  High Res Photo On Thursday, July 8, 2004 Commander Anthony Popiel officially transferred command of Coast Guard Group Grand Haven over to Lieutenant Commander Tracy Wannamaker during a ceremony at Escanaba Park, Grand Haven, Michigan. RADM Robert Papp, Commander Ninth Coast Guard District reigned over the official transfer. “High Res Photo” A group of chiefs, who served under Commander Popiel, stand ready to carry out orders under the new Group Commander. She can expect the same excellence from the chiefs as did Commander Popiel. “My tour would not have been anywhere as successful as it was,” said Popiel, “if not for the superior leadership and devotion of the chief’s mess. They do a marvelous job of turning words into action.” Chiefs left to right: BMC Jeff Mallory, Officer in Charge (OINC) Motor Life Boat Station Manistee, CWO John Anderson, Group Grand Haven Engineering Officer, BMC Paul Decker, OINC, Motor Life Boat Station Michigan City, and Eric Lepley, OINC, Motor Life Boat Station, St. Joseph. Photos Senior Chief Tom Rau (ret) Boat Smart crusader will be missed Over the last three years Commander Popiel has edited the Boat Smart column; he has provided helpful insights drawn from a distinguished career in search and rescue highlighted by his three-year tour at Group Grand Haven. During that period Group has processed over 3,000 search and rescue (SAR) cases, during which his boat crews saved 237 lives. During my Boat Smart beat, I would call the Group Grand Haven search and rescue operation’s center on Sunday night for a brief on weekend-SAR cases, often to discover the Commander in the Operations center. He held a passion for helping people on the water as he did through his contributions to the Boat Smart column. . That he hardly supported the Boat Smart column spilled over to his operations folks and station chiefs and crews, who have been invaluable in helping us promulgate the safe-boating message. He not only endorsed the message he has promoted it with heart-felt conviction. Thanks for the great support, Commander, and I wish you well in your upcoming tour on Capital Hill. Senior Group
Grand Haven | USCG
Office of Boating Safety
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