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50 Hats of Aztec (There’s History Under Those Hats) Greater St. Louis Honor Flight & Uncle Fuzzy 4/17/2017 5:45:36 PM
Last year my Uncle a WWII veteran made a trip to Washington D.C. hosted by the St. Louis Area Honor Flight. I had a chance to visit with him about his experience. Here is the blog I posted about that Honor Flight. We should all be proud of our veterans My Uncle Arnold, Fuzzy as my family affectionately call him, is a WWII Marine veteran. Last year he was given a very special surprise. The Greater St. Louis Honor Flight and his family surprised him with a trip to Washington, D.C. to see the National World War II Memorial and to participate in a tribute ceremony honoring World War II veterans. His Grandson, Nick Horrell, accompanied him on the Honor Flight.
I visited with my uncle recently and asked him how he enjoyed his trip to Washington. He said he was honored to have gone and truly enjoyed his time there. His neighbor put together an album from photos Nick had taken during their trip. Uncle Fuzzy shared it with me.
The hat on Aztec’s head was a memorabilia my uncle brought back from Washington. I ask him if I could use it to spread the word about the Honor Flight. Obviously, he said OK but gave it to me with specific instructions to get it back to him as soon as possible. Aztec and I took the picture two days later.
Uncle Fuzzy never shared much about his service. In fact I only remember hearing one story. And that one I overheard him telling my older brother when I was a youngster. He was an aerial photographer and was taking photos of an exploding enemy ship. I remember him saying he received a war wound from flying shrapnel as a result. I was quite young then and not really interested in history. Actually I was more interested in playing outside or eating or something else other than history.
I know my uncle has memories of his time spent in World War II. Nick told me his Grandfather stared out his airplane window for twenty minutes and never spoke a word when they took off for Washington D.C. from St. Louis. Nick wondered if his Grandfather was having good memories or bad ones.
My uncle was presented with two flags during his Honor Flight experience. One actually flew over the Capital in Washington, D.C. He told me it was given to him because of his exemplary service. Uncle Fuzzy said he was just doing his job. The trip coordinator told his Grandson it was because he was the man to be counted on when things had to be done. The second flag was for being the oldest in the group (94 years old). Uncle Fuzzy said he gave the flag which flew over the capital to his local VFW. They, of course, were very honored.
Uncle Fuzzy’s two younger brothers also flew with him to Washington D.C. His brother, Bob, served in WWII and his brother, Joe, served in the Korean conflict. Apparently that was the first time the three of them got to go on a flight together.
My uncle and his brother Bob served together in the same war but not in the same branch of service. They are together, though, in the photo because according to my uncle when he found out his brother was geographically close he secured the above jeep and drove to his brother’s unit for a visit.
The Department of Veterans Affairs states approximately sixteen million served in all branches of the military during that war. Nearly 400,000 lost their lives either in direct battle or non-theater deaths. Over 670,000 veterans sustained non-mortal woundings. As of 2016 there are around 620,000 WWII veterans still living. They estimate that around 370 of them die each day.
On May 29, 2004 the National World War II Memorial was officially dedicated to honor the millions who served in the U.S. armed forces and those who supported the war effort from home. The Memorial, located in Washington D.C. is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people.
A great number of WWII veterans have the desire but are unable to visit this monument. The Honor Flight Network is doing its part to help them. Their mission is “To transport American’s veterans to Washington D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the service of themselves and their friends.”
The Honor Flight Network Organization actually began as of dream of Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force Captain. He worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs at a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio. Many of his veteran patients had expressed interest in visiting the WWII Memorial. They wanted to see it even if it meant involving family members or friends.
Morse turned his dream into a reality in May 2005 when the inaugural flight took place. Six small planes left Springfield, Ohio with twelve WWII veterans on board. By August 2005 the flights had to be transitioned to commercial carriers.
The Greater St. Louis Area Honor Flight began in 2008. Since its inception 1500 local veterans were safely flown to Washington D.C. to experience the memorials. Each trip is at no cost to the veteran. Besides the WWII Memorial, the Honor Flight experience includes visits to the Korean, Vietnam, Unknown Soldier, and Lincoln Memorials. Each veteran is provided a guardian to help insure their safety and to insure their experience is gratifying and enjoyable. Uncle Fuzzy’s guardian was his Grandson, Nick.
A couple years ago Uncle Fuzzy showed me his dress uniform. He still didn’t talk much about what he did during his time in the service of our country but it was very evident that he was proud to have served. He was humbled by the fact that the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight flew him and his brothers to Washington D.C. My uncle was quite impressed with Honor team, the Monument, and the celebration in veterans’ honor.
That was quite a special trip for Nick, brothers Bob and Joe, and my Uncle Fuzzy.
