In the wake of Hurricane Ike, the Gregg County Composite Squadron of the United States Civil Air Patrol was called in to help at the Marshall Civic Center, set up as an evacuation shelter by the Red Cross.  Squadron members include a family of DeBerry residents, who were quick to respond to the call.  Second Lt. Nancy Spanial and her sons, Cadet Sgt. Nick Spanial and Cadet Airman Will Spanial, donned the familiar camouflage BDU’s and went to work, helping prepare and serve 3,500 meals three times daily, from September 14-21.   Meals were provided by the Red Cross, and then prepared by the East Texas Disaster Relief organization, a ministry of the Texas Baptist Men and the Southern Baptist Convention.  A total of 38,780 meals were served from the Marshall shelter that week. 

“The Civic Center was originally set up as a ‘special needs’ shelter, so there were many handicapped and physically challenged people there who needed help,” stated Lt. Spanial.  “These folks were not only dealing with the stress and emotions of losing their homes and belongings, but many lost jobs as a result of businesses being flooded,” she added.  Helpers were stretched thin, and having seen a need for nurse’s aides and medical staff, Lt. Spanial put in a call to Panola College School of Nursing.  Dr. Barbara Cordell responded by sending students to fill the need and gain clinical experience while there.  “These students were greatly appreciated and did a wonderful job, and we want to recognize their tireless work,” said Lt. Spanial.  Panola College students who volunteered were Cassandra Gale, Kimberlee Gaona, Joan Dzick, David Brooker, and Amy Kelley...more

The Civil Air Patrol cadets not only helped keep food and water supplied, but they cleaned, kept trash cans emptied, delivered messages and assistance, and uploaded data into the vast computer network set up by the Red Cross.  Director Darrell Riley praised cadets for their response and abilities, as did the Texas State Guard.  “Major General Christopher Powers, Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, said they did an outstanding  job, and one Red Cross volunteer told me that this was the most ‘together’ and ‘capable’ group of cadets he had ever seen…and he has had experience with many, since he was in the 82^nd Airborne.  I was very proud of all of them,” commented Lt. Spanial. 

Anyone interested in the Civil Air Patrol can find out more information by calling Cadet Sgt. Nick Spanial at 903-690-1689, or visiting him at the CAP booth at the upcoming Oil and Gas Blast in Carthage on October 11^th.   

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide.  CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. Inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007.  Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.  The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs.  CAP has been performing missions for American for more than 66 years.