Retired Navy Veterans and Hills Above PK Neighbors

Retired Navy Veterans and Hills Above PK Neighbors, share their emotional journey on recent Honor Flight.  

Story by Michelle Ince | Photos contributed by Tommy Johnson and Tommy Harveston

Pictured above:  Retired Navy Veterans and Possum Kingdom residents, Tommy Johnson (left) and Tommy Harveston (right)

Military veterans often hear the phrase, “Thank you for your service,†and while it’s a heartfelt sentiment, one group exists to put those words into action.

Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Jeff Miller and retired Air Force Capt. Earl Morse to provide all-expenses-paid trips for U.S. military veterans to the memorials dedicated to their eras of service.

For those who haven’t heard of this program, you’re not alone. In fact, retired Navy veteran and Possum Kingdom resident Tommy Johnson discovered it by chance.

Johnson, a Vietnam-era veteran, said he happened to hear about the Honor Flight Network one day and decided to check it out. Once he became aware of what the program offered, he sent an application to the organization, then shared his newfound knowledge with his nearby Hills Above PK neighbor Tommy Harveston, who also is a Navy veteran.

“I said, ‘OK,’ Harveston said, so I signed up for the thing and I got it. I was surprised they called me before they called (Johnson).â€

Harveston, a Korean War veteran, said the network takes veterans who are older first, so that put him higher up on the priority list than his friend. When he called to inquire about how the process works, Harveston kept asking for his friend Tommy Johnson – but Honor Flight said it didn’t have anybody by that name listed.

Harveston said he then flatly told the Honor Flight personnel that unless his friend went, he didn’t want to go. The impasse eventually was resolved when it was discovered that Johnson’s first name was listed as “Joe†instead of “Tommy.â€

With that settled, their adventure soon got underway.

The two men were booked on an Honor Flight tour with 41 veterans, including a 94-year-old who had served in World War II, eight others who had served in Korea, and the others being Vietnam-era veterans.

Both explained how the Honor Flight system works: Once the veterans’ applications are accepted, they’re booked for a trip, with the organization covering the cost of the trip. Each veteran also is paired with a personal assistant or guardian.

Johnson noted that the chaperones were not allowed to be spouses, but they could be children or other relatives.

Both men said they could not have asked for better guardians, with Johnson describing his guardian, Carolyn Stewart, as “absolutely perfect.â€

“She’s going to be one of the best friends in my life,†he said. “I only knew her overnight, but she was an absolutely fantastic person and looked after me.â€

Harveston said his guardian, Prissy Swindell, was “just amazing,†and added: “We’re hoping she’s going to get to come see us.â€

Honor Flight chaperones accompany the veterans constantly, carrying whatever the veterans need. Their goal is to make sure each veteran is able to enjoy the experience as much as possible.

Veterans arrive at their hub for their Honor Flight trips a day early for orientation, and Johnson and Harveston were part of the Dallas-Fort Worth hub that left from Love Field. The organization strives to make sure their guests have as much knowledge about what’s happening as possible, and trained medical personnel also accompany the guests, since many are in wheelchairs and have medical conditions.

Both men said they had an entire orientation process, which Johnson’s wife greatly appreciated.

Their flight left at 5 a.m. the next day, and they said it was nothing like they had ever seen.

“I was a little bit overwhelmed,†Harveston said.

They said they weren’t expecting a sendoff that included schoolchildren and other former veterans lining the way and cheering as the Honor Flight group made its way onto a plane painted red, white, and blue. Water cannons shot over the plane as it began to pull away from the gate.

The fanfare for the heroes didn’t end there, either. When they arrived in Washington, D.C., they were greeted with another reception and more revelry. Both men reflected on how emotional it was to walk among the many who lined up to thank them for their service to their country.

According to the organization’s website, its mission is to celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials, and Honor Flight envisions a nation where all of America’s veterans receive the honor, gratitude and support they deserve.

Both men shared emotional experiences they had on their trip. Johnson said the tour took them to monuments from each state, and the Kentucky native noted that he got to visit the Bluegrass State memorial during his trip.

For both of them, one of the most special monuments they visited was that of Texas native Audie Murphy. Johnson said Murphy’s nickname was “Two Bit†– and, in his honor, each of the men placed a quarter, signifying “two bits,†on his tombstone.

Another significant memory of the trip for Johnson was visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Johnson, who served as an electrician, said his military assignment did not include a trip to Vietnam, but he did take the time on his Honor Flight trip to search the memorial for the names of people he knew, etching their names on paper from the stone walls. Someone captured a picture of that moment, and Johnson said his image was mirrored on the memorial alongside the names of his fellow servicemen, one of many “lump in the throat†moments for him on his excursion.

For Harveston, his emotional journey began before the plane even took off. His son handed him a package as he was boarding the plane, and inside the package was a telegram from World War II that had been sent to his late wife’s mother. It was a telegram that so many in World War II dreaded: a notice that her son had been killed.

However, accompanying that sad telegram were many letters written by some who had served alongside her son. Harveston said all the letters were deeply personal in nature, with one even recalling how the writer, who was within feet of “her son,†did all he could to come to his rescue.

“I didn’t even think to look him up at the World War II Memorial, and I wish I had,†Harveston said.

He said everyone on the flight got to read the telegrams and letters and partake in a treasured moment that reminded them all of that brotherhood in arms.

Harveston also noted that Arlington Cemetery was overwhelming, at least to him.

“I’ll bet there was 1,000 acres of heroes,†he said, adding that the cemetery reported that it still conducts more than 30 burials each day.

Other notable memorials for both men included the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where they were able to witness the changing of the guard and watch a ceremony where a wreath was laid at the memorial.

When the group arrived back home, the veterans were again greeted by great fanfare. Johnson said each veteran received “mail call,†a familiar term in the military for when mail arrives from loved ones from far away. Both men were shocked to find more than 100 letters each from family, friends and some schoolchildren whom they had never met.

Upon landing back in Dallas, a bagpipe musician played many war hymns, including their beloved “Anchors Aweigh,†which Johnson said was another “lump in the throat†moment for him.

Johnson and Harveston said they are looking forward to an upcoming Honor Flight reunion, where they will have the opportunity to reconnect with the veterans on their flight and share their experiences with others. Both men said they intend to tell everyone they can about the organization and what it provides.

“Every veteran should experience this,†Johnson said.

To learn more, visit the website www.honorflight.org.

Harveston and Johnson were both overwhelmed with the sendoff that included schoolchildren and other former veterans lining the way and cheering as the Honor Flight group made its way onto a plane painted red, white, and blue.  Water cannons shot over the plane as it began to pull away from the gate.

Navy veteran, Tommy Harveston, and his Honor Flight guardian, Prissy Swindell.

Navy veteran, Tommy Johnson, and his Honor Flight guardian, Carolyn Stewart.

One of many significant memories of the trip for Johnson was a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  He took time to search the memorial for the names of people he knew.

Someone captured a picture of that moment, and Johnson said his image was mirrored on the memorial alongside the names of his fellow servicemen.

Someone captured a picture of that moment, and Johnson said his image was mirrored on the memorial alongside the names of his fellow servicemen.

When the group arrived back home to even more fanfare, each veteran received “mail call,†a familiar term in the military for when mail arrives from loved ones from far away.  Both men were shocked to find more than 100 letters.

Thank you for your service, gentlemen!

The airport was filled with people holding signs supporting the honor flight group both at DFW Airport and landing in Washington.

Tommy Harveston

Tommy Johnson

Tommy Harveston and his new Honor Flight friend, Brooks Morris