U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member Bill Mueller (left), Coast Guard Petty Officer Brian Huff, and Auxiliary member Robert Belonga were honored for their dedicated service and leadership Wednesday, September 23, at the Coast Guard station in St. Ignace. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Brian Huff and St. Ignace Coast Guard Auxiliary members Robert Belonga and Bill Mueller, all of St. Ignace, were honored for their dedicated service and leadership Wednesday, September 23, at the St. Ignace Coast Guard station. About 50 active Coast Guard members, Auxiliary members, and their families gathered to honor the three men.

Petty Officer Huff received the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for his leadership during a search for three divers separated from their adrift boat in July 2008. His knowledge of boat traffic and lake currents, combined with quick thinking, allowed search teams to locate the divers, who were more than two miles away from their boat, in less than 10 minutes.

He also filled the role of Executive Petty Officer for more than four months this year, in addition to his normal duties, while a replacement was found for outgoing Executive Petty Officer John Tribfelner.

Mr. Belonga received the Auxiliary Achievement Medal for his 2,000 hours of Auxiliary support operations and service as Flotilla Staff Officer and Qualifications Examiner since October 2004. He helped organize surface patrol efforts for the Mackinac Bridge Walk, Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show, and Independence Day fireworks celebrations. He also supervised repairs to the law enforcement dock on Mackinac Island, which included the installation of new boat cleats, dock support beams, and walkways.

He has been a volunteer member of the St. Ignace Coast Guard Auxiliary for 31 years. He has also volunteered for the St. Ignace Fire Department and ambulance corps.

"I figure volunteers run the world," Mr. Belonga said.

Mr. Mueller received the Auxiliary Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement as Flotilla Commander and Vice Commander between March 2007 and September 2009. He has logged more than 2,000 hours conducting operational and non-operational training, marine patrols, processing orders, reconciling fuel reports, and managing administrative duties in that time. He also helped organize his flotilla's involvement in the Mackinac Bridge Walk, Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooded Boat Show, Midwest Water-Cross Tour, Port Huron to Mackinac Island boat race, Chicago to Mackinac Island boat race, and Independence Day fireworks celebrations.

He also provided Auxiliary educational materials to Coast Guard members deployed in the Persian Gulf to help promote safe boating practices to Iraqi fishermen.

"People out on the water, they always see the law side [of the Coast Guard], they never see the human side," Mr. Mueller said.

He has volunteered with the St. Ignace Auxiliary for the last nine years, and volunteered in Waterford the nine years previously. He enjoys the work and camaraderie with the many Coast Guard members he has met over the years. He lives in Florida most of the year and spends his summers in St. Ignace.

"It's not about me. It's about the crew I work with every summer," he said while receiving his award. "If I couldn't be here during the summer, I'd be one unhappy person."