Carolyn A. Guertin
{{Short description|Civil Air Patrol member (1928–2020)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix =
|name = Carolyn A. Guertin
|honorific_suffix =
|image =
|image_upright =
|alt =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1928|06|29}}
|birth_place =
|death_date = {{death date and age|2020|08|8|1928|06|29}}
|death_place =
|placeofburial = Beth-El Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia
|placeofburial_label = Place of burial
|placeofburial_coordinates =
|allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}}
|branch = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the United States Civil Air Patrol.svg|size=23px}} Civil Air Patrol
|branch_label = Service/branch
|serviceyears = 78
|serviceyears_label =
|rank_label =
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|unit =
|commands = Squadron Commander, CAP
|battles = World War II
|awards = Congressional Gold Medal
|memorials =
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|spouse = Donald Guertin
}}
Carolyn A. Guertin (1928{{ndash}}2020) was the first female member of the Civil Air Patrol and the eleventh member overall.
Civil Air Patrol career
Guertin joined the Civil Air Patrol on 1 December 1941, its founding date. She was the first in line to sign up, but was asked to wait until 10 men joined.{{cite web |title=Longest-Serving CAP Member Gets Special Birthday - P&P |url=https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/news/pilot-talk/2020/06/30/longest-serving-cap-member-gets-special-birthday/ |website=Plane & Pilot Magazine |accessdate=4 September 2020}}{{cite web |title=Guertin, Charter Member, Passes at 92 |url=https://www.cap.news/guertin-charter-member-passes-at-92/ |website=Civil Air Patrol |accessdate=4 September 2020 |language=en-us}}{{cite web |title=CAP Charter member celebrates 92nd birthday — and a promotion — General Aviation News |url=https://generalaviationnews.com/2020/07/01/cap-charter-member-celebrates-92nd-birthday-and-a-promotion/ |website=General Aviation News |accessdate=4 September 2020}} She served the organization in multiple ground roles during World War II, including tracking in-flight aircraft.{{cite web |last1=Lohmann |first1=Bill |title=Still flying high, and now she has a national award |url=https://richmond.com/news/local/still-flying-high-and-now-she-has-a-national-award/article_d86622df-63e5-5aa3-a1b0-2034f39c5d69.html |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |accessdate=4 September 2020 |language=en}}
In 1952, Guertin founded a Civil Air Patrol squadron in Richmond, Virginia and served as its commander for over ten years. The squadron was later renamed from "Richmond Cadet Squadron 2" to "The Carolyn A. Guertin Cadet Squadron" in her honor.{{cite web |title=Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing celebrates charter member's 92nd birthday |url=https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/good-news/civil-air-patrols-virginia-wing-celebrates-charter-members-92nd-birthday/ |website=WFXRtv |accessdate=4 September 2020 |date=30 June 2020}}
During her time in the Civil Air Patrol, Guertin had the opportunities to meet Chuck Yeager, Jimmy Doolittle, and Igor Sikorsky.{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Greg |title=Natl. Leaders, Va. Wing Celebrate Charter Member's 92nd Birthday |url=https://www.cap.news/natl-leaders-va-wing-celebrate-charter-members-92nd-birthday/ |website=Civil Air Patrol |accessdate=4 September 2020 |language=en-us}}
To mark Guertin's 92nd birthday, a ceremony was hosted that included appearances by Civil Air Patrol National Commander Mark Smith and Virginia governor Ralph Northam. Smith announced that Guertin had been promoted to the rank of colonel within the Civil Air Patrol, and Northam declared that June 29 was "Carolyn A. Guertin Day" in Virginia.
Awards
Guertin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in December 2014 for her contributions to the Civil Air Patrol's actions in World War II.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Guertin, Carolyn A.}}
Category:People of the Civil Air Patrol