Local Vets take Honor Flight to tour memorials
Walter "Jack" Miller was just 18 when he was signed by the White Sox.
But instead of going to spring training, the lanky left-fielder from Chicago's West side, wound up fighting the Nazis in Italy.
Drafted by the Army in 1943, Miller fought in some of the most savage battles in all of World War II.
And now, 65 years later, the 83-year-old from Bartlett was able to see a national memorial to his fallen buddies.
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Miller was one of about 60 veterans on the inaugural Honor Flight Chicago Wednesday.
Honor Flight Network flies veterans to Washington, D.C., free of charge. The veterans travel with chaperons to see the major war memorials.
Honor Flight regional director Al Bailey is passionate about the group's mission.
He said the men aren't there to sightsee. It's far more significant.
"Some of them have told us the trip has been the most important day in their lives. Bailey said. "It brings a sense of closure they never had."
For Miller, the most emotional moment came at the National World War II Memorial.
Staring at the 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 dead Americans, Miller's eyes moistened.
"Those are the real heroes," he said. "They never had a chance to get married and raise a family. We were the lucky ones."
The Ohio-based charity was founded in 2005 by retired Air Force Capt. Earl Morse.
By the end of this year, nearly 12,000 veterans from across the nation will have taken the flight. Honor Flight is in 30 states with hopes to expand further.
Bailey is proud of the progress, but realizes it's only a fraction of the roughly 16 million World War II military personnel. And with 1,200 World War II veterans dying each day, it's a race against time.
The one-day trip makes stops at the Vietnam, Korean and Iwo Jima memorials, in addition to the new World War II site.
Bailey said many battle-weary vets never received the thanks they deserved.
"Most of them got a bus or train ticket home and that was it," Bailey said. "No parades, no fanfare. They just wanted to get on with their lives."
Honor Flight tries to rectify that by arranging a welcome home celebration for each flight complete with banners, balloons and cheering family members.
Miller appreciated that sentiment on his return to Midway International Airport, but downplayed the laurels.
"We did what we had to do," he said. "Anybody would have done the same in that situation."
A member of the 351st Infantry Regiment, Miller was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star for gallantry in battle.
He was awarded a Purple Heart after his jaw was injured by shrapnel from a German hand grenade.
Rather than coming home to a career as a professional baseball player, Miller joined the Chicago Fire Department, where he fought fire for 30 years. He was injured twice in the line of duty, one time losing his eyesight for five days after flames flashed in his face while fighting an arson fire.
It would be easy to slap the "hero" label on him, but he'll have none of that.
"I don't believe in that hero stuff," he said. "The guys who didn't come back. Now, those are your heroes."
Honor Flight
Among the suburban veterans who joined the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., last week:
Robert W. Anderson, Buffalo Grove
John F. Berns, Hoffman Estates
William Berry, McHenry
George S. Cassara, Elk Grove Village
Robert L. Christensen, Aurora
Robert W. Church, Elgin
William R. Dreher, Elgin
Daniel Green, West Dundee
Charlie F. May, Huntley
Walter J. (Jack) Miller, Bartlett
Kenneth Ridgway, Wheaton
Harold Schirmer, Arlington Heights
Paul Sellers, Elgin
Edward Sulma, Schaumburg
Robert D. Swanson, Warrenville
Robert G. Terreberry, Schaumburg
John P. Weinmeier, Wood Dale
Fernando Yori, McHenry
William D. Coons, Lombard