Saluting veterans

Area veterans to take part in Never Forgotten Honor Flight on April 17

103 area Veterans will Board the 43rd Never Forgotten Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on April 17.

The Never Forgotten Honor Flight organization based in Wausau will fly 4 Korea and 99 Vietnam Era veterans from central and northern Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials that honor their service on Monday, April 17. It’s the organization’s 43rd flight since the first Never Forgotten Honor Flight took place April 27, 2010.

Among those veterans on Monday’s flight, there are a number of veterans from Taylor County and surrounding areas who are taking part in the trip.

Local Vietnam era veterans taking part in the 43rd Never Forgotten Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on April 17 include: John Fehlman of Medford. He served in the Army and was stationed in Germany - Supply 7th Inventory Control. He also served in Vietnam - 1st Signal Battalion in Phu Lam.

James Gorichs, of Medford served in the Marines in Vietnam from June 1963 to Sept 1966. He served with artillery in Vietnam.

Paul Hemmerof Medford served in the Army in Vietnam from July 1972 to September 1, 1977, with the rank of E5. He served with the Merrill National Guard unit and was called to active duty for Gresham Novitiate Uprising and Waupun State Prison Guard Duty.

Daniel Jaslowski, of Medford served in the Air Force in Vietnam from October 1968 to October 1972. He was stationed at Sawyer AFB, Michigan.

Dennis Nuernberger, of Medford served in the Air Force in Vietnam from September 1967 to September 1971 with the rank of Sgt., serving in Kansan, Germany as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist.

John Polzin of Medford served in the See HONOR FLIGHT on page 3 Navy in Vietnam from 1971-1978 with the rank of E6.

Daniel Priebe of Medford, served in the Marines from March 31, 1972 to March 31, 1976 earning the rank of corporal. He saw service in Japan, Philippines, Puerto Rico and the United States.

Russell Tischendorf of Medford served in the Army in Vietnam: as a SP4, from May 1971 to May 1973. Served in the Canal Zone Panama, guarding the canal to make it safe and secure.

Raymond Wehe of Stetsonville served in the Army and was stationed in Germany and drove 155 Artillery Houser Tank.

Arthur Petke Jr., of Withee served in the Army during Vietnam in heavy artillery and meteorologist.

Norman Weiland of Ogema served in the Marines. He served in northern I Corps from September 1, 1966 to May 30, 1968. Trained as aviation radio technician. Flew as a port side gunner with HMM-262, a CH-46 squadron. Served as a radio operator with the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments. Fought in the 1968 TET offensive at Phu Bai.

John Kundinger, of Park Falls served in the Air Force from October 1971 to January 1996. Served with logistics in the Phillipines, Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, Panama and Alaska.

Ronald Sandquist of Prentice served in the Army. He served in the northern part of south Viet Nam near Chu Lai and west of Chu Lai. Was a crewman on the 81MM Mortar squad. Received an Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Device. Fired expert with a 45MM pistol.

Norman Zeman of Prentice was in the Army from1961 - 1964 achieving the rank of E4. He served at Fort Riley, Kan. in the Cuban Crisis and Korea.

In addition to the veterans, 68 guardians will accompany the vets on the one-day round trip that departs Central Wisconsin Airport at 6:30 a.m. and is scheduled to return at approximately 10 p.m. The public is invited to the Central Wisconsin Airport to welcome the veterans home Monday night, and Honor Flight officials recommend arriving no later than 8:30 p.m. Free parking for those welcoming these veterans home will be provided. Never Forgotten Honor Flight (NFHF) veteran alumni are encouraged to wear their NFHF-issued clothing (hat, shirt or windbreaker) for the welcome home ceremony.

After Monday’s trip, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight will have flown 4,081veterans to Washington, D.C. All veterans that served prior to 7 May 1975 are encouraged to submit an application (via the web site, or calling 715-573-8519). The only criteria for veterans to qualify for an Honor Flight is to have served prior to May 7, 1975, 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 Era veterans, then Korea Era 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 (cannot be a spouse or “significant other.”) 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. The Wausau-based organization was certified by the National Honor Flight Network office in Springfield, Ohio on December 11, 2009.