San Diego Cadet Squadron 144

Community Service Trip Report

At 0745 hours, Saturday, 26 April 2008, the following personnel reported for transportation to help clean up San Diego Bay during the 6th Annual Coastal Clean-Up Day sponsored by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors:

Cadets
C/2Lt Chandra Murphy
Cadet Louis Diaz
Cadet Reece Coulter
Cadet Sean Coulter
Cadet Caleb Duescher
Cadet Nathan Duescher
Cadet Andrew Elsken

Senior Members
LtCol Elbert McDowell
Capt David Saavedra
SM Michael Tam
Cadet Sponsor Connie Duescher

At 0835 hours all personnel arrived at Chollas Creek, clean up site and were checked in by the event coordinator.

A safety brief began right away by National Steel and Shipbuilding Industrial Safety Engineer, Mr. Bart Deem, regarding how to handle unsafe materials encountered in the creek, when to alert designated individuals in the handling of hazardous materials if discovered, wear plenty of sun screen, and drink plenty of water provided by the sponsors.

Ms. Kaycee Christy then briefed the volunteers where to go throughout the site, what to look for, and where most of the debris can be found. After her brief, disposable heavy duty gloves, shovels, rakes, and pick up implements were distributed. The volunteers were led down into the creek where they began raking, removing litter, and pulling out discarded tires buried in the muck. All tires were successfully removed by an excellent show of CAP team work led by C/2Lt Murphy. At one point a partially buried shopping cart required the direction and knot tying abilities of Mr. Steven Murphy, father of Cadet Murphy and all the might of every CAP member to pull it out of several feet of thick mud. The “Tug-O-War” required two attempts and was successfully removed and unceremoniously discarded from the creek bed. Three tree stumps were also removed by this method and cleared as eye sores from the creek bed.

Other Squadron 144 members cleaned up litter along the railroad tracks along Harbor Boulevard to 28th Street, a round trip distance of two miles!

Short work was made of the clean up due in large part of this CAP squadron with the clean-up ending at 1030 hours.

After cleaning some of the muck off their clothes, the squadron headed to the San Diego County party and barbecue at Cesar Chavez Park about 1½ miles from the clean-up site where everyone enjoyed a hearty lunch, including cold drinks, and cake under the Coronado Bay Bridge. A concrete pier provided beautiful views of the bay and boat traffic passing by.

A raffle was next and each member in attendance won some sort of prize! Cadet Diaz won an Apple iStand.

The cadets played a makeshift game of football for the next hour providing a well deserved way to enjoy the rest of their time together. During this period, Ms. Christy and Mr. Hugo Bermudez, Coastal Clean-Up Captains, informed Capt Saavedra that they were impressed by how well behaved, efficient, and effective our “platoon” demonstrated themselves. They also stated that certificates for community service hours will be prepared and forwarded to the squadron for distribution. Capt Saavedra thanked them for their complements and observations. After what seemed like a long pause, they asked “where we landed our aircraft.”

At 1310 hours the activity secured and all personnel departed for home.

This is the second time we have cleaned up the bay with the San Diego County Port Authority. Accordingly, we have billed this as a non-CAP event and as such the cadets are eligible for the CAP Community Service Ribbon once they reach 60 hours of volunteer time. This type of event also instills camaraderie and teamwork. The ultimate reward is looking down Chollas Creek and seeing it free of debris and feeling a sense of accomplishment as a clean-up volunteer. Hopefully the cadets will add more hours to their respective “log books” and pin on this coveted CAP ribbon.

Any event like this could not happen without our usual parent and senior member drivers. Parents Steven Murphy and Marci Diaz not only drove; they also pitched in and helped clean up along with Michael Saavedra (a possible future cadet) who is the son of Capt Saavedra.

By Captain David Saavedra
Project Officer

Posted by Vince at 3:16 PM | Permalink

At 0730 hours, Saturday, 12 April 2008, the following personnel reported for the Iron Mountain hike at Highway 67 and Poway Road:

Cadets
C/2Lt Peter Kler
C/2Lt Joseph Connolly
C/2Lt Douglas Saavedra
C/2Lt Chandra Murphy
Cadet Joseph Culver
Cadet Caleb Duescher
Cadet Andrew Elsken
Cadet Hannah Olson
Cadet Emily Duescher
Cadet Daniel Gorin
Cadet Jesse O’Keefe
Cadet Patrick Culver
Cadet Reece Coulter
Cadet Rebecca Olson
Cadet Scott Lynch
Cadet Sean Coulter
Cadet Nathan Duescher
Cadet Spencer Beaulieu
Cadet Harrison Coyne
Cadet Nathan Blackburne


Senior Members
LtCol Ben Aaron
Capt David Saavedra
Lt Jeff Cable
Lt David MacGregor (Sq. 47)
Lt Russell Wesley
SM Michael Tam
Cadet Sponsor William McFarland

One month prior to this hike, 1Lt Russell Wesley met with C/2Lts Peter Kler and Joseph Connolly to plan this hike. After reviewing the options, Cadets Kler and Connolly scouted a few hiking trails and decided on the Iron Mountain trail as the best choice. Although this hike was planned as a social event, it was also designed to “weld” the squadron together.

At 0815 hours after Capt. David Saavedra gave the OK to Cadet Commander C/2Lt Kler to commence the hike. Cadet Kler began with a safety brief by informing the cadets about hydration, wildlife, trail hazards, and hiking techniques.

At 0820 hours all personnel moved out and began embarking on the trail led by C/2Lt Joseph Connolly with C/SSgt. Joseph Culver at the six o’clock position looking for possible stragglers and safety. The mountain trail was invigorating with the morning heat beating down on everyone already. The weather was summer like with the sky clear as a bell, a slight breeze kept the squadron somewhat cool. Upon reaching the summit, the crystal clear skies rewarded the hikers with some of the best vistas anywhere in Southern California. Snacks and water were distributed while the squadron rested prior to descending.

With everyone attired in black T-shirts, BDU pants, light back packs, canteens and/or camel backs, and a “sea” of Squadron 144 covers, many civilians along the trail were heard to exclaim, “What is a 144?” Some of the cadets had an opportunity to proudly proclaim their explanation to these fellow hikers and inform them about America’s best kept secret: The Civil Air Patrol.

Climbing down the mountain’s trail was quicker but slightly hotter as the sun rose higher in the sky. Tired feet, creaky bones, time disparagement, and physical endurance waned; the senior members continued their downward crawl admirably!

The cadets laughed and enjoyed hiking down the mountain while renewing and strengthening friendships along the way.

This six mile hike ended where it started, at the trail head at about 1100 hours. A quick head count was made with everyone present and accounted for.

Special thanks to 1Lt Russell Wesley for spearheading this event, and Cadet 2Lts Peter Kler and Joseph Connolly for scouting and selecting this trail. This has been the second hike for Squadron 144 with a third hopefully planned later this summer.

Respectfully submitted,

Captain David Saavedra

Posted by Vince at 3:10 PM | Permalink