“Sleep When You are Dead”

25 World War II Veterans, 25 Marine Guardians, and 5 Honor Flight Staff assembled at the American Legion Complex in The Villages, Florida beginning at 0315 on Sunday, 8 September 2013 to begin their journey to Washington, DC.  I would say that the general atmosphere was enthusiastic anticipatory, and very happy.  Almost all of us had not been on an Honor Flight and little did we know what was to come!

Honor Flight is a national organization dedicated to bringing the remaining Veterans of World War II to Washington, DC to see “their” memorial on the Mall as well as the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Air Force Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery.  The motto of the Honor Flight is “All they did was to Save the World!”.  They are dying at the rate of 700 a day across the United States.  Even here in Florida, the numbers of World War II Vets are diminishing quickly.  The oldest Vet on our Flight was 97 and the youngest 87.  Like I said, we didn’t know what was to come!

Eight of our Vets came from the US Navy;  eight from the US Army;  five from the US Marine Corps; two from the Army Air Corps (later the US Air Force); and, two from the Merchant Marine.  Within this group were veterans of some of the toughest fights in the Pacific (Iwo Jima, Leyte Gulf & Guadalcanal); one who worked with the Navaho Code Talkers; veterans of the hard fighting in Europe (tankers, infantry, and one who crossed the beach at Normandy); fighter pilots and tail gunners in the Pacific; a UDT Commando (forerunners of the Navy Seals); US Navy gunners aboard warships; and, veterans who steered convoys across the Atlantic facing Nazi submarines. 

The Marine Guardians were from my Marine Corps League Detachment here in The Villages.  Among them were several Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan Vets.  I was proud of have had a PhD, Professor of Audiology, who taught at Gallaudet University as a Guardian.  She is an Associate Member of the Leesburg, FL MCL Detachment.  One of our Guardians was a former Commanding Officer of the Helicopter Squadron that serves as Marine One.  He flew Presidents Reagan and Clinton in this capacity. Our Honor Flight was the first one ever to have all Marine Corps Guardians.  We looked splendid in our red shirts, covers, khaki trousers, and short haircuts!

We boarded our bus for Orlando International Airport 0425.  As the bus pulled out of the parking lot, we went under an arc of water spraying in the air from two fire trucks.  Suddenly, two police cruisers with sirens and flashing lights took their place and moments later a convoy of 25 Patriot Guard motorcycles each flying flags snugged in behind the police cruiser.  We went roaring through Leesburg and other towns with people standing on the sidewalks cheering.  I have to tell you that I got misty eyes, the first of a lot of them to come.  We were escorted as far as the Florida Turnpike where we settled in the one hour ride to the airport.  We unloaded, each team getting a wheelchair, and assembled.

At Orlando, we were greeted by an Honor Guard from the TSA and a crowd of cheering passengers.  We thought this was unbelievable.  Everywhere we went, people would thank our Vets, cheer us, smile, and wave.  We were escorted by TSA through Security to our gate where volunteers with breakfasts served us.  My 87 year old Vet (the UDT Commando) couldn’t believe the attention we were all getting! 

We flew Southwest Airlines.  Our Group boarded first, settled in to our seats, and then the Crew and Passengers came aboard, clapping and giving our Vets high fives.  As the plane pulled out of Orlando, an Honor Guard stood at attention and the plane went through high arcs of water from two fire engines.  Soon, we were off!

We landed at Baltimore at 0935.  As we deplaned, another Honor Guard and more crowds of cheering passengers greeted us.  We moved through the airport and got onto a bus.  As we left, an escort of two National Park Service police cars and another group of Patriot Guard motorcycles surrounded the bus.  We had top priority on the freeways.  The NPS police pushed traffic aside and we quickly drove to Washington, DC to our first stop at Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The crowds were friendly and supportive all day long!

Our next stop was the U. S. Air Force Memorial which I had never seen.  There are three steel arcs going high in the air representing the tail exhausts of the Thunderbirds.  There are Memorial tributes, statues, and a spectacular view of Washington, DC.  We settled in there and had a box lunch while enjoying the view. 

Next up was the US Marine Corps War Memorial which depicts the flag raising over Iwo Jima.  We were further honored when Deputy Chief Commandant of Air Operations, BGEN Glaner visited us.  He was warm, welcoming, and enjoyed chatting with our Vets.  They enjoyed picture opportunities with the General and the Statue.  Of course, it was an emotional moment for our Marine Guardians and Vets who consider the place sacred soil.

Our police escort then got us quickly to the Mall and the World War II Memorial.  We unloaded wheel chairs and pushed our Vets around the Memorial Circle.  Most wanted their picture taken in front of the columns for their individual home states.  The Vets of the Pacific and Europe fighting spent time studying the monuments to those theatres of war with the great battles commemorated on the walls. At the “Wall of Stars” where one star represents 100 killed in action, we took a group picture in front of the 4400 stars representing 440,000 dead from WWII.  It was both a somber moment and a joyous moment as our Photographer finished his pictures people kept running up to take our group pictures!  There was more clapping and cheering!  Remember the misty eyes?  All of these stops were emotional for everyone and it showed.

We had about two hours afterwards to push our guys around the Mall.  I took my Vet up the elevator to the Lincoln Memorial as it was his first visit to Washington.  He gazed up into Lincoln’s eyes and read the quotes from the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address and had tears running down his cheeks.   I remembered my visits to the Lincoln Memorial with lots of emotions as well.  As we came out of the Lincoln Memorial, we passed by another Honor Flight trip from Montana.  Our Vets greeted each other as we passed.  I did note that two of their Vets had “hospice care” tags on their wheelchairs. 

We then headed for the Korean Memorial.  My Vet  was wearing down a little and I was having fun pushing him along in the wheelchair although he was pretty mobile most of the time!  At Korea, you see a patrol outfitted with almost the same gear that I carried in Vietnam.  The statues of the soldiers on patrol are sculpted in a haunting, almost eerie soft white color depicting anxiety while anticipating the worst.  I am always affected by the realism which sparks memories.  My Vet had the same reaction.  We took time there to rest, hydrate, and chill out with some of the other Honor Flight teams.   

With time passing quickly, we went over to the Vietnam Memorial.  My Vet was shocked and saddened at the 58000 names carved in a granite wall.  We went by the Memorial with the poignant pictures of the dead left by still grieving family members or friends all these many years later.  My Vet was affected by all of this.  I showed him the names of many of my comrades and that of Jedh Barker, a close friend who won the Medal of Honor posthumously.  As we passed the final section of the Wall, my Vet shook his head and dried yet another tear.  I did, too. 

By now, we had been up for more than 14 hours,  I had been handling a wheelchair since the airport in Orlando.  We were getting tired physically but the adrenalin was pumping!  Soon, we were off to our next adventure of the day!

Remember our police escort?  You should have seen them in action as we went for a tour of downtown Washington, DC!  We went to the Capitol, the US Navy Memorial, the US Coast Guard Memorial, the White House, Supreme Court, and about every major Cabinet Department Building, and, of course, the Washington Monument.  This monument had been damaged a couple of years ago by a rare earthquake and is in the process of being repaired.  As of this time, there is an incredible scaffolding pattern on the monument that is so spectacular that many are suggesting that it be retained.  The jury is out on that one for now.

Our bus returned to Baltimore with screaming sirens, parted traffic, and we arrived right on schedule.  Once again we had an Honor Guard and fantastic reception by the crowds of passengers.  We went to our Gate and had supper at a nearby Food Court.  I have never had a diet Pepsi or Quizonos sub that tasted so good!  We gathered at our Gate and soon we were on our way to Orlando!  It was now 2020 as we took off with an Honor Guard and cheering passengers! 

At 2230, we came off our plane in Orlando.  This time, a bagpiper played all the Service Hymns while passengers cheered and a TSA Honor Guard welcomed us home!  As we embarked onto our bus, little did the Vets know that there was one last surprise to come! 

We rolled up the Florida Turnpike getting off south of Leesburg.  Everyone on the bus was either sleeping, drowsy, or just waiting for this to end.  Suddenly, the lights in the bus flashed on, the command “attention on deck!” given, and bus rolled to a  stop in front of a housing development called “Legacy” where golf carts with their lights on illuminated a cheering crowd who were waving flags and cheering!  My Vet said to me, “I keep pinching myself to see if this is real or just a wonderful dream!”.

Soon, the bus rolled northward through Leesburg when, yet again, police cruisers lit up the night sky with about 50 Patriot Guard motorcycles joining the convoy back to the American Legion Complex.  About fifteen minutes later, our Vets looked from the top of the entrance, down on hundreds of people who came to see them home!  There was a band, playing, a drum line, cheerleaders, twirlers, and fire trucks shooting arcs of water high in the air!  The motorcycles came down hill, engines roaring, horns honking, and throngs of people all shouting and cheering.  My Vet just stared and there came the tears.

We exited from the bus right into an honor line with the drums drumming, the band continued to play, people hugged our Vets, and it was a scenes of what I would call organized, chaotic joy and happiness!

The cameras flashed, news crews rolled their cameras, and we went to a stage where chairs had been set up.  In a brief ceremony, our Vets were introduced to the crowd who cheered the loudly.  Finally, at 0130, on Monday Morning, we put my Vet into our car and drove home.  Now, by the time we arrived, we had been up for more than 24 hours!  We came into the house and two of our closest friends, popped a bottle of champagne and a little wine and celebrated our homecoming!

My Vet opened up a little and started telling me about some of his experiences during the War.  He said that he had never talked about them but we spent about 30 more minutes talking.   Finally, at about, 0230, I told my Vet that our motto that day was “Sleep when you are Dead”.  I reminded him that if we didn’t some sleep, we might be “dead” and, so,  we headed for the showers and the rack.

You will notice that I use the term “our Vets or my Vet” in the writing of this blog.  This day was all about them and not about us.  We tended to their every need at every moment.  We did so with the understanding that our Vets would be recognized by name in the ceremonies but that we would be “the Guardians”.  We paid our own way on the flight and seek no special glory or honor other than to be fulfilled in a wonderful way.  Writing their story is fulfillment enough for me.

Honor Flight is running out of Vets to honor!  The organizers here said that the age of the Vets on the waiting list grows older.  The Vets on the flights are more infirm and less mobile now.  In the not too distant future, Honor Flight will start taking Korean Vets to Washington.  This made me think a bit about how much our younger folk know about World War II.  How much they realize that our opportunity as a Nation to develop and grow in freedom was bought by these men and women in the battlefields of Europe, the Islands of the Pacific, and in air over both theatres of war.  Honor Flight honors their legacy and I was proud to have had the privilege of being a Guardian.