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.
High school ROTC was only the beginning for Jim Owen. As an ROTC second lieutenant, Jim learned a great deal about leadership, command, and camaraderie.
John and Bob Runtz are siblings from a Chicago family of five. John, born in August, 1943 and Bob born in June, 1945, instantly became members of a military family.
Earl Bushnell, age 96 and his son, Darrell, age 72 are in for an incredible ride. They will be the first father and son duo in Honor Flight Chicago’s history as part of the organization’s 100th flight to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 13.
Joe was born and raised on Chicago’s southwest side and attended St. Rita High School, where he went on a basketball scholarship.
Bob attended the University of Illinois for two semesters in 1961 but came home when it became clear he wasn’t ready for college.
Before college, Bob Sussman had lived all over the country, but never in one place longer than a year and a half.
John “Rizz” Lapo’s toughness, acquired on the streets of Chicago, served him well in the jungles of Vietnam.
William Meloy is 74 years young and grew up in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1968.
2nd Lieutenant Bette Horstman served as a physical therapist in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the Pacific during World War II.
While growing up in Chicago, Carol saw her brother head off to Vietnam. She too wanted to enlist and do her part to serve her country.
With her good high school grades, Mary Arvidson was assigned to become a Traffic Analyst, tracking radio signals from foreign military units.
Clifford's drill sergeant at Fort Knox wanted the most physically fit and best trained soldiers, “and he got both.”
James T. Blaschek was an only child from Peoria who was pursuing a career in education when his country called.
Richard was drafted into the Army as a Light Weapons Infantryman (11 Bravo) in August 1967 at the age of nineteen.
When Paul Crites finished Basic Training in 1970, his Major told him something that he hadn’t been aware of.
While in high school, Ray joined the JROTC following the military background of his father, who served in the Army during World War II.
Keith Kolozie was born in Chicago and grew up in the city’s south side, but he found direction in the jungles of Vietnam.
It was only 16 inches in length, but when light would hit it, it shone so brightly a person needed sunglasses to tone down the glare.
Monty Lutz saw his first U.S. Military Police on the family’s 100-acre sugar beet farm in the San Luis Valley of Colorado in the late 1940’s.