The hundreds of applications Mike Kopp receives for the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight may look like just another mound of bureaucratic paperwork.
A quick glance, however, suggests that the applications are a kind of gateway to little-known stories of America's World War II history.
The documents were sent to Kopp, who's a member of the committee organizing the local Honor Flight, by veterans of World War II seeking a seat on the free flight to the national World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
They came from people like Maynard Koppen, of Fort Dodge, who served in both the Army and the Army Air Forces. Others came from veterans like John Christians, of Fort Dodge, who sailed on a Navy ship during the invasions of several Pacific Ocean islands.
The list isn't limited to men. Helen Hughes, of Fort Dodge, who helped crack Germany's secret Engima code, will be one of the passengers.
Those three people will be among 100 veterans aboard a May 1 flight from Fort Dodge Regional Airport to the nation's capital for a one-day visit to the memorial and a handful of other landmarks.
The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is part of a national effort to fly World War II veterans to the memorial erected as a shrine to their service.
The concept of a local Honor Flight originated with Ron Newsum, of Fort Dodge. His father, Clem Hentges, 94, is a World War II Navy veteran whose service took him to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Newsum wanted Hentges to go to the memorial. But he didn't want his father to have to take a long car ride and stay in a hotel, which is exactly what would be necessary if the former sailor participated in a flight from another city.
Newsum enlisted the help of Tom Dorsey, Russ Naden, Dan Payne, Mel Schroeder and Kopp to explore the possibility of a local Honor Flight.
''Our thought was hopefully we would have a flight,'' Newsum said.
That goal was achieved quickly.
Since organizing in September, the committee raised about $60,000 to pay for the May 1 flight.
Donations and applications from veterans kept coming, so the group was able to schedule a second flight for June 12.
Newsum said the popularity of the program has ''undoubtedly'' exceeded the committee's expectations.
''It just seems like this project has got energy of its own,'' he said.
The itinerary
A 737 jet filled with the veterans and volunteer helpers referred to as guardians will take off from Fort Dodge Regional Airport at about 7 a.m. May 1, according to Newsum.
That flight will arrive at Dulles International Airport in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., at about 10 a.m. The veterans and guardians will board chartered buses and travel to the memorial on the National Mall. Newsum said the group will spend two hours there. The group will then visit the nearby Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.
A 45-minute bus tour of Washington will follow.
Newsum said the group will then go to Arlington National Cemetery to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
The group will fly back to Fort Dodge that evening, with an anticipated arrival of about 10:30 p.m. Newsum said he hopes people will come to the local airport to welcome the veterans home.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
