By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
Vietnam veteran Gearld Hennigh said the trip he took earlier this month was aptly named.
The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight lived up to its name.
“It was absolutely astonishing what they did for us,” Hennigh said. “It was unbelievable. I was honored to be there.”
The Honor Flights are in their 11th year of operation.
It is a one-day trip from Springfield to Washington, D.C., given at no charge for the honored veteran.
Hennigh, 71, grew up in Thomasboro and Rantoul.
He now lives in St. Joseph.
After high school, he said, “Originally I was going to sign up, but I decided to let them draft me.”
That happened in 1968.
Hennigh served two years in the Army, including a year in Vietnam.
On the Honor Flight, he met someone whom he served with briefly.
“I was in the 9th Infantry,” Hennigh said. “I met a guy from Decatur who was in the 9th Infantry.”
As they talked, shared memories and recollections, Hennigh figured out they were in Vietnam together for about a month after Hennigh first arrived.
Although he describes himself as a victim of Agent Orange — “I had a heart attack caused by Agent Orange,” he said — Hennigh also would not change the path he took.
“If I had to do life over, I would include military, definitely,” he said. “The whole experience was a very good experience.
“It made you grow up. You learned more about other people in Nam.”
As a serviceman, he was a field radio mechanic.
“We did sweeps outside the compound,” Hennigh said. “For some reason, I wasn’t scared, but I paid close attention to where I was.”
A friend’s wife had nominated Hennigh and her husband for the trip two years ago.
Though he knew it was a possibility, he didn’t get excited until he learned it was reality.
“In February, we got a call that we were able to go,” Hennigh said.
He was particularly impressed by the coordination and attention paid to every detail.
“Every veteran has a guardian that sits with you and walks with you,” he said. “The guardian made the flight very enjoyable.
“It was every bit worth the wait.”
Unlike the veterans, the 81 guardians are trained volunteers who paid their way for the round-trip flight.
For Hennigh, the experience was full of firsts. He had never been to D.C. before.
“I wondered if I’d ever get to go,” he said. “It was totally amazing.”
Seeing the sites, such as the Lincoln Memorial, was an eye-opening experience.
“It’s bigger than it looks in pictures,” Hennigh said. “I looked up and said, ‘My God, it’s huge.’ “
He didn’t let health issues serve as a deterrent.
“I can not do what I used to do at all,” Hennigh said. “If we go for a walk, I have to stop and rest.
“In D.C., if you needed a walker or wheelchair, one was provided for you. A couple times I thought about it, but I toughed it out.
“I was tickled to be there.”
After returning from the service, Hennigh made Champaign County his home.
He worked in different careers, including as a meat cutter and as a garage door man.
He retired, in his 60s, from Trophy Time.
In his spare time now, he said he likes to “get in as much crappie fishing as possible.”
Hennigh won’t give away his favorite locations, but said he likes to travel to Lake Shelbyville.
Joan Bortolon, President Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, said there have been 54 Illinois trips since the program was implemented in 2009.
“We are a chartered hub of the National Honor Flight Network,” Bortolon said, “and have served 4,191 WWII, Korean and Vietnam era veterans since our inception.”
The April 2 flight, which Hennigh and his friend, Ralph Kiel, from Paxton, were on, was the first of the six scheduled for 2019 from Springfield.
Under the auspices of the National Honor Flight, the program for veterans is offered in 44 states.
Hennigh said the return flight provided a final surprise.
“We had mail on the way back,” he said, “letters for us to read.
“It was the trip of a lifetime.”
Veteran and guardian applications as well as additional information may be obtained at www.LandofLincolnHonorFlight.org or by contacting Joan Bortolon, Board President, at 217-585-1219, 217-652-4719 or at JMB4604@aol.com.
