A local veteran’s unique military experience gave him a different perspective as he participated in an Old Glory Honor Flight Mission.
Steve Noworatzki’s military career was quite unusual when compared to others who were drafted during the Vietnam War.
While a vast majority of those called upon to serve their country were sent to the East Asian country, Steve was drafted as an 11 Delta, which is reconnaissance, and was sent to Germany to patrol the East German Border.
“It was interesting because we were the first line of defense, if the Russians would start coming over,” he recalled.
Despite never setting foot in Vietnam, Steve was treated the same as Vietnam veterans upon his return home.
“I was in uniform and everything at airports and everything, and they all thought, well, I’m a baby killer, right?” Steve explained. “I didn’t make any friends. Nobody welcomed me home.”
Steve was on Old Glory Honor Flight Mission 73, the same mission as Mike Flentje, whose story we told on Friday, along with several other local Vietnam-era veterans.
He called the trip the perfect opportunity to reminisce with others who went through similar experiences, while also enjoying the incredible monuments in Washington D.C.
Naturally, with the Vietnam Era guys, the big emotional highlight was the visit to The Wall.
“This was the third time that I had been in Washington, D.C., but it was different because you’re among your peers,” he noted. “I lost a close friend of mine who, every time I go to D.C…I see his name up on the wall and I just break down.”
One aspect of the flight that Steve really enjoyed was the Mail Call that is conducted right before the plane lands back at the Appleton International Airport.
“Before we landed in Appleton, they said, ‘Now it’s mail time.’ This was on the on the plane itself,” Steve recalled. “We had all kinds of letters and messages from people, some people I didn’t even know.”
And of course, the welcome home is always emotional, especially for the vets who never truly were welcomed back in the states. Old Glory Honor Flight Mission 78 is set to take off on Tuesday, October 28th.
This mission is funded by a combination of donations collected by Seehafer Broadcasting, American Legion Post 477, and Squadron 477, as well as through raffles, food sales, and the Tee It Up Fore Troops Golf Outing.
All are encouraged to welcome the veterans and their guardians back at the Appleton International Airport that evening.
The flight is anticipated to land at around 9:15 p.m., and attendees should arrive no earlier than 7:00 p.m.
For more information, visit OldGloryHonorFlight.org.
