Squadron 45 Receives Recognition at the 2007 Group 3 Annual Awards Banquet

by

Maj Rob Nagby

On 29 July 2007, Group 3 of the California Wing held it's Annual Awards Banquet at the Hap Arnold Club located at March Air Field, California.  Squadron 45's own Capt Liz Goude was the Project Officer for the event.  Her planning and efforts culminated in a wonderful evening of music, remembrance and  recognition (especially for Squadron 45!).

Guests were entertained by the "zesty" musical sounds of the Redlands Zanja 8 who included our own Cadet Adam Couste on the trumpet!

Attendees had the honor of listening to the first hand experience of LtCol Don Goodin, (USAF Ret.), the famed pilot of the C-141 aircraft that flew into Hanoi in 1973 to recover and rescue our prisoners of war.  LtCol Goodin recounted the horrors experienced by these Americans and the hope that they held in an American Flag crafted within the confines of the infamous POW camp, the Hanoi Hilton. 

In addition to receiving recognition from Group 3, Squadron 45 was honored to receive the Civil Air Patrol Squadron of Merit 2007 Award signed by both our National and Wing Commander! Squadron 45 received Group 3 Awards for Composite Squadron of the Year and Squadron Newsletter of the Year (Capt Liz Goude - Senior Editor).

Col Nancy J. Driscoll (USAF Ret.), President of the Bob Hope Chapter 257 of the Air Force Association, awarded Cadet 2Lt Aaron T Varela (former Squadron 45 Cadet Commander) the California Air Force Association's Education Foundation for Aerospace Scholarship for 2007!  This scholarship includes a five hundred dollar ($500) cash award (Cadet Varela would not produce the check for reproduction).  Congratulations to our cadet honoree!!!

LtCol Jessica Black, Assistant Group 3 Commander and former Squadron 45 Commander was the recipient of the Group 3 Officer of the Year Award!

Individual Group 3 Awards given to Squadron 45 Senior Officers are as follows (click on link to see the award in PDF):

Click on photos to enlarge!