Clarendon’s Tom Stauder says it was “the trip of a lifetime” when he joined about 85 other veterans from the Panhandle and South Plains on an Honor Flight to the nation’s capital.
Stauder was accompanied by his grandson, Bobby Tyler, in a group of about 125 people for the South Plains Honor Flight, which started Friday, May 31. Stauder and ten others had served in the Korean War. About 74 others had served in Vietnam.
A luncheon on the campus of Texas Tech University was the first gathering of the veterans, their companions, and members of the South Plains Honor Flight, and they all received matching red shirts. The group flew to Washington, DC, arriving at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport followed by a visit to the World War II Veterans Memorial, where Stauder said it was neat to see the old military uniforms. The group then went to the Pentagon Memorial commemorating the lives lost in the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“It was very impressive in that there were monuments with names for each of the 125 people killed when the airplane crashed into the building,” Stauder said.
Sunday morning’s tour began with Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which he said was “very impressive.”
The Women’s Military Memorial and the Seabee Memorial were next, followed by the US Marine Corps War Memorial, which depicts the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima.
“That was impressive seeing the GIs placing the flag pole with our flag of the United States,” he said.
The National Museum of the US Army was the first stop of the afternoon.
“We got a great view of how the Army weapons have changed over all those years,” he said. “As the oldest mobile vet, I placed the wreath at the memorial.”
The next stop was the group’s longest – the Air & Space Museum.
“To me, because there are so many unknowns our scientists need to discover, I found this to be the most interesting,” Stauder said.
Dinner Saturday evening featured a keynote address by Phillip Waite, managing director of the Vietnam veterans organization.
“He recognized and presented pins to our Korean veterans as well as the larger group of Vietnam veterans,” Stauder said. “He also gave a great patriotic speech.”
The National Museum of the Marine Corps was the first stop on Monday, June 3, where Stauder said it was interesting to see what he remembered from his 14 months in Korea. That stop was followed by a trip to the US Navy Memorial.
“The best food I had in the Army was on Navy ship,” Stauder said. “The size of the ships has changed as well as the armaments.”
The Korean War Memorial held a special significance for Stauder due to his service in that conflict.
“I was asked to present the wreath,” he said. “In addition, I found the name of a grade school buddy, who was a forward observer. When the Chinese hoard came down, his position was overrun. Lt. Phillip F. Bauer gave his best for our country.”
A short trip to the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool was next.
“What a site, so pretty,” Stauder said. “Old Abe was sitting in his chair.”
The final destination was the Vietnam Memorial where Stauder noted the equipment was different from his days in Korea. The Honor Flight group then returned to the airport for their flight back to Lubbock.
“When we arrived, Adian Tyler, Bobby’s wife, was waiting for us for the ride back home,” he said. “We arrived after midnight and hit the hay.”
Writing his recollections down the following evening, Stauder said he still had not recovered from the trip fully, but he was grateful for the opportunity.
“Thank you, South Plains Honor Flight, for allowing me to have the Trip of a Lifetime!”
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