World War II veteran reflects on Honor Flight

One of the final couple of World War II veterans living in Adair County received a memorable show of appreciation for his service recently when he had the opportunity to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Bruce Westphal, 96, of rural Fontanelle was accompanied by Dr. Sharon Bertroche of Adair County Health System on the trip. It left from Cedar Rapids about 6 a.m. Tuesday, April 25 and returned later that night to a hearty round of applause who gathered at the airport to welcome the veterans home.

One year ago, Fontanelle veteran David Homan went on a similar trip.

“This was a really big deal, a wonderful day,” Westphal said. “We spent all day going to all the different memorials. We were on a bus, then I was in a wheelchair and Dr. Bertroche pushed me around all day long in the wheelchair. I got to see all the scenery that way.”

The Midwest Honor Flight organization has directed flights for over 1,100 veterans from airports in several Midwestern states since it started its mission. The Cedar Rapids flights are some of the closest for Adair County veterans as there are no longer Honor Flights that leave from Des Moines.

Westphal estimates there were over 100 veterans on this flight, all the way from two WWII veterans to younger veterans who served in more recent wars.

As one of the two WWII veterans on the trip, Westphal was able to assist with laying the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery.

“There was another guy and myself who were World War II vets. We got to lay the wreath and were honored that way. They gave me a coin for that,” Westphal said. “That was the highlight of my day. It was a great honor.”

Westphal enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944. When he was done with basic training, he went to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver to train to be a gunner on B-29s. He was called to active duty on Easter 1945, toward the conclusion of World War II.

Once the war ended, Westphal went to Madison, Wisconsin for clerk/typist school, before he was honorably discharged with roughly nine months of service.

“This is very much a great thank you for a veteran’s service,” Westphal said. “It’s a highlight of my life in the last few years, no doubt about that. It’s something I’ll remember as long as I’m alive.”