While we, as cadets, sit in the meeting
room and march on the drill field, we carry on a long lasting tradition of
pride and honor of Civil Air Patrol.
Part of that long lasting tradition is the unit we call today Eugene L.
Carnahan Cadet Squadron 85, who has served the El Dorado County area since
1980. The squadron was first formed as
Foothill Composite Squadron 85 with the now infamous Eugene L. Carnahan as
squadron commander. From 1980-1987 the
squadron had an average of 20 cadets and won the California Wing Composite
Squadron of the Year for 1987, and took 2nd place in the California Wing Drill
Competition. The squadron has always
centered its attention around community service as we still do today. They held many events including some that we
continue to do today.
During the squadron’s early years they
were designated a search area that was shaped like a triangle (Sacramento,
Tahoe, and Truckee). The area is amongst
the most rugged terrain in California for Search and Rescue operations. This rugged desolate and almost un-navigable area
became known as “The Wedge” and the cadets and senior members of squadron 85
soon became known as the “Wedge Hunters”.
On our squadron patch our nickname is proudly embroidered and the
integrity of the Squadron wedge is kept by the triangular shape.
Lt. Col Judson E. Adamy, joined the
squadron in July of 1984 and after Eugene L. Carnahan passed away in 1989, the
then Maj. Adamy became Commander of a new squadron, Eugene L. Carnahan Cadet
Squadron 85 was formed. Since that time,
the squadron has had its ups and downs with at one time 34 cadets. With a record of two cadets receiving their
Spattz awards and many attending military academies, who include Jeff King,
Karen Reed, Erike Young, Sergio Apedaile, Jared Juntunen and Beau
Eslinger. The Squadron 85 tradition of
excellent and highly complemented cadets lives on with the cadets who are in
the program now and will succeed in the future.
- Taken from the Squadron 85 SOP in 2006