Licking veteran takes Honor Flight to D.C.
Photo submitted
Veteran Ed Kohn shows one of the pieces of artwork he was given on the return flight to Springfield.
Licking veteran Ed Kohn was one of 83 veterans to take an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, October 21. In the nation’s capital, he toured the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and many other locations.
Kohn said 32 of the veterans attending were in wheelchairs, and every veteran, including Kohn, had a guardian, either one they had chosen or one appointed to them. Doctors, nurses and other volunteers also accompanied the group. Veterans were easy to identify in blue shirts, and guardians were given red shirts.
Kohn’s Honor Flight flew out and returned to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield. He shared that on the return trip, bags of cards and letters were given to each veteran, with greetings, well wishes and notes of gratitude from children. Another surprise awaited him when he disembarked at the airport. About a thousand people of all ages greeted the returning veterans. Vietnam War-era nurses in their traditional uniforms, reenactors of Revolutionary War soldiers, a marching band and others gave the veterans a welcome home many failed to receive when they returned from overseas deployments. Kohn said he shook hands with probably 60 percent of those waiting to greet him and the other veterans.
Kohn was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from 1964-1966. He was a helicopter mechanic, and as a member of the 17th Calvary, he was one of 250 soldiers who received orders to deploy to Vietnam. Shortly before deploying, he was among 18 who received assignments in Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he completed his service. Kohn served as an instructor, teaching other helicopter mechanics. He admits he was hard on his students, because he knew they would face tough situations in Vietnam and their skills could mean the difference between life and death for themselves and other soldiers.
Veteran Ed Kohn, thank you for your service.
Those wanting more information about Honor Flights can send letters to Honor Flight of the Ozarks, PO Box 3964, Springfield, MO 65808-3964, email mail@honorflightoftheozarks.org, or phone 417-268-9052.
