Greene County Veterans were a part of two Brushy Creek Area Honor Flights out of Fort Dodge on May 23 and Sept. 13.
The veterans arrived in Washington DC and were then bused to many sites including the WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam Memorials, as well as the Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Marine Corps Memorial, and the Changing of the Guard at the Arlington National Cemetery. Veterans were warmly welcomed by a large group of patrons and songs by a school choir.
Upon returning that evening to Fort Dodge, the veterans were greeting by cheers from area students, the Knights of Columbus, law enforcement personnel and other area veterans. This was the 23rd Honor Flight originating out of Fort Dodge.
The Honor Flight program is a nation-wide network dedicated to providing all veterans who apply a free trip to Washington DC to visit memorials honoring their service and sacrifice. There are normally two flights a year, in May and September.
(Pictured on the September Honor Flight are (from left) Jerry Vincent, Bud Pittman and Lloyd Smith.)
The program is sustained by donations. If you are interested in participating on an Honor Flight, have any questions, or would like to make a donation to the program, please contact Mike Bierl, Greene County veteran affairs director, at 515-386-5876.
(Pictured on the May Honor Flight are (front, from left) Jack Lint and Hubert Vannatter; and (center, back) Les Fister.)
Bierl provided this information about the local veterans who participated in 2023:
Jerry Vincent served in the US Army from January 1957 – January 1959 as a Track Vehicle Mechanic at Fort Chaffe, AR; Fort Sill, OK, and Fort Knox, KY.
Bud Pittman served in the US Navy beginning in January 1945 and then in the US Naval Reserves until March of 1987. He was stationed at Johnston Island in the Pacific, Hawaii and California where he was a member of a construction battalion and built ports, airfields, roads and structures for the Navy.
Lloyd Smith served in the US Marine Corps from 1957-1960 in the transportation career field in Okinawa, the Philippines and Camp Pendleton, CA.
Jack Lint served in the US Army from 1962-1964 as a clerk typist, artillery and driver for commanders at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and Fort Chaffey, AR.
Les Fister served in the US Army from 1965-1967 as a military policeman at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, including training at Fort Gordon, GA.
Hubert Vannatter served in the US Air Force from 1956-1959 in a supply unit in California, Spain, Morocco and San Antonio, TX.
