EDITOR’S NOTE
As America prepares to celebrate Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary, The North County Daily Star is proud to present a special six-part series following North County resident and Vietnam-era veteran Tom Robertson on his recent Honor Flight San Diego journey to Washington, D.C.
Honor Flight San Diego provides veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War an opportunity to visit the memorials built in their honor in the nation’s capital. The program, made possible through community donations and volunteers, gives many veterans a chance to experience these monuments for the first time while receiving the recognition and appreciation they may not have received when they returned home from service.
Robertson traveled as both a veteran and a journalist, documenting the sights, emotions and memories shared by fellow veterans throughout the trip. Over the next six installments, readers will follow the group from their departure at San Diego International Airport to their visits to Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial and other historic sites, concluding with an emotional welcome home celebration back in San Diego.
As our nation reflects on 250 years of freedom and service, this series offers a personal look at the men and women whose sacrifices helped preserve both.
Part I – Meet and Greet and Departure
By TR Robertson
Once again 90 veterans, 90 guardians and numerous Honor Flight San Diego staff personnel awoke very early on a recent Friday morning to drive to San Diego International Airport to prepare for departure for Washington, D.C. and , a whirlwind weekend visit to the Nation’s Capital and to nine monuments and memorials, the majority honoring veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. As stated on their web site “Honor Flight San Diego escorts veterans twice a year to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorials using monies donated by individuals, foundations, associations, business owners and corporations who wish to recognize our veterans’ contributions and thank them for their service and sacrifice to the United States and its citizens”. Honor Flight is open to all veterans who served at any time between 1941-1975 and to veterans from any era who have a terminal illness. For this Honor Flight San Diego there was 1 World War II veteran (Mr. Bill Martin, age 98, who served in all three wars), 8 Korean War veterans, and 81 Vietnam veterans. Of the 90 veterans, 5 were women veterans – 1 from the Korean war and 4 from the Vietnam War.
I had the good fortune to be asked to go on this Honor Flight representing not only being a veteran from the Vietnam era but as a member of the media covering the trip. Leaving my house at 3:45 am that Friday, I arrived at the Terminal 2 Parking Structure at the airport where I would leave my car for the weekend. As a reminder, if you do this, take a picture of the Level you park and the Letter of the Row and Space number where your car is parked. It will save lots of looking around. As fate would have it, I ran into Holly Shaffner, Vice Chairwoman and Public Relations for Honor Flight San Diego, who has been involved with Honor Flight for 11 years, also with 24 years of military experience.. After a “Good morning”, she said, “Follow me”, and off we went for a quick trip through the airport, by the Alaska Airlines check-in section and into a large side room where Honor Flight San Diego personnel were set-up to check in the arriving vets and guardians. It was here that we dropped off our small luggage bags, checked in and received Honor Flight bags, the first of many gift items we would receive during the trip. We also received our Honor Flight wrist bands and color bracelets for the Team we were part of for the weekend. There were four teams in colors Blue, Orange, Red, and Green. I was on the Blue Team. Each Team would also be on different buses in Washington, D.C., which assisted with roll call for each trip in Washington, D.C. Blue Team Leaders Lisa Gary and Sue Sabbaugh and Assistant Blue Team Leader Bret Gary introduced themselves and helped with check-in and directed me to the breakfast goodies provided.
Several long tables were set up along the side wall filled with pastries, breakfast sandwiches and coffee; lots of coffee. My first interview was with Navy veteran Johnny R. Billups, a Vietnam War vet who enlisted in Philadelphia at age 17. Johnny said he was the first to arrive today and just wanted to be on time. He had served 23 years in the Navy and for the Honor Flight his daughter, Michelle Bass, was going to be his guardian. The guardian’s responsibilities include assisting each veteran in a variety of ways, from helping with luggage, carrying a vets personal items, pushing wheelchairs, if the vet needed a wheelchair, making sure the vet meets all deadlines for meals and bus trips, walking with the vet at the various memorials and monuments, and generally assisting in any way they are needed. Bob O’Leary was the second vet I spoke with. He said he was the second vet to arrive. Bob was also a Navy vet from the Vietnam War, enlisting in Washington state at age 17 and staying in until he turned 21. He said he was a radioman. Everyone expressed how excited they were to be selected to go on the flight.
Holly had told me to make sure I made it out to the Terminal 2 curbside drop-off to watch as veterans arrived. Leaving the check-in room and arriving by the curbside I saw San Diego City Fire and Cal Fire personnel lining up in two lines to welcome each of the vets arriving, applauding as the veterans arrived and then one by one assisting them to go through the airport to the room arranged for check-in. It was here that I met one of the two sets-of-brothers on the trip, Richard and George Fisher. They excitedly spoke with everyone around them.
Back in the arrival room, more veterans had arrived and the volume had picked up as vets were introducing themselves and the stories were beginning to fly around. I spoke with Hal Hunter, who had served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and had left Vietnam by 1969, serving during the early years of Vietnam. He said when he left Vietnam he missed seeing the Bob Hope Show by 4 hours. Hope used to entertain troops all around the world. By the time I had returned to the check-in room, T.V. news media from KUSI, Channels 8 and 10 had also arrived and were busy interviewing and filming many of the veterans. KUSI reporter Ed Linderman was interviewing 90-year-young Shirley Ferrill, a Navy nurse who had served in Korea from 1954-58 and who now volunteers with Military Women Across the Nation making patriotic pillows she gives away at the local San Diego USO.
Also going on this Honor Flight was KUSI reporter and weekend anchor Jason Austell and his father, Captain Frank “Pappy” Schluntz, (U.S. Navy Ret). Frank, age 90, had served for 34 distinguished years in the U.S. Navy as a fighter pilot flying off of the USS Kitty Hawk and Commanding Officer of VF-2 Bounty Hunters as well as other positions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Legion of Merit and other awards and had gone down over the Sea of Japan during the Vietnam War, surviving in the sea until rescued. Sitting in back of the room was 98-year-old Bill Martin with his guardian. Bill was in boot camp in 1945 as WW II was drawing to a close. Bill was in the U.S. Navy for 36 years, retiring in 1980 as a Captain. Bill said he was also looking forward to the trip. Next to Bill was Frank Alessia, proudly and loudly stating he was in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and he said it is “Finally great to be welcomed back”. Dale Farnham spent 45 years active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, which include working with the Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1976-78. He retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. Speaking with Anthony “Tony the Vet” LoBue I found out he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Vietnam 1964-1966, was injured. He later became the Founder/Director of Support Our Veterans Association and was involved in the Arts for Veterans program.
One of the organizations in attendance to see the veterans off was members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Chapter 33-1. This organization began in 2010 and raises funds for a variety of groups including the Veteran’s Writing Groups of North County and Honor Flight San Diego. Raising $10,000 they had donated to Honor Flight. One of the events they sponsor is the Heroes Luncheon for Honor Flight participants, held at the Escondido Elks Lodge.
I was able to speak with Dave Smith, Founder of the Honor Flight San Diego Hub and Past National Chairman/President Honor Flight Network, who filled me in on some of the specifics about the beginnings of Honor Flight. Honor Flight was started by Earl Morse in 2004, using 6 small planes to fly 12 veterans to Washington, D.C. and in 2005 would use 18 small planes flying 2 veterans in each plane. Jeff Miller had started Honor Air in 2006 but joined with Morse in Feb. 2006 to charter commercial jets to fly more veterans to visit the newly completed WW II Memorial and other memorials. The Honor Flight Network has grown to include 131 hubs all over the United States. Earl and Jeff received the 2008 Presidential Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush. Honor Flight San Diego was started by Dave in 2010, who has been on every Honor Flight since then. His first Honor Flight had 10 veterans and 10 guardians. He said 2,200 veterans along with guardians have been on Honor Flight San Diego flights since then. One interesting fact is 55 wheelchairs are taken on each flight to assist veterans who need a wheelchair and to have “just in case”. He also said the “Mail Call” has been an unbelievable emotional addition to the Honor Flights and something most of the veterans didn’t know would occur. He said to be looking for it about 2 hours into the flight.
Our flight was scheduled for a 7:17 am boarding time with an 8:00 am departure. We began lining up and boarding with those in wheelchairs boarding first as First Class passengers with their guardians, followed by Team colors with veterans and guardians. With more veterans and Honor Flight personnel to interview you could feel and tell the veterans, and the guardians, were excited and ready for a fast-paced weekend adventure as we boarded the first Honor Flight for 2026.
Coming June 16: Part 2 – The Flight, Arrival and “Tour of Honor” Welcome Dinner
In the next installment, Tom Robertson recounts the flight from San Diego to Washington, D.C., the emotional arrival at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, hotel check-in and the Honor Flight San Diego “Tour of Honor” Welcome Dinner that officially kicks off the veterans’ unforgettable weekend in the nation’s capital.
