WWII vets take trip of a lifetime

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Robert Wollenberg
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Eighteen Airmen and one Marine from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, volunteered to help more than 200 World War II veterans from Abilene and surrounding areas take "the trip of a lifetime" April 12 to see memorials constructed in their honor in Washington D.C.

The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created to honor America's veterans for their sacrifices by transporting these heroes to Washington D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials at no cost to themselves.

"It's wonderful that my husband was given this opportunity to see the memorial," said Glenna Jungman, wife of Alvin Jungman, one veteran present for the trip. "He's never been there and this is definitely a trip of a lifetime."

Mr. Jungman was seen off by three generations of his family. According to his wife, as a teen he wanted to join the Marine Corps but was told no by his family. While waiting to be inducted into service at Ft. Worth, Texas in 1945, he was one of three chosen to join the Marine Corps on the spot and proceeded to clerical school.

Honor Flight trips are made possible through donations; discounts by charter bus companies, airlines, hotels and more; and through volunteers, of which more than 100 were present during this West Texas Honor Flight.

"The people who put this on are so organized and have these trips perfected," said Senior Airman Jamie Smith, 7th Operations Support Squadron. "I was offered this opportunity with no in-depth details of what it was about. But when I got there, I was so impressed. I would suggest everyone who has the opportunity to get involved with the Honor Flights do so. It is a very rewarding and powerful two days."

The trip started April 11 with a police and fire department escort to the Abilene Civic Center for dinner and a United Service Organization show that ended about 7 p.m.

The following day began at 2 a.m. Many vets and family members were up and ready to go for the initial seating and preparation that would be the beginning of their journey to Washington. At 3:30 a.m. the first of nine buses was loaded and ready to leave for the Abilene Regional Airport to be boarded onto one of two Boeing 737 aircraft. At the airport, more volunteers were there to see the veterans off and assist them up the stairs into the aircraft. Of those volunteers there were several members of Dyess Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Once the group landed four hours later at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va., they were met by yet more volunteers who helped move the veterans to awaiting buses at the front of the airport. These buses drove the veterans to the Air Force Memorial where everyone was able to view the structure, read inscriptions and have their photos taken in front of various statues and plaques.

The next stop on the trip was the World War II Memorial, the main purpose of this trip.

"The vets were so amazing," Airman Smith said. "Their stories were so touching and honorable. At the age they're at, it was awesome to see them act like they were 20 again, running around the memorials with their friends, laughing and remembering how it used to be. It sure does give you a new look on patriotism and pride in what we do serving in the Air Force."

"I really enjoyed the trip," said Airman 1st Class Erika Conklin, 7th Medical Operation Squadron. "At the end of the day there was one man in a wheelchair who forced himself to stand for the changing of the colors. He was the last one there, and I walked up to him to get him back to the bus and his eyes were filled with tears. That was the most touching part of the trip for me."

After the stay at the World War II Memorial, the veteran's were taken to the Vietnam War, Korean War Veteran's and Marine Corps War Memorials.

"I never thought we would be honored this way," said Benton Miller of San Saba, Texas. "I never thought we would be appreciated this way, years later." Mr. Miller served in the Army in the Pacific from 1943 to 1946.

Based on recent 2008 statistics, we are losing World War II veterans at the rate of approximately 1,000 per day, according to the Honor Flight Network website. Honor Flight Network will continue do whatever it takes to fulfill the dreams of our veterans and help our senior heroes travel absolutely free.

"I think this trip is a great opportunity for all the vets as well as the volunteers," Airman Conklin said. "Many of the vets I spoke to had never been to D.C., and they were thrilled to see their memorial. I would absolutely love to go on this trip again and volunteer in any way to serve these honorable men and women who served our country."