Honor Flight Stirs Memories, Gratitude for Waukesha Vets

Last week, Wisconsin World War II veterans got to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime memorable trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II war memorial. Joining them were nine vets from Waukesha.

The day started early for the vets, who had to be at Gen. Mitchell International Airport at 5 a.m. They boarded the plane and then landed a few hours later in D.C., where they were celebrated, serenaded by a Drum and Bugle Corp and escorted to see the many monuments of the nation’s capital.

World War II veteran George Kuchler of Waukesha said the trip was very informative, with many “beautiful” monuments to visit. It was his first time in D.C., with much to see.

Of special note for him was the long-stretching Vietnam monument – the granite slabs with so many names of those who didn’t make it back from war, like he did.

During World War II, Kuchler was a paratrooper with the 17th "Thunder from Heaven" Airborne Division of the Army. He took part in the last full-scale airborne drop of World War II, in the Rhineland area of Germany, a big accomplishment for the young man. His wife, Anita, however, was proud of something else.

Kuchler, who was born in Germany and came to the states when he was 11, took up the cause of his adopted country and fought against his home country just years later, she said.

He had wanted to be a pilot but wasn’t allowed because he hadn’t been a naturalized citizen long enough. So he joined the paratroopers instead.

“He just put everything aside and joined the fight against his home country,” Anita said, pride evident in her voice. “I’m sure there were others who did, too, but I only know one, my husband,”

Getting veterans to talk about their war service is difficult but among themselves, the stories flow.

For Paul Kablitz, Waukesha, the most memorable part of the trip was the stories exchanged among old friends or new acquaintances, the camaraderie reignited, the enjoyment the men shared in sharing their tales.

“Just seeing all the older veterans enjoying it so much,” Kablitz explained.

The monuments and memorials, although inspiring, took second place to the people he met or became re-acquainted with on the trip. He noted that so many of his generation are dying each day

During World War II, Kablitz was a quartermaster on Navy landing ships in the South Pacific – Okinawa, Guam and other locations. His main tasks were navigation, steering the ship, and applying orders given by the ship’s officers. He enlisted when he was 17, so he could join the Navy and avoid the Army draft.

As with Kablitz, for Kuchler, the most memorable part of the trip was the people, specifically, the people who gave the warm welcome at the airport upon his return.

“The people waiting there,” Kuchler said. “Rows and rows of people greeting us with outstretched arms.”

He said that he shook hands and met with people for an hour and a half after landing, making a long, eventful day even longer.

“From Boy Scouts all the way up to the elderly, thanking us personally for our accomplishments in World War II,” Kuchler marveled. “You could hardly walk for all the people. I had tears in my eyes.”

Kablitz, too, was awed by the amount of people showing their support

“I don’t know how many thousands of people were there,” Kablitz said. “There were military people lined up from the gate to the parking lot, Army, Navy, Marines. I don’t know where they got them all from.”

“There were people lines up on both sides who just couldn’t thank us enough for what we did,” he said. “It was a real tear-jerker.”

Both men seemed surprised to be asked if they had received such a warm welcome when they first returned from war.

Clearly, though, the gratitude they received this time was appreciated.

 From the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight website:

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

As the last of the Greatest Generation approach their final curtain call, we are witnesses to a tremendous loss as we embrace a precious opportunity. They will die – 900 heroes – men and women who defined dignity, pass from us each and every day. They take their stories and history and enormous bravery with them. But many are among us still. There is no earthly way we can approach a gift that reflects our depth of gratitude. But we thank them anyway. With YOUR HELP we thank them.

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