Korean War vets participate in Honor Flight for the first time

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The first group of Korean War vets to take a trip to Washington D.C. on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight landed back in Milwaukee around 9:00 p.m. Saturday, June 8th.

The Honor Flight, a thank you to those who have served, is a one day trip to visit the WWII and Korean War memorials.

"They deserve it. They deserve all of the backing we can give them, all the attention we can give them," said Kitty Vogl, whose husband is a Korean War veteran. "They put their lives on the line to help us so we didn't have to go over there."

Vogl said her husband was having the trip of a lifetime

"He called me from there. He was just so thrilled they were about to see the Lincoln Memorial and he was just thrilled to pieces," said Vogl.

Four generations of Vogl's family were waiting at the airport when he returned.

World War II veteran Richard Bahr said the trip comes with mixed emotions, as he remembers friends and colleagues who died in both battles.

"A lot of people don't recognize what a guy goes through if he's in combat and it's pretty hard on some guys," said Bahr.

Although most of the men and women who took part in the Honor Flight are tired after the long day, they say it was well worth the wait to see the memorials honoring their service.