7 area veterans to take part in Never Forgotten Honor Flight

The Never Forgotten Honor Flight organization based in Wausau will fly 108 Vietnam and 2 Korea Era veterans from central and northern Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials that honor their service on Monday, October 16. It’s the organization’s 46th flight since the first Never Forgotten Honor Flight took place April 27, 2010.

Among the veterans taking part in the Honor Flight are seven Vietnam Era veterans from Taylor County.

Local veterans taking part in the upcoming honor flight include: Kenneth Mahalko of Gilman. He is an Army veteran and worked in the White House Communications Agency, White House, Washington DC White House Military Telephone Operator serving the president and his staff.

Allen Brost of Medford. He is a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam from May 28, 1957 to May 27, 1963 as a lance corporal working as an Amtrac Driver.

William Brown of Medford. He is a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam from January 2, 1968 to August 30, 1969 as a corporal. He worked with Amtrac Medavacks and as a Mail Orderly.

Russell Dray of Medford. He is a Navy veteran who served at NAS Cecil Field Florida and on an Aircraft Carrier.

Gary Pawlowicz of Rib Lake. He is a Navy veteran who served on aircraft carrier Ranger as the ABH Aircraft Director.

Harvey “Bud” Suckow of Westboro. He is an Army veteran who served during Vietnam War from April 1965 to April 1969 who was an E5 (Sergeant) serving in Chitose, Japan as a Morse Code Intercept Operator.

Kenneth Patterson of Withee. He is an Air Force veteran serving from December 1, 1973 to December 31, 1993 as a technical sergeant (TSgt) and was stationed in Germany and England.

In addition to the veterans 62 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 4,406 veterans to Washington, D.C. All veterans that served prior to 7 May 1975 are encouraged to submit an application (via our web site, or calling 715-573-8519). The only criteria for veterans to qualify for an Honor Flight is to have served (active duty, reserves or national guard) prior to 7 May 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”. Veteran and guardian applications can be completed online or 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.