[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING DAN OHL OF MALTA

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                          HON. GREG GIANFORTE

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2020

  Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dan Ohl of Malta 
for going above and beyond to answer the call of duty and personally 
fly blood platelets to his local hospital in a time of need.
   Dan loves to fly. He says there's nothing like seeing Montana's 
stunning landscape from a different perspective.
   As a Montana Highway Patrolman, Dan spends a lot of time on the 
ground, lending a hand to fellow Montanans. It wasn't until this past 
December that his love of flying and helping others came together.
   In December 2019, Phillips County Hospital contacted Montana Highway 
Patrol for assistance delivering blood from Great Falls to their clinic 
in Malta. The troopers came up with a plan to use a series of relays to 
transport the blood to Malta but ran into a problem when there wasn't 
enough staff to execute it. That's when Dan stepped up.
   Dan jumped into action and using his own Beach Craft Bonanza 6-
seater, started the over 200-mile flight to Great Falls to meet the Red 
Cross at the local airport. He says it was the most precious cargo, 
aside from his family, he has had on his plane. When he touched down in 
Malta, he met with hospital staff who transferred the blood to the 
hospital. His quick delivery of blood saved a life.
   For Dan, this is why he went into serving in the Montana Highway 
Patrol: he wanted to help Montanans. Whether he's on or off duty, as a 
patrolman, he's called to step up in times of need and that's exactly 
what he did.
   Madam Speaker, for selflessly helping his fellow Montanans, from the 
air and on the ground, I recognize Dan Ohl for his Spirit of Montana.

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