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Mission accomplished

Iowa veterans honored in Washington, D.C., during Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
James Graham, of Webster City, a U.S. Air Force veteran, begins to trace the name of Jerry Dean Hatcher on the wall that makes up the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Saturday in Washington, D.C. Hatcher, a native of Humboldt, was killed in Vietnam in 1967.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — James Graham, of Webster City, a U.S. Air Force veteran, found the name he was looking for on the 2-acre wall that makes up the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Graham visited the memorial as part of the 16th Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight Saturday. About 145 Iowa veterans took part in the trip.

The memorial honors the 57,939 people who died as a result of their wounds from the Vietnam War.

The name Graham set out to find was Jerry Dean Hatcher. Hatcher was one of Graham’s best friends, he said.

“I went to school in Gilmore City and he went to school in Humboldt,” Graham said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
James Graham, of Webster City, a U.S. Air Force veteran, displays the name of Jerry Dean Hatcher here. Hatcher was killed in 1967 in Vietnam.

Hatcher was a U.S. Marine Corps medic. In 1967, Hatcher died at 23 in the Thua Thien province.

The circumstances regarding Hatcher’s death aren’t clear, according to Graham.

“I was in tech school when he got killed,” he said.

Hatcher’s name is located more than halfway to the end of the monument at panel 17E, line 123.

Graham sat down along the wall where Hatcher’s name is engraved.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Brothers Norm Edwards, of Otho, a U.S. Army veteran, left, Phil Edwards, of Oak Hill, California, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and Kevin Edwards, of Badger, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, are pictured during a family cookout Friday night at Norm Edwards' house in Otho.

As he traced Hatcher’s name on a slip of paper he said, “I miss you buddy.”

Hatcher’s name continues to live on in Humboldt County. Jerry Hatcher Road runs north to south from 215th Street to Iowa Highway 3 in Humboldt.

“My mission is complete,” Graham said. “This trip — this is what it meant to me.”

Brothers who served

Four brothers. Four native Iowans. Four veterans.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A button honoring the life of Jon Tumilson, a U.S. Navy SEAL, is displayed on the hat of John Jacobs, of Manson, a U.S. Army veteran. Tumilson is Jacobs’ nephew. Tumilson died when the helicopter he was riding in was shot down in Wardok Province, Afghanistan, on Aug. 6, 2011. Thirty-one American lives were lost that day.

Phil Edwards, of Oak Hill, California, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran; Bob Edwards, of Sioux City, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran; Norm Edwards, of Otho, a U.S. Army veteran; and Kevin Edwards, of Badger, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran; were honored as part of the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight.

The brothers gathered for a family cookout the night before the flight at Norm Edwards’ Otho home. They grew up in a family of seven boys and four girls.

Phi Edwards was stationed as a medic in Vietnam from 1970-71.

“It was an honor and a privilege to serve with the Marines,” he said. “I wouldn’t change that for the world.”

He added, “They were a great group of guys to serve with.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Tim Holtan Sr, of Gilmore City, a U.S. Air Force veteran, embraces his daughter, Theresa McKay, of Holyoke, Massachussets, at left, and grandchildren at the Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. Saturday. Eight family members surprised Holtan at the airport during the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight.

While in Vietnam, Phil Edwards owned a unique pet, his sister Ramona Daisy recalled.

According to Messenger records, Phil purchased a duckling from an old woman in a marketplace in Vietnam for about $1 in U.S. currency at that time.

The duck was named Quack after its “incessant quacking.” The men of the medical corps nicknamed Phil, “Duck.”

Phil Edwards said that Quack followed him around just like a pup back home.

He lost his pet duck and a St. Edmond Catholic School watch in a monsoon, his sister said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Theresa McKay, of Holyoke, Massachussets, reacts as her father, Tim Holtan Sr., of Gilmore City, a U.S. Air Force veteran, enters the Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.

For part of Bob Edwards’ service, he was stationed in Okinawa, a Japanese island. Later he served in the Iowa National Guard.

“I spent 39 years in the military,” he said.

Although he didn’t go to Vietnam himself, he understands the scars that war leave behind.

“For those who did, it wasn’t a pleasure,” he said. “A lot of people either came back an alcoholic or a druggie.”

His brothers endured, he said.

“Phil roamed the jungles for a full year,” he said. “Norm broke his back jumping out of a helicopter. These guys sacrificed a lot.”

Bob Edwards experienced tragedy himself.

He was at the air base in Sioux City during the United Airlines Flight 232 plane crash. The aircraft crash-landed in Sioux City on July 19, 1989.

More than 100 people were killed.

“I handled a lot of dead bodies,” he said. “You don’t just get over something like that overnight.”

The brothers were there for each other in difficult times.

“I was a healing source for him (Phil),” Bob Edwards said. “My wife was a healing source for me. She’s my rock. I got deployed so many times while she stayed home and took care of two kids. She’s my better half.”

Norm Edwards said he was part of the world-famous 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

“The biggest thing about Bragg was being inside the aircraft,” he said. “It’s just pitch black except for a red light. We had our rifles on our right side. Then when the light turned green the doors swung open and it was go, go, go.”

For so many veterans, there’s a lot of unanswered questions.

“We had a cousin killed at Heartbreak Ridge,” he said. “Robert Freeman, of Preston. Nobody knows how he got killed. They just found his body near a truck.”

Norm Edwards said he respects all veterans.

“I believe all the guys who have gone before us was well-deserved,” he said. “I feel bad for the ones who never got to go.”

The veterans weren’t always treated as well as they are now.

“We were spit on and had crap thrown at me,” he said.

Phil Edwards said it’s different now.

“It is nice that things have changed,” he said. “Things have changed so much.”

He added, “The respect is shown now to our veterans.”

Kevin Edwards,of Badger, served in the Vietnam era from 1974-76.

He was stationed in Okinawa for a time.

“I was with the helicopters,” he said. “There were a lot of good times and a lot of bad times.”

Pay day was a good time, he said.

Every Friday was pay day. We got $300 a month when I went in. It wasn’t much.”

After high school, Kevin Edwards said he was ready to serve his country.

“I was proud to serve,” he said. “You just wanted to venture out at that age.”

Phil Edwards added, “As we grew up we were aware of duty honoring country. In Iowa everyone learned about love of country. We grew up poor, so it was also a way of getting training and a chance to go to college.”

Bob Edwards added, “Serving has been part of our family. When you see children grow up and join the military and carry on the tradition, it’s a big honor.”

The reunion

The honor flight served as a chance for families to reconnect with the veterans they love.

Theresa McKay, of of Holyoke, Massachusetts, surprised her father Tim Holtan Sr., of Gilmore City, a U.S. Air Force veteran, at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.

She said it had been a long time since they had seen each other.

McKay was joined by sisters Tammy Schmidt, and Colleen Holtan, along with other family members.

“There’s eight of us here,” McKay said.

When Tim Holtan entered the airport, the family erupted with tears of joy and plenty of hugs.

Kiersten McKay, 10, is Theresa McKay’s daughter. She got to see her grandpa, too.

When asked what it was like to surprise her grandfather, she said, “It was really fun. The greatest experience.”

Patrick Killeen, of Westide, a U.S. Army veteran, planned to meet his son, who is from New York City.

Killeen also wanted to pay his respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

“A couple of my friends got killed in Vietnam. I got their names and the wall they are on,” he said.

John Jacobs, of Manson, a U.S. Army veteran, wanted to honor his nephew, Jon Tumilson.

Tumilson was in a helicopter when it was shot down in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.

“He was born to be a SEAL,” Jacobs said.

Lee Vonnahme, of Westside, a U.S. Army veteran, enjoyed his time in the military.

“They shipped me to Korea for 13 months,” he said. “I had an easy job. They wanted me to re-enlist and I said I can’t drink that much coffee. I was on a typewriter.”

He added, “I liked the regimen of the Army. It was well-structured. I met a lot of good people.”

Jerry Johnson, of Sibley, served in the Navy from 1961 to 1965.

Johnson spent his time on the flight deck of an assault ship.

“We had 3,500 marines and also helicopters on board,” he said. “We sat off the coast of Vietnam. We landed and sent them off.”

Johnson also spent two years in Japan in 1962 and 1963.

“I was on T33 trainer planes, and they would do loops over Tokyo or Mt. Fuji,” he said. “It was amazing. The view was incredible.”

His experience in Vietnam wasn’t as good, he said.

“I saw too many people, they came back with holes in the planes and holes in the guys,” he said. “One time we lost two planes and eight guys. They flew side by side, one got too close, hit the gas tank and both exploded.”

Robert Van Horn, of Glidden, was an electronic technician in the Navy.

He’s not sure he was qualified, though.

“I don’t know much about electronics now and I don’t think I did back then, but that’s where I ended up,” he said.

He credited his fellow veterans.

“I was very fortunate,” he said. “I was always with a good group of people.”

Russ Mohr, of Fort Dodge, served in the Navy during the Korean War.

Mohr is originally from Manning.

“I’ll be 87 on the first of June,” he said. “I’m one of the oldest guys on here. I enlisted in the Navy right out of high school.”

He served in 1952 and 1953.

He spent his time sailing on a reefer ship.

“We replenished food off the coast of Korea,” he said. “It was a floating grocery store. They were always glad to see us.”

He added, “There were about 200 of us on board and we knew everyone by their first name.”

He was overwhelmed with the war memorials and the trip itself.

“It was an awesome day,” he said. “I never realized how big the monuments were and all of the buildings. It’s incredible.”

Samuel Sears Jr., of Ida Grove, a U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army veteran, was tasked with photographing the Vietnam War from 1969-1970.

“I have a tough time with it,” Sears said. “I always looked at things as being a job. When they asked me to do something, I did it.”

Sometimes that involved photographing gruesome scenes.

“I was the base official photographer and I did bomb damage assessments,” he said. “There were tough assignments but it was the job.”

Sears said it was great to finally come home from the war.

“I looked forward to coming home,” he said. “I don’t remember coming home or how I got back. I was one of the lucky ones and didn’t end up on the wall. God bless them all.”

The letters

The last item of business on the honor flight was mail call, something all military members look forward to, according to Ron Newsum, chairman of the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight board.

Brian Cormick, a history teacher at Algona High School, was on the trip. His class sends letters to veterans for the honor flight.

“We have done the letters the last three to four years,” he said. “They all write letters to the vets.”

He said about 68 students write them.

“It’s a neat deal because after this is over we get a couple of dozen thank you letters back,” he said. “A lot of our students display them at graduation.”

Morgan Culp, 18, a senior at Algona High School, and Dylan Hauptmann, 19, also a senior at Algona High School, are two students who crafted the letters.

They also were part of the honor flight.

Culp plans to serve her country, too.

“I did one year of the Air Force junior ROTC sophomore year in California,” she said. “I have always felt a calling toward the Air Force. I am excited to serve like those before me.”

Culp works at the Camp Algona POW Museum as a tour guide.

Hauptmann is attending the University of Northern Iowa to become a history teacher.

Culpman and Hauptmann graduate high school on May 20.

Russ Mohr received letters from his family on the flight back to Fort Dodge.

As he opened the envelope, the cards poured out.

“That’s a lot of letters,” Mohr said. “Twenty-four grandkids and I suppose they are all in there.”

He added, “I’ll have something to do for the next couple of weeks.”

___

For more photos click here.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Russ Mohr, of Fort Dodge, a U.S. Navy veteran, opens an envelope full of letters on the flight back home. Mohr said he has 24 grandchildren.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen With the Fort Dodge Fire Department’s Ladder 1 truck flying the U.S. Flag, the 16th Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight returns to the Fort Dodge Regional Airport Saturday night from its day long trip to Washington D.C.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Isaac Loynachan, 9, of Huxley, along with his brother Noah Loynachean, 10 wore their Christmas pajamas to welcome back their grandfather, Marine veteran Dave Gordon at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport Saturday night. Their sister, Viviana Loynachen, 7, opted for a colorful warm blanket instead.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Judy Zeidler, of Davenport, at left, Lorraine Tilton, of St. Ansgar and Sonnie Tharp, of Milo, found a comfortable spot on the floor to wait for the arrival of the Brush Creek Area Honor Flight Saturday night at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport. The friends were waiting for Army veteran Ken Tilton.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Natalie Ponturo, 13, of Centerville, Virginia, passes out some Girl Scout cookies to veterans at the Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., Saturday night.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Morgan Culp, 18, a senior at Algona High School, pushes Rex Garside, of Denison, a U.S. Air Force veteran, around the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., Saturday afternoon. Culp is joining the Air Force after her graduation from high school.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Leonard Walde, of Westside, a U.S. Army veteran, front, poses for a picture with his wife, Shirley Walde, center, and daughter, Wanda Conway, of Webster City, at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport Saturday morning.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
David Siebrecht, of Schaller, a U.S. Air Force veteran center, takes a photo of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C., Saturday evening.

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