CAPER Company C-16 was at Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Florida.  They were chartered in May 1968. This is first confirmed date of a CAPER Charter.  The founder of CAPER Company C-16 was Wadee'ah Muhammad (AKA Beverly Chappell at that time).  She is working on a list of the charter members of the company from 1967-68.  I'm excited to see the names again....yes, again.  I can remember when their charter came into National Headquarters!  Wadee'ah told me that she got the CAPER Company going because she wanted to take ROTC classes.  She was finally able to get the ROTC Department at Florida A & M University let her into ROTC, making her the first female to take ROTC there, long before it was permitted.  CAPERS were really pioneers.

In March 2010, Patricia Martin told us about how they found out that CAPERS no longer existed.  She pledged CAPER Company C-16 in the fall of 1982.  Around the time their line was crossing, they got a letter from the CAPER National Headquarters (Seton Hall University at the time).  The letter told the CAPER Companies that were recently told that they could not compete in a drill meet because in 1980, Pershing Rifles had issued an order telling all Pershing Rifles Companies to take their CAPER members in to the Pershing Rifles Company.  Patricia said that for CAPER Company C-16, this was impossible.  Pershing Rifles Company C-16 kept being kicked "off the yard" (I assume that means "off campus") because of hazing.  They'd get back and then do it again.  The CAPERS did not want to associate with hazing or risk their organization.  At that time they changed their name to Pershing Angels (the local name of several CAPER Companies).

In 1990, the former CAPER Company C-16 joined with other former CAPER Companies to form the National Society of Pershing Angels.

Although this story will make every CAPER alumni sad, it has filled in the gap in the story of how CAPERS ended and why some of the CAPER Companies didn't join their Pershing Rifles Companies and eventually became Pershing Angels.  It is part of the sad history of some Pershing Rifles Companies.  Hazing.  Pershing Rifles finally got rid of hazing by pulling the charter of any company found hazing their pledges.  And now Pershing Rifles is starting to grow.  All of the alumni of CAPER Company C-16, as well as other CAPER Alumni, should be proud that they continued and are now are considered alumni of the new Pershing Rifles.

Patricia also sent in some pictures for the CAPER Company C-16 page:

The CAPER Company C-16 Flag
Now all the CAPER Company C-16 Alumni who have wondered where this is know that Patricia has kept it safe and has it with her in Hawaii.
Patricia's t-shirt from when she crossed

Patricia, of course, became a Pershing Angels.  But it is obvious she always remembered in her heart that she was a CAPER....as do all CAPER Alumni.

Thank you Patricia for your contributions.  

This page was created to give a place where the Alumni of Company C-16 can find people and share their memories.  Here are some links to make this page better:

Add more names to the alumni list.

Add your contact information (NOTE:  You information won't be published here.  We will contact you if someone wants to get in touch with you.  The choice to contact them will be yours)

Share your memories or add send us pictures.

*  Some contact Information available, click here if you'd like to contact them.  Some may be out of date.  Linda will attempt to contact them for you and give them your contact information.

The creator of this website, Linda Grissette (the 1970-71 CAPER National Commander) is not asking for any money to help support this project.  Her reward will be finding people she remembers and learning about other former members memories.  If you appreciate the effort, please use her for all of real estate needs.  If you aren't in the St. Louis area where she works, she can find a great agent in your area and will receive a small referral fee.  Contact Linda about real estate.  See Linda's main real estate website.