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Monroe News Star Sunday January 22, 2012

Monroe's Civil Air Patrol


An all-volunteer auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force flies missions of search and rescue
Written by

William Caverlee
Special to The News-Star

Civil Air Patrol Judge Elvis Stout poses with the organization plane at Monroe Regional Airport. Margaret s s Croft/The News-Star

The single engine Cessna 172 is parked in a World War II-era hangar on the grounds of the Monroe Regional Airport, and on its red, white and blue fuselage are the words "Civil Air Patrol." The plane belongs to Monroe's CAP squadron, which is named the Gen. Claire L. Chennault Senior Squadron, commanded by Capt. Elvis C. Stout. If you walk only a few yards from the CAP hangar, you will be standing on concrete poured during World War II, when the airport was known as the Selman Field Navigation School. Capt. Stout finds a particular honor and pride in standing on this tarmac, next to a 1940s structure, where the airmen of World

War II trained. Because, he says, the Civil Air Patrol was founded in December 1941, only a week before Pearl Harbor as an all-volunteer civilian organization, defending America's coastline. And today, the Civil Air Patrol exists as a congressionally-mandated auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force. Stout, a Monroe native, is probably better known to area residents as Judge Stout, having served on the Monroe City Court for 20 years, retiring in 1990. These days he devotes a tremendous amount of time to commanding the Chennault Squadron. He's been in aviation all his life, learning to fly as a college student, even owning his own plane for a number of years. As CAP commander, Stout leads a unit of 23 volunteer members, who are citizens of the region doctors, lawyers, engineers, dentists, radio communication specialists, etc.

Civil Air Patrol Charles Smith, Richard Jilot, James Breaux, Paula Bauer Webb, Michael Tyron and Judge s Elvis Stout with the CAP plane at Monroe Regional Airport. Margaret Croft/The News-Star s

The authorized mission of the Civil Air Patrol consists of three aims: aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. This last mission conducting search and rescue operations, reconnaissance and disaster relief is perhaps the most dramatic and recognizable of CAP's undertakings. Stout has a photograph of the brown, swollen waters of the Mississippi River, taken at Vicksburg during the recent flood of 2011. The Chennault Squadron flew numerous missions over three states, assisting emergency agencies. How was the photo taken? "With one of our member's cameras," Stout explains, "shot from the window."

One day, he hopes that the Cessna can be outfitted with a high tech camera for aerial photography with a viewing port through the floor and a fixed mount. This is an item on Stout's wish list for the squadron. Since the squadron is composed of volunteers, it relies on community assistance to stay viable. Hangar and offices, for example, are donated by JPS Aviation. Stout says he's grateful for the many other institutions, businesses and individuals who have donated money, equipment and services to outfitting the squadron's headquarters. Touring the offices, one can't help recognizing the seriousness and professionalism Stout and his fellow volunteers maintain as members of CAP. Here is a large assembly room where regular business meetings are conducted: a safety report is key to every briefing. Here is the operations room where search and rescue missions are monitored. Then a communications room, with radios and computers. Everywhere are charts, sign-in sheets, schedules and manuals. Although they are civilians, members receive titles of rank: major, lieutenant, captain. They wear authorized flight suits and Air Force-approved uniforms. The squadron receives its orders from the Louisiana Wing Command in Baton Rouge. Ultimately it is answerable to Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. As a volunteer, Stout is on duty 24/7. I ask him what happens when a call comes in to his home at 2 a.m. with news of a possibly downed plane. He says that he immediately heads to the squadron headquarters, phoning other members while on the way. There, a crew would be assembled and a dialog with superiors in Baton Rouge would get underway. Each and every step of a potential flight is assigned, monitored and approved, according to Civil Air Patrol and Air Force regulations. A few of his fellow volunteers who have offered exemplary service over the years are Maj. Jon Haddad, deputy-commander; Maj. Ralph Abraham, pilot and medical officer; Maj. John Benton, professional development officer; and Lt. James Breaux, safety officer. But as soon as he names these four, Stout wishes he could include the names of all 23 members, saying he doesn't want to leave anyone out. "I'm proud of each and every one."

William Caverlee is a contributing writer for The Oxford American Magazine and the author of "Amid the Swirling Ghosts and Other Essays" (University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 2009).

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