Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN

Lee Otos // US Army // SGT

Lee enlisted in the Army and began his service in August 1968, staying in until August 1971. After his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he worked in communications while stationed in Germany. Earning his Sergeant rank was a huge accomplishment for him. After the Army, he moved back to North Dakota and worked in trucking for 35 years before ultimately retiring. 

Lee is a member of the We...

James “Jim” Kloehn // US Army // E-4

Jim was drafted and off to the Army in 1971, serving through 1973. After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he became part of Co. A, 1-66 Armored (General Patton’s Original Battalion!) at Fort Hood, Texas. He worked as the BC’s driver and was very proud to have also helped some of the guys out in emergencies that the company...

LuDean C. Bruer // US Army // CPL

LuDean joined the Army in February 1952 and served through February 1954. After graduating from basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he worked as a driver for the for the colonel, big truck and Jeep maintainer, driver’s training instructor, and regimental dispatcher with HHC 28th Inf. Div. 112th Reg. He saw time at Fort Heilbronn, Germany. Colonel Robertson...

Georgia joined the Army as part of the student nurse program and began serving in 1965. She graduated the program at Fort Sam Houston, Texas in 1967 and then was part of the Army Nurse Corps. She saw time at Fort Riley, Kansas; Quinhon, Vietnam; Fort Ord, California; and Missouri. Georgia was a Registered Nurse and worked in orthopedics, emergency, and intensive care. Before her military time was through, she became a supervisor. S...

Oliver “Ollie” Huseby, Jr. // US Army // E-5

He calls the Fargo area home after having grown up in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Oliver began his Army career in June 1967. After completing basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, he was assigned to the 76th Eng. in Korea. He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic. His fondest memory of serving was seeing the USS Pueblo crew being released after their ...

Robert “Bob” Bergman // US Army // SP4

Bob began his Army service in November 1968 after being drafted. He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was then promptly sent to Vietnam where he linked up with the 1st Cavalry as an artillery gunner. Bob made a lot of great relationships with his fellow comrades and is so thankful for all of them. His time in the military ended in February 1970. After...

Tank McNamara had a chance to visit with Jerry on their first stop at the The National Museum of the United States Army. 

Gerald W. “Jerry” Anderson
US Army
E-5

I was born and raised in New York Mills, Minnesota and still call the area home today. I was drafted by the Army and served for two years (1970 through 1972). After graduating from basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, I was assigned to Bravo Btry...

Tank McNamara visited with Curt and his son Kyle who is currently serving at the National Museum of the United States Army.  

Curtis F. “Curt” Knutson
US Army / North Dakota National Guard
E-5 / E-8

I grew up in Alby, Minnesota, and am proud to now call the Fargo, North Dakota area home. I joined the Army and served from 1969 through 1971. I was stationed with B-5 46th Engineers, but also spent a year in...

Tank McNamara had a chance to visit with Roger Lomstrom at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on day 2 of the Honor Flight. 

Roger F. Lomstrom
US Army
SP5

I grew up in Zim, Minnesota. I now call Henning home. I was drafted by the Army and served from 1965 through 1967 and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and specialized training at Camp Zama, Japan. I was a medic, taking care of the wound...

Tank McNamara had a chance to visit with Larry Steckler and his son Scott, who is a military veteran as well at the World War II Memorial on day 2 of the Veterans Honor Flight.  

Hilary L. “Larry” Steckler
US Navy
MM3

I grew up in Valley City, North Dakota and am proud to still call the area home. I volunteered for the Navy and served from November 1963 through November 1967. After completing basic train...

Tank McNamara had the opportunity to visit with Richard A. Deschene at the World War II Memorial on day 2 of the Veterans Honor Flight. 

Richard A. Deschene
US Army
CPL

Argyle, Minnesota is where I come from and where I’m proud to still call home. I was drafted by the Army and began my service in January 1952. After graduating from basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I spent time with the 65th AMD in Ko...

Tank McNamara had the honor to walk with Terry along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on day 2 of the Veterans Honors Flight.  The two sat down after the walk just outside the Lincoln Memorial.  

Terrance L. “Terry” Teiken
US Army
E-5

I was born and raised in Ogema, Minnesota and happily call the Detroit Lakes area home today. I was drafted by the Army and in November 1970, I was off for basic training...

Tank McNamara and Jerry, two familiar faces, walked through the National Archives Research Center together, reflecting on Jerry’s military service and discussing the Veterans Honor Flight

Gerald O. “Jerry” Anderson
US Marine Corps
CPL

I grew up in Farwell, Minnesota, and now call Dilworth home. I joined the Marines and served from October 1968 through May 1970. After graduating from basic training in ...

It takes an incredible team to make an Honor Flight possible, and this trip was no exception. From bus captains and medical staff to respiratory therapists, wheelchair assistants, and stair helpers, every volunteer played a vital role in creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our veterans. Among them was Dr. Andrew Stasko—a veteran himself—who served on the medical team. Near the end of the trip, Tank McNamara sat...

Joel Heitkamp is on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C., and sits down with Don Heit to talk about his service and the trip. 

Don is from Grand Forks, ND and joined the Army in 1968 and served through 1970. He completed basic training in Fort Lewis, WA and was part of the 4th Inf. Div. while working his way to platoon sergeant. He spent a year in Vietnam and earned both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V Device.&n...

Ryan Janke from KFGO News gets the opportunity to talk with Steve Hammond while on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C. 

He joined the Navy and began his service in 1968. After basic training, he was assigned to VAW-111 at North Island, California where he worked as an aviation electronics technician on E1-B aircraft. His time in the Navy concluded in 1973. 

After the military, he was a law enforcement officer fo...

During a little down time on the shuttle bus, KFGO's Robbie Daniels had a chance to catch up with Bobby:

Robert A. “Bobby” Johnson
US Marine Corps
CPL

I was born and raised in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota – the only place I’d ever like to live! I joined the Marines and served from 1959 through 1962. When I was finished with basic training at Camp Pendelton, California, I was assigned as a field radio opera...

KFGO's Robbie Daniels & Her Husband, who was a volunteer, shared some great conversations with Leon. If you're wondering why he sounds so horse, Leon spent hours chatting with is fellow Veterans! Here's Robbie's conversation with Leon:

Leon D. Schultz
US Army
PFC

Leaf Valley, Minnesota is were I was raised and now I live just a stone’s throw down the road in Garfield. I volunteered for service to the Federal Reserve...