, Jr. (Michelle) of Oxford, MS; aunts April Ward (Timmy) of Benton, MS; and Mary Brooks (Bart) of Bay St. Louis, MS; uncles Jerry Little, Craig Little (Michelle) and Jeff Bass (Faye) all of Hattiesburg, MS; and numerous cousins.


National Commander Addresses Cadet Death in Miss. Crash

To my fellow members of CAP,

It is with deep regret that I inform you that CAP lost one of our own on Saturday. Cadet Master Sgt. Elizabeth Lake Little with the Mississippi Wing was performing a cross country flight in a CAP aircraft as part of her training to achieve her private pilot's certificate. She crashed short of the airport and was transported to a regional trauma center, but died of her injuries. Please hold Cadet Little's family, friends and local squadron in your thoughts and prayers. Further details of arrangements for our cadet will be made available as soon as we learn of them.

It's hard to put into words how much of a tragedy this is and how deep of a loss it is. Such a loss affects all of us on different levels and different ways. Chaplains and CISM team members are available for any and all individuals who desire help.

So, where do we go from here? I believe that the best way for us to honor our cadet is to carry on with our assigned missions, with the level of excellence and professionalism we expect from each other and what is expected by the Air Force, our customers and the parents of our cadets.

My request is that each of us, from a risk management perspective, reflect on the duties assigned to us. Whether we are in steady state CAP activities, involved in cadet special activities or conducting flight activities, let us ensure that our approach to and performance of these duties reflects the high standards of excellence and professionalism to which we are called. Doing so will honor our fallen member and help ensure the safe conduct of our operations.

With a heavy heart,

Maj. Gen. Mark Smith
National Commander and CEO

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/beauty-pageant-contestant-and-pilot-dies-after-crash-landing-a-plane/ar-AAE179m

https://www.cap.news/miss-crash-landing-fatally-injures-cadet-pilot/

https://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=74655

Greg Putnam, Lt. Col., CAP

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