On HFC101 last week, we made Honor Flight Magic! Despite the current uptick in COVID cases leading to a handful of cancellations, we still had a wonderful group of 106 senior veterans on board (1 WWII, 10 Korean War, 95 Vietnam War).
“Join the Navy and see the world!” But in Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Ken Albert’s case, it was not “see the world” but more like “be in the line of fire 24/7 for as long as your Vietnam tour of duty lasts.”
Lew Bottando grew up in Chicago with his brother who also served in Vietnam with the Air Force. Before joining the Army, Lew worked as a laborer, building Illinois Route 394, also known as the Calumet Expressway.
In 1964 the Vietnam draft impacted the lives of so many young men. Arnie, who had already graduated from medical school, decided to be the master of his fate.
Growing up, the Galvan brothers, Manny, Felix, and Lu, did almost everything together. As young adults, all three entered the military and served during Vietnam – sometimes even in the same village.
Richard “Dick” Dowsett was born 1931 in Dowagiac, Michigan and spent his childhood there. After finishing high school, he attended Western Michigan University and graduated in 1953 with a degree in Business Administration.
Joseph Kwasny was the youngest of six children in a Polish household and neighborhood. He is a Purple Heart recipient, had a career in law enforcement and continues to help veterans today.
Leon H. Wilson was born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. Leon, wanting more adventure than what he was experiencing on the South Side of Chicago, made the decision to join the U.S. Navy at the age of seventeen years old.
Joseph Matkovcik grew up in Berwyn and enlisted in the Army in 1972 at the age of 27. Between high school and enlisting, Joseph worked for the County Police, the County Sheriff and worked in a machine shop.
Thomas G. (Tom) Workinger was born in 1928 during the Great Depression and grew up and attended school in Terre Haute, Indiana. He “watched” as World War II engulfed the planet.