I first met Cadet Hannibal, a C/A1C at the time, when I joined the Lake Orion Cadet Squadron in July of 1979. He was quick to explain his version of what-was-what, but in a friendly way, not forcefully like our squadron cadet commander and flight commanders. “His version” always included explanations on how to do things easier or quicker. It helped me feel that someone was looking out for me.

He was the consummate squad leader. He loved working at that level: being one-on-one with his troops. He was always willing to help out “the little guy.” As a young cadet basic, I fell under Hannibal’s tutelage at squadron meetings and on weekend activities. My first CAP activity was a Wing Search and Rescue exercise held in Lapeer, about a month after I had joined. We took the Group’s weapons carrier to the activity. Top end for the old truck was about 45 mph, but the rear canopy over the cargo bed was beating itself to death. The driver had us attempt to keep the dry rotted canvas from shredding by holding on through existing holes. It made for sore arms and fingers by the time we reached Lapeer Airport 45 minutes later. Hannibal had us taking turns, including him, in the rotation. Our efforts were ultimately in vain. The canopy was in such bad shape it got tossed out in Lapeer that weekend anyway.

We spent the day as a target for the exercises. While we sat around waiting for the cadet commander to effect some repairs to the lights on the ¾ ton, Hannibal told us stories about being in the Young Marines and about being the shortest/youngest drill instructor that they had. He also unraveled the tale of the “Vienna Mortar” incident from a previous activity. That night we slept on the floor of an empty ward at the local sanitarium. The next morning Hannibal took great amusement in pointing out snoring, wheezing, and other quirky sleeping habits of the other cadets. I’ve never really understood why he alone thought it was so funny. We’d get to hear him repeat his jabs at meetings/activities for a while after that. One of our cadet sergeants hooked up with a female cadet while at the activity. It turns out she was the Wing Commander’s daughter. When Hannibal got a hold of that, this became one of his favorite stories in his repertoire.

By February of 1980 I had put on C/A1C myself. I had tried to learn the ropes quickly, getting a good orientation from Hannibal. When I put on C/SGT two months later, it became apparent to me that Hannibal didn’t get the same motivation that I felt for progressing up the ranks, as he stayed C/A1C all this time.

Hannibal and I were both placed on Bravo team at DI in 1980. C/2LT Le Beau was our team leader. Hannibal had clung to C/A1C (and was proud of that fact) while the other team members ranged up to C/SSGT with various degrees of experience. C/2LT Le Beau picked Hannibal to be the assistant team leader. I’m not sure why. It didn’t really bother me, since Hannibal had more time in the organization and more experience, despite me now outranking him. However, it didn’t sit too well with Terry, who also outranked Hannibal, had a good share of experience, and was a few years older than Hannibal. Terry sucked it up, for the most part, after a few initial grumbles.

The assignment was a noticeable boost to Hannibal’s ego. Nothing against Hannibal initially, but a few of us felt the job should have gone to Terry. I think Hannibal sensed that, and he tried to keep himself mostly in check so there weren’t any “blanket parties.” Hannibal had a way of turning it on and off. Most of the time, Hannibal was one of the guys. However, when C/LT Le Beau would give him the direction to take charge of the team, we would mumble nasty thoughts under our breath as Hannibal transformed into “HANNIBAL: ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER.” It gave him a taste of being something larger and Hannibal seemed to like it. He had always showed a lot of promise as a cadet leader. It did not, however, affect how he viewed progressing through the ranks much. He did start moving up, but he is still only a c/TSGT after 4 years in the organization.

Hannibal has no desire to be a cadet officer. He has savored every cadet NCO grade, thus far, and enjoys being a troop. He has continued to develop his knowledge of Emergency Services and “other” skills. Hannibal and I were chosen, along with then c/2LT Popeye, to be the team leaders for the 1981 Drummond Island Ranger School. These were coveted positions that went to the “best and the brightest” of the 77th. Because of his low grade (c/SSgt.), Hannibal was issued the discretionary grade of c/2LT to put him more in line with Popeye and I. Hannibal wasn’t thrilled at being frocked, but he seemed to take it in stride.

Hannibal thrived as a team leader. It was the ultimate assignment in his mind. He was in the field with the hands-on training of his troops. The highest-ranking trainees were assigned to his team, and while several of his team’s members outranked him, none seem to have had a problem with it. He didn’t give them reason to, and his team seemed to hold the highest morale of the school that year.

So far so good, but Hannibal started to show signs of one personality quirk which would later give him a reputation to overcome. He had started to develop an irreverent attitude toward upper authority when it isn’t in line with his thinking. Hannibal believes the way he does things is the optimum way. Although not an issue at the Island last year, it had further affected his reputation going into the encampment this year

In the summer months surrounding DI last year, Hannibal separated himself from Lake Orion Cadet Squadron. He did not tell me his reasons, although I heard through the grapevine it was due to school. It may have also been based on the lackluster leadership of the cadet commanders at the time. They were a better example of what not to do than they were leaders. I don’t remember seeing Hannibal back at LOCS following DI. The former Group Commander created a unit of “misfits” and “renegades”, perhaps as his “special guard.” Hannibal transferred to this new unit. It raised some eyebrows when National HQ approved the application for the name of the new unit as “Devil’s Island Cadet Flight.”

At first, I was surprised that Hannibal joined up with this particular group since they were known as the “misfits, lazies, and crazies” of Group XII. However, Hannibal seemed to have developed an intolerance for the standard way of running the cadet and ES programs. I imagined that was the reason for his attraction to the D.I. Flight. The unit’s field exercises had a reputation to be more wargames than ES training. Aerospace Education, testing, and promotions seemed to be nonexistent. They didn’t associate too much with the Group’s other squadrons, and that was just fine with us in the other units.

Over the next nine months the unit seemed to “eat its young” and the “crazies” became the driving force within it. The general impression is that they had abandoned CAP’s three missions in favor of boot-knives, throwing stars, and hand-to-hand combat training. While not in a leadership position there, Hannibal did stay there until early this year, when he transferred out. I don’t know his reasons for leaving there, although the unit has since been disbanded.

The 1982 Drummond Island Ranger School started its planning phase about January of this year. The initial staff was chosen but it was not the “Star Studded Event” it has been in the past. Some unexpected choices were made for key leadership positions. I had figured that I would do an encore as a team leader and Hannibal believed he would as well. However, this year’s school went through unprecedented sweeping changes from planning all the way through execution. In the meantime, the original staff decisions evolved into what many of us considered for the better. C/MAJ Popeye was chosen for the COIC position. I had the honor of being selected as his deputy.

Although Hannibal had left the Devil’s Island Flight and become the First Sergeant over at the Pontiac Squadron, he still had the reputation of being a loose cannon around the group. Hannibal ended up being assigned to supply initially, which was traditionally a “pigeon-hole” position. When the assignment was announced at the staff meeting, he simply muttered, “Yes, Sir.” I don’t believe he said another word for the rest of the meeting. Normally very outspoken and animated in meetings, he just sat there staring at his schedule.

The push was to put cadet officers only (without discretionary grade) in the team leader positions, and despite Hannibal serving as a team leader last year, he was excluded because he chose to stay an NCO. There may also have been some question as to his respect for authority as he had been an active member of the D.I. Flight. Its reputation had become his reputation (guilt by association). Having recently transferred, he had, as yet, had no opportunity to prove himself otherwise. Besides, Hannibal’s personal way of doing things had become markedly different than the “normal” Group XII way. It should be noted, though, that the “Group XII way” wasn’t exactly the “CAP way” either. As you know, the 77th had altered many aspects of our operations.

Events that had nothing to do with Hannibal changed his luck on assignments. The Ranger School had been opened up for Wing-wide attendance, which drew a remarkable response considering the fact that no one outside the Group XII area really knew what it was. The Group Commander was seemingly building an empire but it got too big, too fast. His health had been failing him and in early July of 1982 he fatally suffered a coronary: just a month before the school was to happen. This left the school with senior member leadership that had no experience with the 77th or Drummond Island. With the expected attendance numbers almost tripling over previous years, and the loss of several key cadet officers, the school staff would have to be expanded and the cadet officer prerequisite was dropped. Hannibal’s experience was needed and his lack of steady promotions in four years was overlooked.

This year’s school was fraught with problems. As you are well aware, the financial aspect of the school is under investigation and I have been asked to provide a full report to the new Group Commander on issues concerning training and morale. Hannibal hadn’t changed in his performance from last year. He was one of the few that had not been affected ideologically. His concern was for his team and getting the job done, but he maintained his irreverence for authority and uniform. He looked like something out of a Vietnam War movie at times. We often saw him in jungle pants, an OD T-shirt and bandanna. At times, it seemed that he must have been allergic to soap and water.

Along with the DI Flight reputation that loomed over his head, I felt that he and I were at opposite poles in doctrine. In actuality, we were probably closer than anybody at the school in ideals, especially those of the beret and ranger program. We were just in different places at that point. Hannibal ended up with the better “end of the stick” as he at least came away from the activity with a feeling that he had a positive effect on his team. As the DCOIC I saw the school come apart before my very eyes and felt ineffectual on any effort to turn it around with the leadership above letting it crumble.

As far as Cadet Hannibal, I see him only on occasion now, as he likes to drop from site/communication and then pop up when you least expected it. You’re glad to see him at first, but then he dives into the tales of the “old days.” His favorites are ones that provided the most embarrassment to you when told in a crowd. Then you can’t wait for him to leave

While Hannibal can be annoying and obstinate, I have not seen him be insubordinate or disobey direct orders. With the merger of the former Group XII into the new “super-group,” we have lost a lot of good people in the last 3 months, and despite his shortcomings, Hannibal is a dedicated and experienced leader. I’d willingly take him back with our unit, but he should serve you well in whatever position you need him in, with appropriate guidance.

Respectfully,

[P.C.]
C/CAPT CAP-USAFX