Larry Shaver: Bodyguard to the Stars
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T08:05:56-05:00At 17 years old, Larry Shaver enlisted in the Marine Corps and his whole life changed – including his name.
Rodney Branch: Playing TAPS In Combat
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T08:06:01-05:00Rodney acquired his first trumpet for $2. He didn't want to just make noise with it. He wanted to play “music”.
Robert Hornung: Life of a Grunt in the Hot Jungle
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T06:13:35-05:00Robert Hornung grew up on the south side of Chicago. His older brother served in the Korean War. He volunteered for the draft in 1968, at age 18.
Paul Barrath: From Naval Reserve To Active Duty During the Vietnam War Years
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T06:12:44-05:00Growing up in a military family, it was not a difficult decision for Paul Barrath to make the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy.
Stephen (Pete) Pedersen: Achieved a Double Mustang
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T06:11:26-05:00Looking back on his early life, Lt. Colonel (Ret. U.S. Army) Stephen (“Pete”) Pedersen mused that the big surprise at his birth had been that he was a boy and not a girl.
Ronald Dascher: Flying With The Blue Dragons
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T08:08:18-05:00Ron was born on a farm near Freeport, Illinois in 1936, one of six kids. He and several buddies from his neighborhood in Freeport left high school halfway through senior year to sign up for the military.
Thomas Corzan: Three Decades in The Navy
marc.zarefsky2022-06-09T06:18:52-05:00When Tom turned 18, he took to heart the Navy slogan, “Join the Navy and See the World.” He enlisted and did just that.
Highlights from our 101st flight
marc.zarefsky2022-05-18T16:31:52-05:00On HFC101 last week, we made Honor Flight Magic! Despite the current uptick in COVID cases leading to a handful of cancellations, we still had a wonderful group of 106 senior veterans on board (1 WWII, 10 Korean War, 95 Vietnam War).
Kenneth Albert: Blood, Sweat and Tears on the Mekong River
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:41:55-05:00“Join the Navy and see the world!” But in Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Ken Albert’s case, it was not “see the world” but more like “be in the line of fire 24/7 for as long as your Vietnam tour of duty lasts.”
Lewis Bottando: Jungle Combat, Three Purple Hearts, Two Bronze Stars
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:01-05:00Lew Bottando grew up in Chicago with his brother who also served in Vietnam with the Air Force. Before joining the Army, Lew worked as a laborer, building Illinois Route 394, also known as the Calumet Expressway.
Arnold Grauer: The Real Mash Unit
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:10-05:00In 1964 the Vietnam draft impacted the lives of so many young men. Arnie, who had already graduated from medical school, decided to be the master of his fate.
The Galvans: A Band of Three Brothers
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:17-05:00Growing up, the Galvan brothers, Manny, Felix, and Lu, did almost everything together. As young adults, all three entered the military and served during Vietnam – sometimes even in the same village.
Richard Dowsett: Closing The Quartermaster Company in Pusan
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:24-05:00Richard “Dick” Dowsett was born 1931 in Dowagiac, Michigan and spent his childhood there. After finishing high school, he attended Western Michigan University and graduated in 1953 with a degree in Business Administration.
Joseph Kwasny: Ambushed on the Beach
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:31-05:00Joseph Kwasny was the youngest of six children in a Polish household and neighborhood. He is a Purple Heart recipient, had a career in law enforcement and continues to help veterans today.
Leon Wilson: From Blue Water to Brown Water Navy
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:39-05:00Leon H. Wilson was born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. Leon, wanting more adventure than what he was experiencing on the South Side of Chicago, made the decision to join the U.S. Navy at the age of seventeen years old.
Joseph Matkovcik: A Medic With Many Stops
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:47-05:00Joseph Matkovcik grew up in Berwyn and enlisted in the Army in 1972 at the age of 27. Between high school and enlisting, Joseph worked for the County Police, the County Sheriff and worked in a machine shop.
Thomas Workinger: Flying Midshipman to Flying the ‘Friendly Skies’
marc.zarefsky2022-06-07T19:42:54-05:00Thomas G. (Tom) Workinger was born in 1928 during the Great Depression and grew up and attended school in Terre Haute, Indiana. He “watched” as World War II engulfed the planet.
Highlights from our 100th flight
marc.zarefsky2022-05-29T21:45:38-05:00Last week, we celebrated our history and our future with HFC100 – a deeply moving nod to our accomplishments and a look forward to our future.
Malone Wilson: One of the First African-American Marine ‘Volunteer’ Recruits
marc.zarefsky2022-04-10T20:36:27-05:00Malone Wilson was born in Thomaston, Alabama and was principally raised by his mother, Ernestine during his younger years. Now approaching the century mark with his 100th birthday this November, Malone was the oldest of his seven siblings.
James Owen: ROTC To National Guard to Army
marc.zarefsky2022-04-14T08:58:17-05:00High school ROTC was only the beginning for Jim Owen. As an ROTC second lieutenant, Jim learned a great deal about leadership, command, and camaraderie.