William ‘Cecil’ Johnson: No mission impossible, no sacrifice too great
marc.zarefsky2023-10-16T23:00:48-05:00William “Cecil” Johnson celebrated his 18th birthday in 1954 by joining the army with the intention of becoming a ”lifer”.
Joseph Varanauski: Never give up the guard
marc.zarefsky2023-09-20T08:59:55-05:00“I was, and still am, proud, humbled and honored to have been chosen to be a Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
Harry DeBruin: A Prayer Made and Answered
marc.zarefsky2023-09-18T21:32:31-05:00Harry DeBruin grew up in a house with a horse stable near Lansing, IL. His family owned 50 horses and they boarded an additional 50 horses.
James K. Sawyer: Reluctant Yet Proud
marc.zarefsky2023-08-24T09:35:35-05:00James Sawyer called himself a reluctant soldier but he said there was never a question in his mind that he wouldn’t report to the induction center when he was drafted in 1970.
George Pearson: An Elvis Welcome Home
marc.zarefsky2023-08-22T23:07:54-05:00As wounded personnel were brought in for treatment, George Pearson placed heavy fire on the enemy to protect the wounded soldiers. With complete disregard for his safety, he constantly exposed himself to keep a base of fire on the enemy, causing them to withdraw after suffering numerous casualties.
William ‘Bill Ward: Unrelenting loyalty, initiative, and perseverance
marc.zarefsky2023-08-07T21:29:45-05:00"Awesome" is how Bill Ward describes his experience on July 12, 2023, when he traveled from Chicago to Washington, D.C., as a respected guest of the Honor Flight Chicago program.
Fred Cagle: A Free Spirit Becomes an Army Careerist
marc.zarefsky2023-07-10T21:57:26-05:00Coming from a multi-generation family of coal miners, Fred was born in Hazard, Kentucky, to Columbus and Lois Jean Cagle. Watching his father going to work in the mines during his younger years, Fred attended school and assisted his mother with chores around the house.
James “Jim” Davidson: Three Times is Not Always a Charm
marc.zarefsky2023-07-10T21:51:47-05:00On August 5, 1967, Jim Davidson’s draft notice arrived in the mail. Six months later, he was an Army grunt in Vietnam. Now, some 56 years later, he remembers the details of every firefight he was in and still can’t get his arms around the fact he made it home while many of his brothers in arms didn’t.
Donald Strauss: A Vietnam Journey
marc.zarefsky2023-06-20T10:00:53-05:00If you admire people with a strong work ethic, you’ll want to help celebrate Donald “Don” Strauss when he joins Honor Flight Chicago’s 108th flight on June 14.
Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Holmes: From Wire Reels to High Heels
marc.zarefsky2023-06-12T14:41:36-05:00Nate Holmes grew up in a rough neighborhood on the West side of Chicago with six sisters and one brother. Nate had a step-brother who was serving in the Army in Vietnam and saw news coverage of the war and wondered if he too could fight for his country like his step-brother.
Edward Cook: Special Category Army with Air Force
marc.zarefsky2023-06-12T14:32:56-05:00Edward Cook’s pending draft and love of planes led him to enlist in the Air Force as his first choice in 1952. He had also hoped to learn a trade while serving his country and applied for Army machinist school.
Willie Smith: Survival is the most important thing
marc.zarefsky2023-06-12T14:32:42-05:00Vietnam wasn’t really on his mind when Willie Floyd Smith decided to join the Army in 1966. Just a few months before, the 173rd Airborne Brigade had become the first US Army unit sent to South Vietnam. Willie was shipped to Vietnam in March of 1967.
James Wilson: Interrogating Prisoners
marc.zarefsky2023-03-30T21:13:24-05:00Skip and his South Vietnamese interpreter partner interrogated North Vietnamese Army (NVA) prisoners. In accordance with Army intelligence procedures he wore no rank so that the prisoners would not know his status.
Richard Rock: Rock Solid Soldier
marc.zarefsky2023-04-04T15:27:47-05:00Richard served in Vietnam from July 1966 to July 1967. He’s thankful to God for protecting him while in Vietnam. He earned a number of awards, medals, honors and certifications during his enlistment. He is very much looking forward to his Honor Flight!
Harry Raftis: Diving with Sharks
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:48:21-05:00Without any discussion with his parents, Harry stepped up to serve his country. As he stated, “We were in a World War and I wanted to serve. It wasn’t something I thought a great deal about… I just did what I had to do.”
Edward Helrigel: A Spur of the Moment Choice
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:48:36-05:00High school wasn’t working out for Ed Helrigel, and as he walked home one fateful day, he passed an Army recruiting office. “I walked about a half block, turned around and went in and joined the Army,” says Helrigel.
James Mitchell: Humble Man Living a Blessed Life
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:48:44-05:00James was born in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated high school at the age of seventeen. He was offered a football scholarship in Texas but his family couldn’t afford the out of state tuition.
Charles Merritt: Agent Orange Survivor
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:48:53-05:00Prior to being drafted, Charles “Sam” Merritt, had a fairly routine upbringing. Being the third born of six children of Charles and Mary Merritt, Sam grew up in New Haven, Illinois.
Clyde Hall Jr.: Squad Leader Through Minefields
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:49:01-05:00Clyde Hall, Jr. was born in Mississippi in 1948, one of seven children and the son of a World War II veteran. When he was seven his family moved to Chicago, but after his sophomore year of high school, Clyde moved back to Mississippi to help out his grandparents who still lived there.
John Tourtelot: Army Signal Corps Had the Coolest Patch
marc.zarefsky2022-10-26T22:49:21-05:00The son of a WWII Veteran and brother to 3 sisters, John Tourtelot grew up in Oak Park, IL. After his graduation from Oak Park High School, he attended Wright Jr. College where, in his own words, “he was not an overly dedicated student and had a pretty good time.”