SPECIAL NOTE: On this Veterans Day, it is fitting we take a moment to thank all of the KREM 2 News viewers and businesses who contributed to the Honor Flight organization. You just sent two dozen veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the special memorial built in their honor. This article concludes a look back at the emotional and heartwarming voyage.
To read Part I of Randy Shaw's tribute, click here: Honor Flight: Trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C.
Part II
As they toured this special monument built in their honor, these aging warriors only reluctantly would talk about what happened to them back then. Some fought in the Atlantic front. Retired Air Force Major Duane Reagan was one of them. Reagan was the lead navigator on bombing runs over Germany. The bombardier takes over the plane when nearing the target. But Reagan's bombardier had 38 missions. When flak exploded around the plane, his bombardier flipped out.
"The first mission we went out on I got into the IFP and we turned into the target and he took over the plane. He got in there and saw flak coming up and he came out screaming," remembered Reagan.
The screaming bombardier was relieved by Reagan. The pilot went around twice more so Reagan could drop the bombs himself.
Some vets, like Marty Martel, fought inch by inch on the ground, coming ashore at Utah beach, losing friends and colleagues amidst the fire and confusion.
"When I lost the lieutenant and the sergeant, there was just me and the corporal and we didn't know what to do," said Martel.
From Utah beach, across the French farmland, Martel fought on with the third army of General George Patton. His next stop was the Battle of the Bulge. But Patton didn't want the Germans to know his their army was leading the way. So he had all the insignias removed from his troops and tanks.
"Patton wanted us, wanted my division and we had to block off our insignias so the Germans wouldn't know who or what division they were against. You know, because he was sort of a reputation. That's why the called up tough hombres," said Martel.
And that tough hombre carried a map with him on this trip, tracing his steps from Utah beach to the Battle of the Bulge and beyond. Others carried photos and scrapbooks to show their traveling colleagues.
Now it was time for the vets to go home, where more surprises were in store. Back in Spokane, a couple hundred people stood in wait at the airport. A line of American flags, young people holding back signs and banners. The travel weary veterans came down together and the place erupted into applause. They fought back the tears.
Retired Major Duane Reagan told us earlier that he had never been thanked until now. Local Honor Flight director and Spokane officer Tony Lamanna was glad so many young people were on hand.
"With the school kids that have been interested in this, a whole new generation of Americans is learning what these people did. That's about the best thing that can come out of this," said Lamanna.
Or maybe the best is just seeing the loving and appreciative faces of a disappearing generation who simply stepped up when called and helped save the world.
