Eagle Grove and Goldfield Vietnam veterans take Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

It was a day many of these Vietnam veterans thought would never come - a day when they were welcomed home, appreciated for their sacrifices, and thanked for their service during the war.  But that’s exactly what Donald Reed, Dennis Reed, Ronald Bliss, Larry Ivers, John Jacobson, and Gary Rohrback got when they went on the 13th flight of the Brushy Creek Honor Flight on Saturday, Sept. 17.  Honored to be traveling with his brothers as “support staff,” was Kevin Reed.

“We were hoping  (we would get to go on one of the Honor Flights),” said Donald Reed of Eagle Grove, a Vietnam veteran who served two years in the Marine Corp.  “We just had to wait our turn...the WWII and Korean War guys deserved preferential treatment over us.”

His brother, Dennis - also of Eagle Grove and an Army veteran who served for three years, said he never imagined having the opportunity to go on the Honor Flight.

“To be honest, when I got out of the Army, I thought, ‘I’m done.  I don’t want to talk about it.’  But this (trip) opened my eyes,” Dennis said.  “It was truly a bonding time...especially being able to go with my brothers...we have never talked about our time in Vietnam.”

 

For words from each local veteran who went on the flight, see the September 29 edition of the Monitor.

Wright County Monitor

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Clarion, IA 50525
Phone: 515-532-2871
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