The group, comprised of Korean and Vietnam War and peace-time veterans plus one World War II veteran, departed at 6:30 a.m. from the Fort Dodge Regional Airport enroute to the Washington, D.C., war memorials.

“My stepdad was a World War II Navy veteran,” said Ron Newsum, the founder and president of the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight Committee. “He was 95-years-old when I heard about the Honor Flight. In correspondence with the national headquarters, I found that we could form a hub, so our board did. Our first flight was May 1, 2010, and my stepdad was on that flight. He passed away three months later. In my mind, each of these flights is in honor of my stepdad. There’s a special affinity for veterans and, for many of them, it’s a trip of a lifetime.”

At Dulles International Airport in Virginia, supporters met the veterans with handshakes, flag-waving, hugs, and a children’s choir. The vets were then escorted to three buses which would take them to their first stops: the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean monuments.

Jim Mormann, a Navy veteran, posed with friend Marvin Poppen in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Mormann was the first Navy pay clerk on land in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Marvin Poppen (Army — peace time Korean/Vietnam), and Jim Mormann (Navy — Vietnam) pose for a photo at the Lincoln Memorial. “I’ve heard about these trips and have seen them in books,” said Poppen. “Here I am. It’s almost more than I can believe.”

“I serviced squadrons in and out until more Navy men were brought to the base,” said Mormann. “Finally, I had a commanding officer and three other Navy men who worked with me.

“I came here to honor my father who was a World War II Battle of the Bulge prisoner of war. He escaped on a death march that started off with 800 prisoners with only 200 remaining at the end. He told me that they ate a dog, rats and rotten potatoes thrown at them by the Germans. He and two other soldiers fell behind, hid in a ditch, and ended up in a barn with two British soldiers who gave them some of their clothes since it was wintertime. The farmer who owned the barn was a sympathizer, telling them which direction to go to the American lines. My father left with a German dog tag, which was issued in Stalag 7, the largest POW camp for non-commissioned officers. He lost so much weight that his hip bones were sticking out. I was born two years to the day that he was back in American control. The World War II Memorial will mean so much since I am able to bring him here since he was never able to come.”

At the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Douglas Ruffridge, originally from Greene, was creating a ‘wall rubbing’ of the name of a former classmate using a pencil and paper. Ruffridge was drafted with the lottery system into the Army, becoming a sergeant and served from 1970 to 1971.

“We were in basic training in Fort Lewis, Washington, with on-the-job training at Fort Riley, Kansas, as a tanker and spent some time in Germany,” said Ruffridge. “I started out driving and ended up with my own tank as a tank commander.

“I was tracing a classmate’s name — Dennis Ritter. He was one of the first ones to go to Vietnam from Greene’s class of ’67. He was the only casualty we had. We had a lot of other classmates that went over, but they all made it back. I was very lucky.”

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Jim Mormann, a Navy Veteran, attended the Brushy Area Creek Honor Flight to honor his dad who was a World War II Battle of the Bulge prisoner of war who escaped during a death march. “My father left with a German dog tag,” said Mormann, “which was issued in Stalag 7, the largest POW camp for non-commissioned officers. I am able to bring him here because he was never able to come.”

In the early afternoon, Ida Grove’s Dr. Leo Vernon Samson, 102, was honored at the World War II Memorial.

“I was in dental school when the Army started their Specialized Training Corps which included dental students,” said Samson. “I was also accepted by the Navy Dental School subject to graduation. I did duty with the Army as a Navy dentist. I was 24 years old when I entered the Navy and retired from the service in 1955.”

Samson was stationed at Camp San Louis Obispo, a temporary Navy base south and east of San Francisco. He also served at Fort Leonard Wood, an Army base.

Samson also met his late wife, Margaret, while serving in the Navy and Army branches. They were married for ’66 years, seven months, and eight days’ and had six children together. ”

She was a Navy nurse from Pennsylvania,” said Samson. “We met in California. She was a real good dance with a lot of rhythm in her feet. We met on the dance floor.”

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Jim Mormann, a Navy Veteran, attended the Brushy Area Creek Honor Flight to honor his dad who was a World War II Battle of the Bulge prisoner of war who escaped during a death march. “My father left with a German dog tag,” said Mormann, “which was issued in Stalag 7, the largest POW camp for non-commissioned officers. I am able to bring him here because he was never able to come.”

The day finished with a visit to the Marine Corps War Memorial and Air Force Memorial and a sendoff from Dulles International Airport only rivaled by an Iowa hometown welcome at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport at 10:30 p.m.

Manson’s Marvin Poppen served in the Army between the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was visibly moved by the accolades. Poppen was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, as a personnel clerk for his company’s battalion headquarters.

“It was so good to be here,” said Poppen. “It started when we arrived at the airport this morning and didn’t stop the entire day.

“People I didn’t know hugged me. Children were singing for us. Throughout the day, all ages of people thanked us for our service. I’ve seen photos of these events, and I’ve looked at the books. Now, I’ve been part of it.”

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
John Albrecht, a Marine veteran serving from 1971 - ’73 spending a year in Okinawa; he is standing in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial while holding the flag representing his deceased brother Darrel. “There were six boys in my family, and I was the youngest,” stated Albrecht. “We all served but my brothers were all in the Army. Darrel was going to come here with me, but due to Agent Orange exposure coupled with a car accident, he ended up spending his last days at the VA Hospital in Des Moines. When I told Ron (Newsum) I had his flag, he told me to bring it. He said, ‘Your brother will be here in spirit.’”

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Ida Grove’s Dr. Leo Vernon Samson, 102, was honored at the World War II Memorial. “I was in dental school when the Army started their Specialized Training Corps which included dental students,” said Samson. “I was also accepted by the Navy Dental School subject to graduation.” His son Paul, right, attended the Honor Flight with his dad.

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
A Brushy Creek Honor Flight Veteran is welcomed to Dulles International Airport by a local supporter. It was a common scene to see veterans shaking hands, receiving hugs, and conversing with people they had never met before.

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Harold Meiners, left, and Donald Miller pose at the World War II Memorial in front of the Iowa Pillar. Meiners served in the Marines from 1957 - ’59 specializing in infantry. Miller served in the Army from 1955-’58 in both Germany and stateside, driving an armored personnel carrier. Both gentlemen reside in Dedham.

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Everett Hogue served in the Army from 1965 to 1967, the final seven months in Vietnam; he’s seen here reflecting on the many names on the wall memorial. “I was part of the 1st Cavalry in the Headquarters Company,” said Hogue. “I was in the computer department where we did key punch entry of reports. Of course, computers took up an entire truck in those days. We got mortared every once in a while, but I wasn’t out in the boonies like a lot of the guys you see here on the wall.”

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
Mike Bierl, part of the Honor Flight’s support staff, stands at the World War II Memorial holding a flag representing deceased Seaman Carl Darrell Johnson (Navy, 1944-1946). Bierl’s role is to transport Seaman Johnson’s flag to the various memorials and have pictures taken of the flag in each place. The flag was presented to the family upon return to the Fort Dodge Airport.

-Messenger photo by Doug Clough
At the Lincoln Memorial, Marine Veteran Garry Spear, who turned 83 the day of the flight, was accompanied by his daughter Theresa Berg. “I was there at the start of ‘nam from 1958 to 1961,” said Spear. “I went overseas to Okinawa and then we went to different islands. We specialized in explosive ordnance disposal. When we came back, I went to Quantico, the Marine Corps school, and we had to teach shavetails to be second lieutenants.” Spear became friends with Four-star Gen. David Shoup whose wife counted on him to bring Iowa tomatoes to D.C. for her.