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Long distance Mitchell Award

Eby Mitchell
Left: C/2d Lt Eby (left) recieves his Mitchell citation from C/MSgt Jack Wiser (right0 while on duty at mission base. Photo by Capt Kay Joslin Walling

By 2d Lt. Douglas Barth
Fort McHenry Composite Squadon Public Affairs

1/26/2001–Hagerstown ,MD–A Mitchell Cadet is expected to be a strong role model for CAP’s Core Values. C/2d Lt David Eby met this challenge when he faced a decision just days before he was to be presented his Mitchell Award, at a ceremony planned for January 26, 2001 at the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron’s inaugural dinner. David responded to a call-out from Maryland Wing for ground teams to aid in the search of a missing aircraft in western Maryland. At the scheduled time for his ceremony, C/2d Lt Eby found himself at mission base in Hagerstown, Maryland, some 80 miles from the squadron dinner.

Not to be stopped by a few miles, Squadron Commander Capt Tori Steinmeier arranged with the Mission Information Officer in Hagerstown, Capt Kay Walling, to “tele-award” David his Mitchell. With Capt. Steinmeier providing communications via cell phone from Baltimore, Maryland Wing Vice Commander Lt Col. James Steinmeier read the Mitchell citation. In Hagerstown, C/MSgt Jack Wiser stood in for LTC Steinmeier and presented C/2d Lt Eby his“remote” Mitchell Award. David will formally receive his award later this spring.

C/2d Lt Eby earned his Mitchell in 2000 as a member of the Arundel Composite Squadron. He is a charter member of Maryland Wing’s newest unit, the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron, and currently serves as the Cadet Commander. C/2d Lt Eby is a junior at Severna Park High School in Severna Park, Maryland. He is the son of Janet and Kenneth Eby. He has been a CAP cadet since June 1997.