CAPER Company L-17

CAPER Company L-17 was located at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.  According to the yearbook page from the 1970 that I actually found on-line, the Company was started in February 1969, so their charter was probably issued shortly thereafter.  In December 1970, 4 members of the CAPER National Staff went to the 17th Regimental Drill Meet in Wichita Falls, Texas.  The met several members of the Company, including Katherine (Kathy) Eagin.  At least that is what Linda's notes said.  The company also talked with 2 future companies, Q-17 and R-17, who chartered soon afterwards.  It is nice to actually know that one company helped get 2 others chartered.  At that time, Pershing Rifles Regimental Headquarters was also working hard to get coed units within the Regiment area.  That is why the National Headquarters Staff was invited to the Drill Meet, which only happened because it wasn't too far from Norman, Oklahoma where the Headquarters was located.

While searching for CAPER Alumni on-line, I was saddened to find an obituary for Vicki Davis who died in 2008, then a few days later I was searching on Facebook for Pershing Rifles from around the country whose names were in the 1969 Pershing Rifleman.  I found George Rice (he was there because he received the National Commander's Award in 1969) and was thrilled to find out that he was the person who got this company started.  But then I asked him whether he was in touch with any CAPER alumni, especially Kathy since I remembered her so well.  Of course, I didn't know that they had gotten married in 1970, but I found that out at the same time I he told me that she died in 2007.  It makes me sad every time I find out that someone died before I started hunting for them.

17th Regimental Drill Meet in December, 1970

Front row: Bill Callaghan, P/R Company H-7 and CAPER Laison, Carrol Webster (CAPER National), member future Company R-17,  Iris Rodriguez,  CAPER National Commander, member future Company Q-17, member of P/R Company Q-17.

Back row:  member future Company R-17, Katherine (Kathy) (Edgar) Rice, CAPER Company L-17,  member future Company Q-17, Paulette Kikugawa, CAPER National, was National Commander, 1971-1972. 

I was also there, but was tooking the picture.

Pictures from the 1970 Hardin-Simmons Yearbook found on-line

	Company L-17 at Drill Team Practice
According to the yearbook, the CAPERS in the group picture were:  Row 1(on right):  Karen Hoover, Linda Wood, Pat White.   Row 2 (all the others): Linda Hickman, Kathy (Edgar) Rice, Shirley Anderson, Mary Etling, Susan Compere, Evelyn Mayfield, Debbie Herrington, Vicki Davis, Kathy Clayton, Kathy Esminger Linda Wood and Karen Hoover are named as those at the front in the drill picture.

Besides finding the yearbook page, above, on the Texas history website, I've also found an article about the start of this CAPER company and a 1974 article listing that year's officers.

This page was created to give a place where the Alumni of Company L-17 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.

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.