After years of reading you at the Bulwark, Charlie, I just happily found your substack today, by chance, and signed up. I’m looking at your archive and read this wonderful article. My husband is an Honor Flight volunteer photographer (departures and arrivals) in Spokane, WA. In the fall before the pandemic, he was a Flight photographer. He was so impressed with and deeply touched by everything, especially by the veterans on the trip, including a 96-year old and a 99 year old who turned 100 during the trip. And yes, the veterans are blown away by the packets of letters and cards they receive on the flight home and by the joyous, raucous reception at the airport. The most recent trip had no WWII veterans. It’s now some Korean War vets and mostly Vietnam vets. You can imagine the impact on these Vietnam soldiers who returned to shaming and abuse. My husband hopes to be a Flight photographer again. It’s an amazing thing.
As an expat in Europe, experiencing the rumblings once again of war, I think even more of the service of my uncles in WWll, my dad working on the bomb, and thank all in my heart.
Charlie, thank you for your effort, and the effort of the others, in putting together the Stars and Stripes Honor Flights. My late father-in-law Dave Albert flew on one of the flights in 2015. He was 85. Dave was not a WWII vet. Instead, he was a veteran of the Korean War. And although WWII might have been more significant in keeping the world free, the peril and heroism of the Korean War vets was every bit as great. Dave was a survivor of Chosin Reservoir (one of the "Chosin Few"), perhaps the Marines' proudest campaign. He served as a forward spotter and was attached to the British Commandos. For that service, he was awarded 11 military awards, but the Honor Flight might have been his most meaningful recognition. My wife Stacey was thrilled to accompany Dave on the flight. It is one of Stacey's favorite memories with her dad.
Fantastic piece, Charlie Sykes!!! God bless them all, still here or passed!! As Joe Biden said today they are calling out to all of us to take the torch to save freedom and democracy for ourselves and future generations. It’s a shared responsibility between freedom lovers everywhere!!!
This is wonderful! So happy to see this. My partner just died a year ago from cancer. He was a Marine and was drafted during Vietnam. He was always very proud of his service. ❤️
My mother and father, both Navy Officers, served throughout WWII. Quietly proud, rarely speaking of their experiences. To see what’s happening today would shake them to their core.
Both injured, they met recuperating at the Key West Naval Hospital. Which accounts for my brothers and I.
Wow Charlie! I'd heard of the Honor Flights but I didn't know your connection to it. What a great job! My dad and I were planning our own personal honor flight to DC to see the new memorial in the summer 2012 but he passed in February. That just goes to show you how significant those flights were and how close to the end they must have been for many veterans.
My parents were of that generation. My dad was a Coast Guard cadet in New London and so didn’t see action in the war, although he did give his life for his country on June 29, 1961 when his helicopter exploded in mid air on a routine flight. Both of my uncles, Coast Guard and Air Force went to war. They both survived my dad. Not one member of that generation was “entitled”. They believed in doing what was right, not what was expedient. They believed in our country. They were old style republicans. Your excellent piece brought me back to the ethos of my pre-college life before the mixed up smoke of peace and love carried me away. You always write personally (at least I think so!). And you write true. Thank you.
Quite the accomplishment! The greatest generation certainly deserved it. Just jaw-dropping, the bravery of WWII allied soldiers & resistance fighters. .
I was born 3 years after WWII was won. My acquaintance with that war was from movies. The first time I saw "The Longest Day", I had to hold my breath in shock. Men landing onshore in deep and wide ranks were cut down before they took their 4th step. Those first men landing on the beach knew it meant sure death. Machine gun fire massacred them in droves. But they went ahead full speed and fell. And then more lines of men left the boats and were cut down. And then line after line after line ran and fell. But a few out of each rank bought a few more steps up the beach towards the Germans and they took the beaches. 4,414 Allied soldiers died in that surge. 2,501 American GIs died there. 5,000 more were wounded.
I remember during the 2016 campaign, a Vietnam Vet went up on stage to greet Trump. When the Vet met Trump, he handed his Purple Heart to Trump. Trump said, "I always wanted one of these."
Imagine that. In a moment of moral clarity unrelated as far as I know about this incident, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs flying a helicopter in Iraq called Trump "Cadet Bone Spurs". That's who took the Purple Heart and kept it.
It's worthwhile to take a look at today's leading candidates to gauge which is more suited to serve as our next President.
Thank you for picking up where your mom left off. She'd have been so proud to see the service men and women acknowledged in this way. Her pride in you would most definitely be endless.
As always, thank you for all you have given to all of us.
After years of reading you at the Bulwark, Charlie, I just happily found your substack today, by chance, and signed up. I’m looking at your archive and read this wonderful article. My husband is an Honor Flight volunteer photographer (departures and arrivals) in Spokane, WA. In the fall before the pandemic, he was a Flight photographer. He was so impressed with and deeply touched by everything, especially by the veterans on the trip, including a 96-year old and a 99 year old who turned 100 during the trip. And yes, the veterans are blown away by the packets of letters and cards they receive on the flight home and by the joyous, raucous reception at the airport. The most recent trip had no WWII veterans. It’s now some Korean War vets and mostly Vietnam vets. You can imagine the impact on these Vietnam soldiers who returned to shaming and abuse. My husband hopes to be a Flight photographer again. It’s an amazing thing.
As an expat in Europe, experiencing the rumblings once again of war, I think even more of the service of my uncles in WWll, my dad working on the bomb, and thank all in my heart.
Charlie, thank you for your effort, and the effort of the others, in putting together the Stars and Stripes Honor Flights. My late father-in-law Dave Albert flew on one of the flights in 2015. He was 85. Dave was not a WWII vet. Instead, he was a veteran of the Korean War. And although WWII might have been more significant in keeping the world free, the peril and heroism of the Korean War vets was every bit as great. Dave was a survivor of Chosin Reservoir (one of the "Chosin Few"), perhaps the Marines' proudest campaign. He served as a forward spotter and was attached to the British Commandos. For that service, he was awarded 11 military awards, but the Honor Flight might have been his most meaningful recognition. My wife Stacey was thrilled to accompany Dave on the flight. It is one of Stacey's favorite memories with her dad.
Fantastic piece, Charlie Sykes!!! God bless them all, still here or passed!! As Joe Biden said today they are calling out to all of us to take the torch to save freedom and democracy for ourselves and future generations. It’s a shared responsibility between freedom lovers everywhere!!!
This is wonderful! So happy to see this. My partner just died a year ago from cancer. He was a Marine and was drafted during Vietnam. He was always very proud of his service. ❤️
My mother and father, both Navy Officers, served throughout WWII. Quietly proud, rarely speaking of their experiences. To see what’s happening today would shake them to their core.
Both injured, they met recuperating at the Key West Naval Hospital. Which accounts for my brothers and I.
Wow Charlie! I'd heard of the Honor Flights but I didn't know your connection to it. What a great job! My dad and I were planning our own personal honor flight to DC to see the new memorial in the summer 2012 but he passed in February. That just goes to show you how significant those flights were and how close to the end they must have been for many veterans.
Wonderful program!!
My parents were of that generation. My dad was a Coast Guard cadet in New London and so didn’t see action in the war, although he did give his life for his country on June 29, 1961 when his helicopter exploded in mid air on a routine flight. Both of my uncles, Coast Guard and Air Force went to war. They both survived my dad. Not one member of that generation was “entitled”. They believed in doing what was right, not what was expedient. They believed in our country. They were old style republicans. Your excellent piece brought me back to the ethos of my pre-college life before the mixed up smoke of peace and love carried me away. You always write personally (at least I think so!). And you write true. Thank you.
Quite the accomplishment! The greatest generation certainly deserved it. Just jaw-dropping, the bravery of WWII allied soldiers & resistance fighters. .
❤️
Wonderful story, Charlie. Thank you.
Thank you Charlie. I was very moved reading this. It brought a lump to my throat.
I was born 3 years after WWII was won. My acquaintance with that war was from movies. The first time I saw "The Longest Day", I had to hold my breath in shock. Men landing onshore in deep and wide ranks were cut down before they took their 4th step. Those first men landing on the beach knew it meant sure death. Machine gun fire massacred them in droves. But they went ahead full speed and fell. And then more lines of men left the boats and were cut down. And then line after line after line ran and fell. But a few out of each rank bought a few more steps up the beach towards the Germans and they took the beaches. 4,414 Allied soldiers died in that surge. 2,501 American GIs died there. 5,000 more were wounded.
I remember during the 2016 campaign, a Vietnam Vet went up on stage to greet Trump. When the Vet met Trump, he handed his Purple Heart to Trump. Trump said, "I always wanted one of these."
Imagine that. In a moment of moral clarity unrelated as far as I know about this incident, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs flying a helicopter in Iraq called Trump "Cadet Bone Spurs". That's who took the Purple Heart and kept it.
It's worthwhile to take a look at today's leading candidates to gauge which is more suited to serve as our next President.
It ain't the Cadet.
Charlie
Thank you for picking up where your mom left off. She'd have been so proud to see the service men and women acknowledged in this way. Her pride in you would most definitely be endless.
As always, thank you for all you have given to all of us.
🇺🇸❤️🤍💙
Barbara
Charlie you are the best! Thank you for honoring these heroes🇺🇸