Area veterans take part in Honor Flight
Four area men were among a group of 108 veterans to take part in the 42nd mission of the Never Forgotten Honor Flight that took place on October 3.
The group consisted of 108 veterans in total with 107 of them from the Vietnam era and one Korean era veteran.
This was the organization’s 42nd flight since the first Never Forgotten Honor Flight took place April 27, 2010. To date, they have flown nearly 4,200 veterans from Northcentral Wisconsin.
Veterans with local connections taking part in the trip included: John Johnson of Medford — Johnson is an Air Force Veteran who served from March 1968 to March 1972 and earned the rank of staff sergeant. He was stationed in Alaska and served in the security police.
Doug Pinkston of Medford — Pinkston is an Army Veteran serving from February 1961 to January 1964 serving stateside as an instructor.
William Nelson of Withee — Nelson is a Navy Veteran serving from July 1967 to June 1971 serving both on coast and shore.
James Miller of Harlingen Texas — Miller is an Air Force Veteran serving in the U.S. and Guam.
The Never Forgotten Honor Flight Hub based in Wausau serves veterans in Marathon, Portage, Wood, Clark, Taylor, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Iron, Barron, Price and Rusk counties.
All veterans from the World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War eras are encouraged to submit an application (via the website, or calling 715-573-8519). The only criteria for veterans to qualify for an Honor Flight is to have served during the years listed on the application/ the website, regardless of where they served. Veterans receive a free round-trip flight, and guardians pay $500 for the opportunity to accompany one, two or three veterans on the trip. Veterans and guardians interested in taking a future Honor Flight must complete an application at: www.neverforgottenhonorflight.com or contact the organization at 715-573-8519. The veterans are selected based upon the order in which their applications are received and the conflict they served in. Preference is given to World War II veterans, then Korea Veterans and then Vietnam era veterans. Veterans who are terminally ill, regardless of when they served in those three eras, are given top preference. Guardians should be 18-69 years old and able to lend physical assistance to the veterans. Completed applications for veterans and guardians also can be mailed to Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 225780 Rib Mountain Drive, #234, Wausau, WI 54401.
North Central Wisconsin’s Never Forgotten Honor Flight is the nation’s 77th regional hub and one of five Wisconsin Honor Flight hubs.
