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The U.S. flag flies near the gravesite of the late Maj. Gen. John F. Curry, CAP’s first national commander. A ceremony in his memory was held earlier this month at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.
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One of the presenters at the Maj. Gen. John F. Curry Salute and Awards Ceremony holds the “Curry crystal” sent by Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP national commander. The presentation crystal was crafted by Maj. Jim Shaw, CAP national historian and curator, and given to Kim Callahan, grandniece of the late major general.
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Kim Callahan (left) receives the CAP World War II Service Medal from Brig. Gen. Jay Bobick on behalf of Maj. Gen. John F. Curry. Both Curry and Bobick were CAP national commanders; Curry was the first, but had never received his World War II Service Medal.
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Cadet 1st Lt. Skylar Caldwell of the Colorado Wing’s Thompson Valley Composite Squadron plays taps during the ceremony.
Photos by Kim Long
Capt. Scott Orr
Asst. Public Affairs Officer
Colorado Wing
This year’s Maj. Gen. John F. Curry Salute and Awards Ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver brought Curry’s family and Civil Air Patrol back together.
CAP’s first national commander is buried in Denver. His family is spread all over the world. Even so, Colorado Wing members got to meet one of his remaining Colorado relatives: Kim Callahan, the major general’s grandniece.
“The wing historians have worked to unite the family and CAP once again,” said Capt. Ed O’Brien, project officer. “His last remaining first-generation relative, his daughter Sheila Curry-DeKalb of Laguna Hills, Calif., wanted to come but is too old to travel. We were fortunate to host Kim and, I must say, she is all Curry.”
“This whole family is gregarious and most appealing. They love to laugh, appreciate the general as much as we do, and want to find out more about his service,” O’Brien added.
Gifts of appreciation were offered by both Col. Edward D. Phelka, Colorado Wing commander, and Brig. Gen. Jay Bobick, former CAP national commander.
Bobick presented what may very well be the last CAP World War II Service Medal to the man who “actually should’ve received the first of these ribbons. It is an oversight we are correcting today,” as he put it.
“Any member who served in War World II has already proudly worn this award for years. So, this will likely be the last awarding of this most prestigious medal,” O’Brien said. “Certainly, the last for a former national commander presented by a former national commander. Today we made some history. ”
CAP’s current national commander, Maj. Gen. Amy S, Courter, sent an additional gift – a presentation crystal, which Phelka called a “most handsome gift.”
He added, for Kim Callahan’s benefit, “I received my Curry award in 1987. It was my first step in Civil Air Patrol. It is the ribbon I have worn the longest. Your family’s name means a great deal to me.”
Cadets receive the Gen. J.F. Curry Achievement Award, which accompanies promotion to cadet airman, for successfully completing the specific requirements of Achievement 1 in Phase I of the cadet program.
Also attending the ceremony were:
- Col. Gary Tobey, former Rocky Mountain Region and Colorado Wing commander.
- Col. Jack Buschmann, former Colorado Wing commander.
- Col. Robert Cook, former Wyoming Wing commander.
- Various senior and cadet members of the Colorado Wing.
Taps was played by Cadet 1st Lt. Skylar Caldwell of the Colorado Wing’s Thompson Valley Composite Squadron. O’Brien was project officer and host, Lt. Col. Sid Altum provided the invocation, and Capt. George Dengler served as assistant to O’Brien. First Lt. Beth Biscardi of the Valkyrie Cadet Squadron and photographer Kim Long documented the event.
“It was the warmest of ceremonies on the coldest of December days,” O’Brien said.
