Date: May 2, 2008 

Contact: Lt. Jeremy Loeb
(231) 922-8273

AIR STATION TRAVERSE CITY AVIATOR RETIRES AFTER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Lt. Cmdr. Dale Bluemel, after 26 years of military service, retired from the U.S. Coast Guard today in a special ceremony held at the Air Station's hangar.

Lt. Cmdr. Bluemel, a native of Wonderlake, Ill., began his military career in 1982 following enlistment in the U.S. Army as a Communications Specialist.  In 1985, he attended Officer Candidate School, and in 1987, he completed Army Flight School and earned his Aviator Wings.  He served in the Illinois National Guard flying the OH-58 Kiowa and OH-6A Cayuse observation helicopters and the UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter until 1991 when he received his U.S. Coast Guard commission.

In the Coast Guard, Lt. Cmdr. Bluemel served at Air Station Miami and Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico, twice noted for bravery during life-saving missions.  He also served at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Ala., instructing brand new Coast Guard aviators in the HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter.  He arrived in Traverse City in 2004.

In retirement, Lt. Cmdr. Bluemel will continue to fly as a helicopter pilot for Spectrum Health Aero-Medical Service in Grand Rapids, Mich.