On April 15, 2010, Kurt and I accompanied my Dad into the offical induction ceremony and dinner held in Paul's honor at the Hill Airforce Base Officer's Club. My sister (Pam) and her family (Robert, Jake, Lexie - Sean couldn't join us as he was in the MTC) drove up from St. George to attend the special honor.
Jake and Lexie were part of the program with Lexie singing a spectacular rendition of Lee Greenwood's, God Bless the USA. Even with a room full of crusty old military men, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Jake read a report he had written as a school project outlining Paul's military accomplishments.
Paul had served from 1964 to 1965 in Vietnam in the 57th Med. Det. and from 1968 to 1969 in the 498. Med. Com. He received the Purple Heart three times and was the 1964 "Army Aviator of the Year". After his time in Vietnam he was Chief of a battalion in Frankfurt. MAJ Paul Bloomquist was CO of the 45th MB 3AD Hanau, Germany in 1971. He made LTC soon thereafter. He was on assignment to V Corps working on a drug rehab program for troops. Bloomquist was killed by a bombing attack by the Red Army Faction on the Headquarters of the V Corps in the IG Farben Building in Frankfurt. You can find out more at Wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_A._Bloomquist.
On Memorial Day, 2010, they will unveil it at another special ceremony, attended by Senator Bob Bennett at the Aerospace Museum. It was a spectacular evening. . . and how often do you get to see Kurt in tux and my Dad in a suit??
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