Honor Flight Chicago Now Accepting Desert Shield/Desert Storm Applications
Doug Meffley2026-10-21T12:38:39-05:00Honor Flight Chicago’s mission is expanding once again! With the dedication [...]
Laurence Jones: “I Served”
Doug Meffley2026-09-28T18:34:22-05:00The value of an individual life is often shaped not by abstract ideas but behind how well one responds to unexpected demands. Laurence Jones did not enter military service seeking glory or adventure. His arrival into military life in 1967 placed him on an immediate path toward combat operations due to the escalation of the war in Vietnam.
John Corcoran: Hercules of the Sky
Doug Meffley2026-08-31T11:14:46-05:00John Corcoran piloted C-130s late in the Vietnam War, typically on routine missions carrying supplies to far-flung bases. Then came April of 1975 and the evacuation of Saigon.
David Miller: A Soldier Finds Peace
Doug Meffley2026-07-08T10:29:10-05:00Dave Miller entered life in a hurry. The U.S. military would later match his urgency, molding a restless boy into a soldier before he found peace and learned to enjoy life.
Trainimair Platte: Logistics Excellence
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T18:39:36-05:00Trainimair Platte served for over 20 years in the Air Force, rising through the ranks to attend the prestigious Air Force Institute of Technology. That experience paved for the way for a successful career after the military.
Mike Pfeffer: Sailing Into History
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T18:30:17-05:00Mike Pfeffer joined the Navy to learn a trade, and he experienced history as a result. Working in the boiler room of the USS Coral Sea, Pfeffer was a part of the evacuation of Saigon and the Mayaguez Incident at the close of the Vietnam War.
Mario Candia: From Bolivia to the Wild Blue Yonder
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T18:20:07-05:00Mario Candia's camera documented the Air Force's actions during the Vietnam War and so much more. From the top-secret "Misty" missions to up close photos during a Bob Hope USO show, Mario's images illustrated the War for many.
Leonard Bunge: Korean War VP-9 Aviator
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T18:04:54-05:00Leonard Bunge always had his eye on military service, with a strong lean toward flying. He joined the Navy and flew with the Navy Patrol Squadron VP-9 "Golden Eagles" patrolling the Sea of Japan during the Korean War.
William “Billy” Kot: Such A Great Life
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T17:53:10-05:00Billy was a Ration Breakdown Specialist in Vietnam, figuring out how much of each ration of meat, vegetables, etc. each company would get. His career after the service was just as full.
Carl Gatto: A Career in Helicopters
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T17:20:08-05:00Carl Gatto attended Lewis College for Aircraft Maintenance, which led to a career in the military in which he was a UH-1 Helicopter Crew Chief, Aircraft Inspector, Platoon Sergeant, Helicopter Maintenance Instructor, and 1SG. of UH-60 Assault Helicopter Company.
Robert Anderson: The RTO With a Bronze Star
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T17:06:27-05:00Robert Anderson was an RTO in the jungles of Vietnam. On the morning of July 6, 1970, Rob’s life was forever changed when he was wounded in a firefight. He earned a Bronze Star that day coordinating the evacuation for himself and five other soldiers.
Jack Rauscher: Resilience and Humor Carried Him Through the Delta
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T16:51:12-05:00In Vietnam, Jack served as an engineman on a “Tango” boat used to move various personnel through the Mekong Delta as part of the Brown Water Navy. The vessels carried a seven-man crew, up to 40 infantrymen, and were heavily armed, but slow. Jack often piloted the boat himself.
Doug Strasburg: Fast Cars, Slow Bulldozers
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T14:49:13-05:00Doug Strasburg says he was born with the ‘go fast’ gene. He loved figuring out how car engines worked. So naturally, when he entered the Army, he was trained as a heavy equipment operator driving very slow bulldozers in Vietnam.
Larry Beall: Second Generation Seabee
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T11:23:10-05:00Larry Beall's dad was a Seabee in WWII, so when his draft notice arrived in August of 1966, he knew he wanted to join the Navy. He didn't initially plan to follow his father's footsteps exactly, but a trade school education prior to joining made his Seabee assignment pretty much a given.
Adrienne Rubinkowski: Submarine Surveillance and Logistics
Doug Meffley2026-05-19T10:59:03-05:00During 20 years of service which included some tremendous responsibilities and intense experiences, when asked if she was ever scared or concerned, Lt. Rubinkowski’s immediate answer was during the Gulf War when she had to prepare recruits and their families for what was an unexpected deployment. A true dedicated service member, her concern was for others first.
Honor Delayed: HFC107 Postponed By Weather
Doug Meffley2023-04-07T09:46:13-05:00Honor Flight Chicago's 107th Flight -- carrying our 10,000th veteran to Washington, [...]
HFC Yard Signs Honor Veterans Still Waiting For Their Day Of Honor
Doug Meffley2020-10-05T14:20:17-05:00On March 11, 2020, just prior to our annual Law Enforcement [...]
Honor Flight Chicago Flight Season Update
Doug Meffley2021-06-22T10:59:47-05:00Get ready to cheer our veterans! Honor Flight Chicago [...]
Operation HerStory: Sky’s the Limit for Illinois’ First All-Women Veterans Flight to Washington, D.C.
Doug Meffley2020-02-25T20:21:56-06:00CHICAGO (Feb. 25, 2020) – Honor Flight Chicago, Daughters of the [...]
John Walker: Tunnel Rat Armed With Only a Flashlight and a .45
Doug Meffley2019-10-17T14:17:23-05:00When you meet John Walker, he is a very warm and welcoming person. When he begrudgingly tells you about his time in Vietnam, right away you know he is one of the most courageous people you will ever meet.