CAPER National Commanders

This page was created to honor all of the Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles and Pershing Angels National Commanders.

It's not because we were special, but because each one of us stepped up to the challenge.  

Most of us were young college students who because of where we went to college had the chance to take the position.  Some didn't even have much experience with the organization when they stepped up.  I think most of us had the problem of running the national headquarters with a small number of members.  That meant we had to work with our local functions, too.  Regardless of how long we had command or how successful we feel our time might have been, we were successful. 

We were successful because there are still Pershing Angels today.  

Yes, the organization has kept going for 44 years.  The name changed.  The organizational structure changed.  Times have changed.  It doesn't matter.  We all kept it going in our own way.

We are only special because we are a group of members who had the privilege of seeing the organization from the national perspective.  We share that with all of the Pershing Rifles National Commanders and most Regimental Commanders.

I am thrilled that we now have the names of most of the National Commanders.  I'm looking forward to the time that all of our National Commanders are named here, have their picture here...and have been found.  I am in contact with each of the National Commanders whose names are in bold. 

Linda

PS.  If you have been here is the past or remember anything about CAPER history, you'll notice something different.  Since I started in CAPERS I thought that Tanya was our first National Commander.  In August 2010, I received some "loaner" copies of the "Pershing Rifleman" yearbooks for more research.  Even though I had these issues at one time, I used them for research on coed units and didn't pay any attention to what they said.  I'm proud to add the name of CAPER COL Gloria Robertson to this list.  I'm adding information I've gained all over this website!

Rank First Name Maiden Name Married Name

College

Dates
COL Gloria Robertson University of Oklahoma Starting with Kaydettes National and then CAPERS until Tanya took over command.
COL Tanya McDonald Miller University of Oklahoma ?? to May 1967
COL Patricia Gail Todd Kish University of Oklahoma May 1967 to Jan 1968
COL Kathryn (Kay) Sykes University of Oklahoma Jan 1968 to Jan 1969
COL Nina Rose Jacoby University of Oklahoma Jan 1969 to March 1969
COL Gwen Coley University of Oklahoma March 1969 to Oct 1969
BG Iris Rodriguez Franticelli University of Oklahoma Oct 1969 to September 1970
BG Linda Grissette (Grayson) University of Oklahoma May 1970 to September 1971
BG Paulette Kikugawa Lum University of Oklahoma May 1971 to Jan 1972 (Estimate)
BG Gwen Howell Kelly University of Oklahoma Jan 1972  to Feb 1972 (Estimate.  Paulette just couldn't bear to move the headquarters and transferred command to Gwen who was Linda's Chief of Staff and Paulette's Deputy Commander.)
BG Susan Lindholm Kansas State University Feb 1972 to April 1972
BG Rhonda McGuire McCommons Kansas State University 1972-1973
BG Elizabeth Crammer Kansas State University 1973-1974
BG Rita Screen Kansas State University 1974-1975
Auburn University 1975-1976
BG Karin Daniels Auburn University 1976-1977
BG Debra Michalik Auburn University 1977-1978
BG Susan Rice Appalachian State University 1978-1979
BG Cheryl Beers Cullen Seton Hall University 1979-1980
1980-1981
BG Sharon Sanders Seton Hall University 1981-1982
BG Shirley Jones Seton Hall University 1982-1983

We have two different years for when CAPERS officially ended, 1980 and 1982, but the history from Pershing Angels says that the had problems with manpower (our continual problem) and "it closed from 1983-84."

On May 1, 2010 I heard from Irene (Rodriguez) Lee, who was missing from this list until then.  She told me that nationally they were called Pershing Angels, but locally as CAPERS.  

But more importantly, this group of National Commanders gives us the real link between CAPERS and Pershing Angels.  I think we are all together as alumni.
BG Fran Lopes Steffens St. Peters College 1985
BG Irene Rodriguez Lee St. Peters College 1986
BG Madeline Colon St. Peters College 1989*
* The date of 1989 was from the Pershing Angels history, but according to Irene Rodriguez Lee, Madeline Colon was the year after her, which would make the year 1987.  That would make a 3 year gap with no National Headquarters before Pershing Angels were re-organized in 1990.  

This is a listing of the Pershing Angels National Commanders from their website.  The Pershing Angels National Staff members are all alumni.   Wanda Green, the immediate past Pershing Angels National Commander, was a CAPER who pledged in 1977.
BG Lisa Cannon Atlanta, GA Nov 1990 to 1992
BG Tiji Murphy-Hipp Morgan State University 1992-1995
BG Adrian Pugh Howard University  1997-1998
BG Latonja Estelle Howard University 1998-2000
BG Michelle Richardson Norfolk State University 2000-2002
BG Wanda Green Morgan State University 2002-2010
BG Raja Morgan Morgan State University 2010-2012
BG Kimberly Reece North Carolina State University 2012-

If you would like to add names of members that you know were CAPER National Commanders, please click here.  Be sure to note in the comments that they were on National Staff, as well as when and where and any other information you have.

 If you would like to give us any better information on various headquarters dates, etc, please submit them.

If you would like to send us your contact information, click here.

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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.