CAPER Companies
This page is a work in progress. We appreciate any help we can get. If you are interested in how this list has been put together, check the information after the list. There is a possibility that copies of CAPER National Headquarters correspondence is still in the National PR Archives in Lincoln, NE. If this is confirmed, I will try to get up there to organize them. With that correspondence, we will have a better idea of CAPER Company chartering dates.
In August 2010, I received "loaner" copies of the the 1964 to 1968 Pershing Rifleman yearbooks (I have the one from 1969...the last one, unfortunately). I missed a couple of the companies from the first two years. Yes, I have a list of companies for the first 3 years now, despite the fact that I know some were wrong and some where missing, but we are closer!!!
If you would like to read what we know about CAPER national and unit histories in an easier to follow book format, check out our book "CAPERS...Who or What Were They". Click here to read it.
| University or College | Location | Local Name | Chartering Date | |
| University of Oklahoma, as far as we know no charter was ever written for a CAPER Company H-7. During my 4 years, we all pledged National Headquarters. The 1966 list included "Headquarters Company H-7" but in the 1968 article, the all pledge drill team was referred to as the National Headquarters Drill Team. Other National Headquarters are included on their company page. | Norman, OK | The original Kaydettes. Also had a "Sabers and Lace" drill team. | ||
| F-1 | Ohio University | Athens, OH | Before April 1969 | |
| H-1 | West Virginia State University | Institute, WV | ||
| N-1 | Marshall University | Huntington, WV | on 1968-69 list | |
| T-1 | Central State University | Wilberforce, OK | Before March 17, 1966 | |
| E-2 | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | Kaydettes | Before March 17, 1966 |
| A-3 | Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Crimson Cadettes | on 1968-69 list |
| C-4 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC | on 1968-69 list | |
| D-4 | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC | on 1967-68 list | |
| G-4 | Auburn University | Auburn, GA | Was NHq in mid 1970's | |
| M-4 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | Was NHq in early 1980's | |
| N-4 | North Carolina A & T University | Greensboro, NC | ||
| P-4 | Tuskegee Institute (now University) | Tuskegee, AL | on 1967-68 list | |
| A-5 * | Pennsylvania State University | Altoona Campus | Before March 17, 1966 | |
| B-5 | Pennsylvania State University | University Park Campus | ||
| K-5 | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | Just after April 1969 | |
| ?-5 * | Pennsylvania State University | Ogontz Campus | Kaydettes | According to PR Ogontz alumni, organized 1965 |
| ?-5 * | Pennsylvania State University | Schuylkill Campus | 1966 Pershing Rifleman said they were starting a CAPER Company. | |
| ?-5 | ||||
| In the 1970 ROTC yearbook, PR 5th Regiment said that there were 6 CAPER Companies in 5th Regiment. * These three Pennsylvania State University Companies listed were at 5th Regimental Headquarters Platoons and we had to come up with designations for them. My memory of A-5 was confirmed by one of the Pershing Rifleman issues. I think I remember a B-5 and that is the designation of a Pershing Rifles Company. We had to come up with designations for the others. Since a PR alumni from the Headquarters Platoon Ogontz that their Kaydettes started in the fall of 1965, I'm assuming the chartered early and are missing from the list. I do remember the charter coming in on one of the Headquarters Platoons. Are these correct? I have no idea at this time! | ||||
| D-6 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA | According to PR D-6 article, fall 1867 | |
| I-6 | Loyola University | New Orleans, LA | ||
| G-7 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | Was NHq in early 1970's | |
| K-8 | Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | Was NHq in 1980's | |
| N-8 | St. Peters College | Jersey City, NJ | Was NHq in 1980's | |
| Q-8 | Hofstra University | Hempstead, NY | ||
| B-9 | University of Colorado | Boulder, CO | Before March 17, 1966 | |
| C-10 | New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, NM | on 1967-68 list | |
| C-15 | Norfolk State College (now University) | Norfolk, VA | Pershing Angels (the first?) | Before March 17, 1966 |
| D-15 | Hampton Institute (now University) | Hampton, VA | on 1968-69 list | |
| H-15 | Morgan State University (read on line that Persherettes started in 1960) | Baltimore, MD | Pershing Angels | |
| C-16 | Florida A & M University | Tallahassee, FL | May 1968 (after list, on 1968-69 list) | |
| M-16 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | Les Bleus Berets | on 1967-68 list |
| Q-15 | Pennsylvania Military College | Chester, PA | Just before April 1969 | |
| L-17 | Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene, TX | on 1968-69 list | |
| Q-17 | Prairie View A & M College (now University) | Prairie View, TX | 1969-70 | |
| R-17 | Trinity University | San Antonio, TX | 1969-70 | |
| Possible CAPER Companies | ||||
| I-1 | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH | ||
| P-1 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, PA | The Royal Green | in 1967 Pershing Rifleman |
| S-1 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | ||
| J-4 | Florence State University (now University of North AL) | Florence, AL | ||
| L-4 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC | ||
| X-4 | Middle Tennessee State University | Mulfreesboro, TN | ||
As the work on our CAPER Alumni Group expands, we have realized that we must include all coed groups that were affiliated with any Pershing Rifles Companies, either before CAPERS became official, after CAPERS officially ended, or those who didn't charter as far as we know. This, of course, included Pershing Angels who re-organized a National Organization in 1990. Any of these alumni can join the Federation of Pershing Rifles Alumni Associations as an at-large member and can work to start their own alumni organization or one that is joint with their Pershing Rifles Company. We'll help you with the process.
Here is the list of other coed groups that we know of:
| College or University | Group Name | Source or other information | |
| C-1 | University of Kentucky | Kentucky Babes | 1969 Pershing Rifleman (also had special group called "Les Sabres"), In 1966 issue, too. |
| A-2 | University of Nebraska | Cadence Countesses | Started October 13, 1959 |
| H-2 | St. John's University | Petticoat Platoon | 1969 Pershing Rifleman, 2nd Regimental Honorary from St. Benedict College was a member |
| I-2 | Marquette University | Marcadettes | 1966 Pershing Rifleman, started in 1962 |
| L-2 | Ripon College | Ripon, WI | 1967 Pershing Rifleman picture only. I think it was mislabeled and it's really B-9 with their white blazers |
| V-2 | Spring Hill College | Kadettes | 1969 Pershing Rifleman, 6th Regimental Honorary, University of South Alabama was a member |
| B-3 | Western Kentucky State | Rebelettes | 1964 and 1969 Pershing Rifleman |
| B-4 | Tennessee Tech | Saw an article about their Homecoming with Pershing Rifles and CAPER Alumni event | |
| B-4 | Tennessee Tech | Saw an article about their Homecoming with Pershing Rifles and CAPER Alumni event | |
| L-4 | North Carolina State | 1969 Pershing Rifleman, had organizational meeting in 1969 | |
| E-7 | Kansas University | E-Co Berets | 1969 Pershing Rifleman, just formed |
| F-12 | University of Connecticut | 1969 Pershing Rifleman, had a picture of their XO. They were taken into their PR Company in the late 1970's. | |
| M-12 | University of Maine | Pershingettes | 1966 Pershing Rifleman |
| A-15 | University of Maryland | Kaydettes | 1966 Pershing Rifleman |
| S-16 | Stetson University | 1969 Pershing Rifleman, was planning on forming a group in 1969 | |
The 1967 Pershing Rifleman article said that in the first year they contacted approximately 60 coed groups, so you can see we've got a long ways to go!
It's been a long time since I graduated in 1971. I was part of the National Staff for 4 years and at one time, could have easily given all the companies. We had a US map on the wall with pins for all of our chartered companies. There were 7 companies when I pledged, so over the years I help celebrate with each charter application that came in. I typed all of their addresses, many, many times. I thought I would never forget them, but time has a way of messing up those memories.
The information on CAPER units comes from a variety of sources.
1. There are some companies that I absolutely remember as being CAPER companies and even some details about them, as well as the CAPER Regimental Headquarters I set up in 1970.
2. A replacement copy of the 1969 Pershing Rifleman (I had a well marked collection of these that disappeared in the mid-1970's), as well as "loaner" copies from 1964 until 1968...but with out my notes on coed companies, of course.
3. The pictures I took at the 1969 National Convention with handwritten notes on their name and company.
4. The internet. I've actually found some information on CAPER companies and even names of members on the internet.
5. The history we received from Pershing Angels.
6. Eventually I hope that there will be more from the memories of other Alumni and from the records of the former CAPER companies who are now Pershing Angels companies. We do have the month and year that one of those companies chartered, as well as a list of their charter members from the internet. I would love to get some scanned copies of the charters. I handled so many of them, it would be nice to see some of them again. Some were even signed by me!
Note: CAPER companies were free to continue calling themselves by their local unit name they had before they were chartered. I'm listing their local names, if I know them.
Linda Grissette
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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.