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A Blue Angel visits Lemoore's Liberty Middle School delivering lessons about trumpets and the United States Navy
The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s premier flight demonstration team are in town for the NAS Lemoore Central Valley Air Show which begins tomorrow (Sept. 21) and continues on Sunday. The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The ramrod-straight Hempler, who looked as though his Blue Angels flight suit was painted on, showed up bright and early Friday morning delivering what amounted to a Navy recruiting sermon that had the youngsters – and a few teachers and administrators, including Liberty Principal Ben Luis and the district’s superintendent, Cheryl Hunt – mesmerized.
Hempler has served in the Navy since 2008.
One of the most interesting tidbits the rapt students learned was that Hempler, who told the surprised kids that he once considered himself a “nerd,” once had a goal of becoming a trumpet player. “I played the trumpet,” he said, standing ramrod straight as he gazed over the throng of young people. “I was considered a super nerd,” he added for emphasis. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”
Eventually, after a stint in junior college in his native Kansas, he decided he needed to try something else. “I didn’t have the drive to stay in music,” he remembered.
Then – like millions of other young men – he saw Top Gun, and life changed at that moment. He wanted to be Tom Cruise, not the actor, but the naval aviator who piloted the best jets in the world. “ I always thought that being in the Navy was awesome.” But there was a problem. His eyesight wasn’t up to snuff. “My eyesight was terrible,” and to fly expensive supersonic jets, a navy pilot sort of needs to see well.
Well, Hempler solved the problem with surgery. He underwent Lasik eye surgery and emerged with 20/20 vision, certainly good enough for the Navy. He enrolled at Kansas State University and decided to focus on aviation. He did well and found himself in Navy Flight School, soon earning his wings.
Not bad for a former trumpet player from Wamego, Kansas.
His story was basically a lesson for the youngsters who appeared to hang on his every word. “Don’t close any future (dreams) by slacking off on your schoolwork,” he warned.
Hempler has been with the Blue Angels for three years. He started as the team’s narrator and eventually worked himself into a slot in the flying squad. He will leave the flight demonstration team soon. “I’m going to Japan in a few months to fly FA-18s.”
He asked for questions. Responding to a query about female Blue Angels, he admitted that haven’t been any, but said female Blue Angels are inevitable. “I’m confident in our lifetimes we’ll see female Blue Angel pilots,” he predicted.
He introduced an up and coming Blue Angel, Lt. Julius Bratton, who trained at NAS Lemoore. He also introduced Crew Chief Jeramie Race, one of about 126 personnel who keep the Blue Angels in the air.
