|
Subscribe!
770-267-8371
|
|
Thursday
September 2, 2010
|
|
|
|
Marketplace
|
|
Sections
|
|
Service Center
|
|
 |
|
Trip to memorial emotional for local veteran
Published November 11, 2009
“It almost made tears come in my eyes, all these people and the way they were caring for us,” said Jim Briscoe.
The 84-year-old Between resident and World War II veteran returned recently from a trip to Washington, D.C., to see for the first time the World War II Memorial made possible by the Honor Flight Network Inc. and its regional office in Fayetteville.
Honor Flight is a non profit organization created to honor veterans for their sacrifices by transporting them to the nation’s capitol to see their respective national memorials. Priority is given to senior veterans, with increased efforts on providing this trip for WWII veterans.
Until 2004, there was no memorial recognizing the efforts of what is commonly called The Greatest Generation.
It was not until almost 60 years after the war came to an end — with memorials already established for the Korean and Vietnam wars — that the courage, honor and valor of not only the millions who served in the armed services but also those who did their part for the war effort on the home front were recognized with their own national memorial. Because thousands of veterans from World War II are dying each day, Honor Flights are organized across the country every year, taking veterans to see the memorial for free.
And it was the experience of a lifetime for Briscoe.
“I was very humbled,” Briscoe said when he saw the memorial. “I am also very thankful that people thought enough to make this memorial and even more thankful there are people who wanted to take us to see it.”
With a military band sending them off from Fayetteville, the group was escorted by the Patriot Guard and law enforcement officers non-stop to the airport. Briscoe was among 72 veterans who took the trip in October, and when they landed at Reagan International Airport, a crowd waited to greet this group of veterans, thanking them for their service to this country.
The Patriot Guard again served as the escort as the caravan of buses made their way to the World War II Memorial. When they arrived, former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole — one of the driving forces behind the creation of the memorial — was on hand as he tries to make sure he visits each Honor Flight that visits the memorial.
“I walked up to him and said, ‘You are my hero. I have kept up with you since you were almost killed in Italy,’” Briscoe said to his fellow World War II veteran.
The Walton County resident also took the opportunity to visit the Vietnam and Lincoln memorials before the group of veterans reconvened to make their way to the Arlington National Cemetery to witness the changing of the guards of the Tomb of the Unknowns.
A flat tire on the plane they were supposed to return home in and inclement weather made the trip home rough, but Briscoe said nothing could take away from the experience.
“Any veteran, no matter what their condition, if they can travel, they need to do this because the way you are treated is unbelievable,” Briscoe said. “I was thrilled to death with this experience. I don’t believe you’d find a person who didn’t enjoy it, and we old people can get pretty grumpy at times.”
Briscoe was 19 when he was drafted and served for three years on a minesweeper ship, the USS Mainstay. Years earlier, he had a bout with rheumatic fever and was told because he had an enlarged heart and irregular heartbeat he would never have to serve in the military.
“I had to lie,” Briscoe said. “The doctor who gave me my physical at Fort McPherson toward the end asked if there was anything else he needed to know. So I told him, and he asked me if I wanted to serve. I said I think it would kill me if I didn’t. My brother and my friends all had gone off to war.
“I still have an enlarged heart and irregular heartbeat. For some reason, the Lord wants me to keep ticking.”
While serving on this kind of naval ship many would consider the most dangerous time of their lives, including an incident where the ship was used as bait to locate a shore battery’s large howitzer, it was the experience of a typhoon while off the coast of Okinawa toward the war’s end where Briscoe said he felt most afraid.
As the years have passed, the veteran is spending more time trying to track down his old shipmates. And it is days like Veterans Day where he relives time spent during the war.
“When we returned, there wasn’t much fuss made because there were so many of us returning — and we were just happy to be coming home from war,” Briscoe said. “When I was working and was busy with life, I didn’t think too much about Veterans Day. But as I got older, seems like it means more to me because the people, the public make more of it than they did years ago. And it makes me feel honored. And for a memorial to be built for us, I feel blessed.”
A cameraman from CNN joined Briscoe and the group of veterans on their trip. Excerpts from that will air today at 9 and 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m. Their account will also air Saturday.
For more information or to make a donation to the Honor Flight, visit www.honorflight.org.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
