World War II veterans enjoy honor flight

It was an experience that was “out of this world,” according to one participant.

This week’s Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., not only transported Arizona veterans to the nation’s capitol to view the World War II memorial, but also back in time, as they recalled their time serving during the war.

Robert “Bob” Ballenger and Wilbur Habluetzel of Sun City, and Ernest Bukovitz of Sun City West were among the 11 Arizona veterans and guardians who left Tuesday and returned Thursday as part of the Arizona Honor Flight.

Honor Flight — a national organization — arranges for World War II veterans to travel to view the memorials. Veterans and their guardians pay their own way on the trips, but donations are being sought to help finance future trips. The Arizona chapter hopes to coordinate another two to five trips this coming summer.

Ballenger, 85, said standing before the World War II memorial brought back memories of his time in the Army.

He joined in June 1943 when he was 18. After training, he was in the landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944. He was wounded seriously there and taken to England to recover. He then saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Arrowhead.  

“(Viewing the WWII memorial) was fantastic,” Ballenger said. “I laid a wreath at the Arizona section.”

Arizona Representative Trent Franks greeted the group at the memorial, and a Phoenix television station interviewed them as well.

Ballenger said the Arizona veterans were matched with a group of veterans from Washington state, and they experienced the tours together.

“We had a lot of camaraderie,” Ballenger said.

The group traveled to Arlington National Cemetery, where they were scheduled to witness a changing of the guards at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Ballenger said they were told there are funerals taking place every 15 minutes and booked far in advance, and the Arizona veterans were scheduled to view the 7:30 a.m. change.

But because of traffic delays, the veterans arrived too late.

“But they did an re-enactment for us, which was the first time ever they did one,” Ballenger said. “It was out of this world.”

The veterans visited the WWII memorial, which Ballenger said was very beautiful.

“I thought it was very impressive,” he said. “They had all of the states listed and the reflecting pools. It’s a very beautiful area.”

The veterans also toured the Vietnam and Korean war memorials.

For Ballenger, it was a special trip that he was able to share with two sons — one from Arizona who served as a group guardian, and one from Milwaukee who joined them in Washington.

Ballenger encourages other WWII veterans to take part in an Honor Flight and see their memorial.

“It’s out of this world,” Ballenger said. “Anybody who asks, it’s first class all the way.”

For information, visit www.honorflightnaz.org