Six local veterans recall their memories of Honor Flights

Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the Eighteenth Century father and the other the Nineteenth Century preserver of our nation, we honor those Twentieth Century Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: a nation conceived in liberty and justice.

So reads the inscription on the Announcement Stone at the entrance to the World War Two Memorial in Washington D.C. Apt words to describe perhaps the greatest generation in United States history and, apt words to grace the memorial in their honor and memory.

With the youngest W.W.II veteran on record being 82 years old, this monument was long in coming, but, fortunately, not too long for many veterans of the last, great war this world has known.

Six men, all veterans of either the European or Pacific Theater of the war, spoke at the Fulton County Senior Center of their service and their appreciation for being able to see their monument.

Those six were able to see the monument dedicated in their honor as part of Honor Flight, a program which makes a one-day trip to the World War Two Memorial free to all veterans.

According to Dee Pakulski with Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio, around 230 area veterans have been able to make a trip to see their memorial.

"However, I have about 350 on my waiting list alone, and there are thousands on lists across the country," she said.

Yet, of those from Fulton County, six shared their stories and experience about their Honor Flight.

Olin Genter served as a flight engineer in the Pacific. Lyman Powers served as a radar mechanic in the Pacific. Leyland Boyers and Robert Scott fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Boyers went on to help with the liberation of a prisoner of war camp. Curt Zimmerman served in Tokyo during the war. Martin Gerken served in North Africa and was part of the invasion force that landed at Salerno, Italy before he became a prisoner of war.

These men are just a few of those from the area to make an Honor Flight. Yet, each was very thankful for the chance.

"It was one terrific trip," Boyers said. "I was also fortunate enough to have my son go with me as my guardian."

While on his visit, he said he was approached by several school students asking if he was a veteran.

"They asked a lot of questions," he said. "There was a lot of thought behind every one of them. They were a great bunch of kids."

Scott recalls being asked to guard around 100 German prisoners after the Battle of the Bulge. He was just 18 at the time, and recalls, "Afterward, I realized my rifle was never loaded and I was the only one guarding them all."

Scott was on the flight piloted by Wauseon resident Jeff Rupp. He recalls his trip fondly, remembering his photo opportunity with U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and the Swanton High School band welcoming them back to Toledo after their long day.

Perhaps most fondly, he remembers the many letters that were written to the veterans from area school children. He still keeps those letters with his mementos from that trip.

Zimmerman was serving in Tokyo training as a combat engineer. He said he got out of the service when his term expired.

"Honor Flight was great. I want to thank everybody for that," he said.

Gerken was very thankful for his trip, but like Zimmerman also wishes many more veterans would have been able to see it.

"I wish they could have built it sooner so more veterans could have seen it," he said.

Gerken spent time as a prisoner of war in northern Germany for much of his service. He recalls as the Russian front moved closer to his camp, he and the other prisoners were forced to walk from town to town, sleeping in barns and buildings and even on one occasion "there was no place to stay, so we slept out in a field."

Genter took in the whole day with awe seeing his memorial and the many others dotting The Mall in Washington D.C.

"The memorial is an awesome sight," he said. Genter was also able to have his son, Dean, travel along as his guardian.

Nancy Vela is a big supporter of Honor Flight with the Wauseon American Legion and VFW auxiliaries.

"It is great because it facilitates veterans going to the memorial, but it also facilitates opportunities for sons to spend a day with their fathers and I think that is great also," she said.

With veterans of W.W.II getting older and many dying each day, time is of the essence. Honor Flight's waiting list is daunting. Communities and individuals can help.

Honor Flight provides free trips to all W.W.II veterans to see the memorial and other sights in Washington D.C. Preference is given to all W.W.II veterans, but veterans of any war who are terminally ill also qualify for an Honor Flight.

If your club or business would like more information or to sponsor Honor Flight, call Pakulski at (419) 410-7729 or contact your local American Legion or VFW.