Nov 11, 2009 10:08 am US/Pacific
Honor Flight Takes Vet To War Memorial In D.C.
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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William Badham will be part of an Honor Flight from LAX to Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
CBS
It has been nearly 64 years since former Navy Vet Willard Badham, affectionately known as "Baddie" fought for his country. Now, his country is finally repaying him.
"I just can't wait to see it. I am proud to be in the military. I'm proud to have served our country," William said.
"Baddie's" been selected by a group called "Honor Flight" to be part of a very special flight Wednesday out of L-A-X... He and other vets are headed to Washington D.C. to see the World War II Memorial... some… for the first time ever.
"I am behind him. I think it's kind of exciting," Roseanne Badham said.
Time seems to have stood still for this 86-year-old when he tells of his memories while serving on a Navy Destroyer ship named the McDonough.
Some were good.
"We had one plane that lost it's tail hook land off our port bow. We just came along side and picked him up. That was good duty because when you rescue a flyer, everybody got ice cream." William said.
Other recollections brought a shocking reality to a then 21-year-old Los Angeles native.
"I saw a couple of ships where the commikozies hit the bridge and just destroyed the bridge… but they weren't able to sink many of them," William recalls.
The "Honor Flight" organization works with groups to provide flights, transportation, and hotels... to get aging veterans to Washington D.C. to see their war memorial, to get the respect of a nation for a job well done.
Because of logistics... and the cross-country flight time... this month marks the first-ever honor flight out of Los Angeles. For this vet, it's an honor that may have taken some time but its one that's truly worth the wait.
Honor Flight works on the donations of air carriers like Southwest, donations from the public and donations of time from family members willing to take a loved one on what for some people could be the biggest trip of a lifetime.
Click
here to find out how you can help.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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