Joe Bielema, shown at left, of Morrison, IL, had but a few hours sleep before he began a whirlwind journey on Thursday, October 3, 2013. Excitement over his first Honor Flight to Washington, D. C.–plus the early departure–allowed for little rest. He boarded a Wiersema Charter Service, Inc. bus at 3:15 a.m., from the lot at 15049 Lyndon Road, Morrison.
Several times a year, owner Larry (Janice) Wiersema donates his time and service, to safely shuttle former military personnel and their Guardians to and from the Quad City International Airport in Moline, IL. He has made “about 15” such trips, and “can’t set a price for [the veterans, because they] donated [their] time and service.” Wiersema was a participant once. He was drafted into the U. S. Army, due to the April 1, 1969, lottery. His service was non-combat; he was stationed in Texas to work in transportation–an irony, considering his successful career.
Wiersema picked up participants at the Latin American Social Club, 2708 W. 4th Street, Sterling, IL, before he headed to the Quad Cities. Guardians were to arrive at 5:00, and veterans would arrive half an hour later, in preparation for the 7:00 departure. On this Honor Flight were 162 people; 92 were veterans. Two military personnel had served in World War II, one had served in the Vietnam, and the rest were veterans of the Korean Conflict.
Bielema was accompanied by three Morrison veterans: Frank Belt, William Limond, and the Reverend Donald Matthiessen (whose Air Force son would surprise him at Dulles Airport.)
Bielema assumed three impressive duties during this day. First, as Morrison First Assistant Fire Chief, his skill set qualified him to be trip medic and carry the heavy equipment pack.
Second, two Princeton, IL, area veterans, Irvin Gustafson and Ferris Wright, were Bielema’s charges for the day. The men had been drafted into the U. S. Army (Infantry and Artillery, respectively) at the same time and sent to serve in the Korean Conflict. They were separated upon arrival. Happily, both returned home–a few miles from each other–within a few weeks of each other. On October 3, they set off together on a different kind of military journey, one filled with memories, sadness, gratitude, and pride.
His third responsibility was unique. Some time ago, he explained, he attended a Whiteside County Honor Flight chapter benefit for veterans, held at KJ’s Bar and Grill, 115 W. Main Street, Morrison. He and other firefighters were the guest bartenders. Bielema asked Rhonda Jones how to become involved with the organization. She got him an application.
This chance meeting led Bielema to perform a tribute for Jones’s father. On the Honor Flights, one deceased veteran is chosen to be honored in a simple ceremony at the memorial of his/her service. The late Renyold VanDerLeest of Lyndon, IL, planned to attend the trip on September 20, 2012, as a veteran of the Korean Conflict. “He signed up, but he didn’t get to go,” said Jones, because he passed away October 9, 2011.
Her mother is Ruth. There are five grown children: Renee Temple, Roger VanDerLeest, Roland VanDerLeest, Jones, and Raeann Roberts.
Almost exactly two years later, during the tour of the Air Force Memorial, a commemorative photograph will be taken for the family by HFQC Program Director Dick Detmer. Jones was asked to lend Bielema the United States flag from her father’s casket and his Honorable Discharge papers. These were to be displayed in the photo, so that the memorial stood in the background.
Jones summarized her father’s service. “Airman/2nd Class Renyold (Ren) VanDerLeest enlisted in the U. S. Air Force on May 1, 1952. His first assignment was Sampson Air Force base in New York. From there he was transferred to Shepard Air Force base in Texas, where he attended A & E Mechanic School. The training he received enabled him to be a B-26 mechanic. From Texas he was sent to Chanute Air Force base in Illinois. On September 8, he was sent to Korea and returned to the States on September 12, 1953. After Korea VanDerLeest was stationed in Great Falls, Montana. He was Honorably discharged February 16, 1954, due to hardship because of the failing health of his father, who was a farmer. Medals earned were Korean Service, United Nations Service, and National Defense Service.”
Oddities were the name of the game from that point forward! Their plane arrived from Minnesota, but had sucked an owl into one of the engines during landing. This caused the plane to be grounded for mechanical inspections, paperwork, and final clearance to test the engine away from the terminal. Bielema stated the plane was driven away, because it could have exploded as the engine was powered up and down! The process caused a three-hour departure delay.
The contingent landed at Washington Dulles International Airport eager to begin a jam-packed tour of military memorials. First, however, there would be a water ritual for their pilot, who had just made his final landing. Two tanker trucks pulled along the sides of the plane and shot streams of water across its roof, forming a congratulatory arch. Bielema snapped a quick photo of this event.
The group was met in Dulles, VA, by the local Honor Flight group and transferred to three tour buses, appropriately Red, White, and Blue. Lunch awaited them on the buses. The Honor Flight of the Quad Cities itinerary was modified, due to the late arrival. Hub Director Bob Morrison and Detmer attended.
Furthermore, until the visitors arrived, they would not know what monuments might be inaccessible, due to the Government “shut-down” on Tuesday, October 1. At least one veterans group had discovered barriers at the World War II Memorial on Tuesday. Those ineffectual barricades were removed after protest. At the gate to the WW II Memorial, legislators welcomed the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities and thanked them for their military service: U. S. Senator Chuck Grassley, IA, and U. S. Senator Mark Kirk, IL; U. S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, IL, and U. S. Congressman Bruce Braley, IA.
VanDerLeest’s mementos were escorted to the central pool of the WW II Memorial, as if he were riding in the wheelchair with other Korean vets. Bielema, at right, used an amplifier to read information about the deceased veteran’s service, while a HFQC staffer held up his photo, Honorable Discharge paper, and funeral flag. In this way fellow travelers would know him.
One hour later, a serious complication arose in the Nation’s Capital when the Capitol was locked down. Police instructed people there to “shelter in place,” after the sound of gunshots was reported in the area of the Capitol building, just after 1:00 p.m. Early reports were chaotic. An unconfirmed report said a Police Officer was injured in the shooting. A later report said the incident may have begun when someone attempted to ram a vehicle into the gates at the White House. One reporter said, during a live report from the Office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, that Reid indicated one person was injured in the shooting.
The Editor’s phone call to Joe Bielema indicated that the Honor Flight was able to proceed with their visits after a brief delay. Some venues were deleted. The modified itinerary prepared by the Honor Flight Committee included:
- Udvar-Hazy Center Air and Space–skipped
- World War II Memorial
- Air Force Memorial tour
- Pentagon drive-by–changed to on-site visit
- Women’s Memorial
- Tomb of the Unknowns and Changing of the Guard ceremony
- Iwo Jima Memorial–drive-by only plus a drive through the Fort Myer installation
- Korean War Memorial
- Viet Nam Memorial–skipped
- Lincoln Monument–skipped.
Bielema was most impressed with the Pentagon Memorial, where they were met by military personnel as the first Honor Flight to be admitted. It is marked by 184 sleek benches, one for each victim of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. They are arranged by the victims’ year of birth, from 1930 (age 71) to 1998 (age 3.) Broadly-spaced benches each hover over a small, lighted pool of water. The area of the Pentagon rammed by American Airlines Flight 77 has been repaired and overlooks the plaza of benches.
The main attraction was the Korean War Memorial. Representative Braley opened the blocked gates to Honor Flight members. Other tourists were not admitted. Irvin Gustafson, left, and Ferris Wright appear to “lead” the squad through the undergrowth, while Bielema posed with Ren VanDerLeest’s traveling items. This monument photograph is part of the commemoration for the selected deceased veteran. The individual statues are slightly larger than life.
At 8:30 p.m., back in Dulles Airport, the men were treated to Mail Call. School children in the Quad Cities had been studying the Korean War; they wrote letters to a specific serviceman. Every man’s name was called; he received his “mail” which thanked him for his military service. Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack included a packet with official thanks. That must have brought memories of cherished letters from home from 1950 to 1953.
Some may have slept a bit during the return flight to Moline, where they arrived about 11:00 p.m. What happened next led to a “second wind.” Immediately inside the terminal, they were presented with Whitey’s “Camo” ice cream: brown and green with graham crackers. In the airport hallways, they were met by Iowa service personnel, well-wishers, flags, music, and applause. Family members and discharged military cheered and took photos. A bagpiper and a Junior High band added to the festivity.
Bielema returned the medic pack to the Honor Flight staff. He said the 20-pound pack “felt more like 75 at the end of the day!” Then, everyone headed home, sated with satisfaction.
And while Eric Wiersema guided the Morrison men through the autumnal darkness of October 3, surely the participants dozed a contented sleep. On this Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, they likely are remembering the rich experience that brought them together on Honor Flight #25 of the Quad Cities.