4th of July Special: The Honor Flight Network

 4^th OF JULY, 2012 – THE USS ABBOT (DD- 629) REUNION, SEPTEMBER 19- 23

 JOHN ALFORD’S STORY

HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK

Dorothy and I are looking forward to the reunion with my shipmates in Norfolk, joined by those who served before and after us. On the run-up to the reunion, emails and phone calls between those planning to attend have kindled fond memories of far away places and deployments roaming the Atlantic and Mediterranean in the company of trusted shipmates, all performing together as a team led by a Captain we all loved who taught and inspired us.

This will be my fourth reunion. I have written about the three previous gatherings, which have included several “plank owners.” (Men who were aboard from the day she was commissioned, in 1943.)

John Alford has attended many reunions. He will turn 87 in October. During his career he served aboard six ships. His first ship was the USS Wasp (CV-18). His last ship was the USS Abbot (DD-629). John served aboard in 1958 and 1959, a year after me. We have something else in common. We both enjoy writing. He sent me a copy of his book, “An Aspiring Author,” copyright 2011.

John enlisted in the Navy in 1943 at the age of 17 and is a veteran of WW II, Korea and the Cold War.  He retired in 1963 as the first enlisted man designated as a Navy Exchange Officer and was promoted to Master Chief Ship’s Serviceman. He worked for the federal government, retiring in 1978. John was later employed in the private sector including short stays in Saudi Arabia and Israel. He has been an Oregon resident since 2006.

With his permission, I am including John’s latest story. It strikes me as epitomizing what is so right and good about this country, and is particularly appropriate for reprinting as the 4^th of July approaches.

 

HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK

The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit program to take World War Two veterans to Washington, DC to see their memorial; at no cost to the veteran! The program is funded by donations and contributions.

I had submitted my application for the program in May 2010. In February 2012 I called to see where I was on the waiting list. The coordinator, Dick Tobiason in Bend, Oregon, told me that he will take 30 vets in June. He said there were 125 on the waiting list and, “You’re number 14; do you want to go?” “Are you kidding me? Absolutely!”

As you read this please keep in mind that there was no cost to any veteran! The guardians, helpers and volunteers paid their own way.

June 6, 2012

30 World War II veterans from Portland and 24 from Eastern Oregon (Bend) gathered for a trip to Washington, DC. This group of World War II veterans included four women. We were accompanied by about 43 guardians and volunteers. We assembled at the Shilo Inn hotel near the Portland airport. Shilo gave us the rooms at no cost and also honored us with a delicious dinner.

Dick and his staff of volunteers had the ballroom all set up with name tags and other things we would use on our trip. We had ball caps and T-shirts that identified us as WW II veterans, and we wore them throughout the trip.

We were in 8 assigned teams, each with a volunteer leader. There were 14 of us in my team and our leader was Frank Barsotti, assisted by his wife, Carol. Each team member had a specific colored lanyard which held our name tags. The reverse of the name tag had cell phone numbers for Dick and the two doctors with us who happened to be father and son.

June 7, 2012

Our entire group was divided into two flights. The 50 of us on our flight were up at 3:15 AM to get ready for our 5:55 flight.

At that early hour we had the pleasure of passing through an Honor Guard which lined the route to the check-in!

The team leaders passed out the boarding passes which had been prepared earlier. As we arrived at the departure gate, the Southwest Airlines gate attendant announced that our Honor Flight group would board first. As we started our boarding the other passengers applauded and cheered. We occupied the rear of the plane. We were told that Southwest had donated the tickets to us! We also learned that BNSF Railroad was a major financial contributor to the Honor Flight Network.

Our flight made a stop in Denver. During that short lay-over, USO volunteers brought sandwiches and chips to us! The other flight went through Chicago where they had to change planes.

Upon our arrival at Dulles airport we were greeted by a water spray from two fire trucks; one on either side of the plane! As we left the plane and proceeded up the walkway, several volunteers greeted us with applause, handshakes and hugs. The passengers waiting for flights also cheered and applauded. We had dinner at the hotel that night.

Friday, June 8, 2012

We had breakfast in the Capitol and were addressed by Oregon Congressman Greg Walden and Senator Ron Wyden. Representative Walden read a portion of a speech he made on the House floor to recognize the Honor Flight participants from Portland and Eastern Oregon.

During June 8 and 9 we had the opportunity to visit the World War II, Navy, Marine Corps Iwo Jima, Air Force, Viet Nam, Korean War, Women in Military Service to America, Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorials. And we had the honor of watching the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. While at the WW II Memorial each of us veterans received a copy of the Congressional Record wherein Congressman Walden’s speech was entered. And we each received a U.S. flag that, at Congressman Walden’s request, had been flown over the Capitol on Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2012.

Everywhere we went, starting with the Honor Guard at the Portland airport at the beginning, we were thanked for our service by hundreds of tourists and local residents.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

The USO provided another sandwich at Denver on our way home. As we arrived back at Portland airport we were again saluted with a water spray from two fire trucks. There were literally hundreds of men, women, and teenagers gathered at our exit from the jet-way, and hundreds more after we left the secured area. There were throngs of men, women, and teenagers saluting while others held U. S. flags. I personally was so overwhelmed and awe struck that I didn’t notice if they were in a specific uniform or not. I imagine some were military, police, and Boy Scouts, but I don’t remember. I almost cried.

We returned to the Shilo Inn for our good-byes.

The Honor Flight program is active in 40 states. It started in 2005, the rear after the WW II memorial was dedicated. Through December, 2011 over 63,000 World War II veterans have been escorted to their memorial!

In retrospect, I will say that I am humbled by the enthusiastic recognition we received throughout the trip. When given the opportunity, I think the majority of our citizens appreciate our service during one of the most important events in our short history since 1776. For the most part, men and women who served our country in World War Two were not thrill-seekers, not glory hounds, and definitely not war-mongers. We had a job to do, and we did it.

I am glad that our government has finally recognized the fact that members of the Merchant Marine and WASP are veterans.

Personally, I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve my country; proud to have been a part of the great military force that for many years has helped protect and preserve the way of life we all enjoy today.

 

Happy 4th of July to my extended blog family,

George

 

[photos from USS Abbot website]