Dale V. Raebel

Raebel was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, and then attended refresher flight training with VA-45 at NAS Cecil Field from August to November 1973. After transitioning to the A-7E, he remained as an instructor pilot with VA-174 at Cecil Field from November 1973 to June 1975, and again served with VA-37 from June 1975 to January 1978. His next assignment was as Weapons Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) from January 1978 to September 1979, followed by refresher training in the A-7E with VA-174 from October 1979 to June 1980. Captain Raebel served as Executive Officer of VA-83 at NAS Cecil Field from July 1980 to February 1981, and then as Commanding Officer of VA-105 at NAS Cecil Field from February 1981 to May 1982. He attended National War College in Washington, D.C., from August 1982 to June 1983, and then served as the A-7 Program Coordinator and later as Head of the Weapons Requirements Branch on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare in the Pentagon from June 1983 to June 1986. Captain Raebel's next assignment was with the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence from July 1986 to August 1989, followed by service as Head of the Congressional Correspondence Branch with the Naval Military Personnel Command from August 1989 to May 1991. His final assignment was as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Management Support in the Bureau of Naval Personnel from May 1991 until his retirement from the Navy on March 1, 1993. Dale is married to the former Patricia Chester of Jacksonville, Florida, and they have two children.