NEVER FORGOTTEN HONOR FLIGHT April 17 & 18, 2016

Photo AlbumBy: Richard Skroski – Vietnam Veteran

Let me thank all of you for the many letters and drawings you made for me like the one shown above. I’ll tell you more about this in the story of my flight.

Sgt. Richard SkroskiTan Son Knut Air Force BaseVietnam – 1970 ( 26 years old)

Richard SkroskiWausau, WisconsinHonor Flight (71 years old)

First of all, let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Richard Skroski. I currently am 71 years old and I live in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin with my wife Judy. We have been married for 51 years.

Back in 1967, I decided to volunteer and enlist in the U.S. Air force with a 4 year commitment. The Vietnam War was on. Even married men like me were being drafted to go into the Army. The Air Force offered job opportunities that I thought would help when I returned to civilian life again.

The Air Force allowed me to chose the type of job I was interested in. I chose Electronics.

In 1967, I was 23 years old and was sent to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi to go to Technical (Tech.) School.

I was being trained to repair and maintain “Ground Radio Communications Equipment”.

In this picture, I am on the right with a fellow student at this training base.

After Tech. School, my wife and I were sent to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida where I was using the skills I learned in Tech School.

We spent (2) great years here, had our first child and then…….

I was sent to Vietnam. Wives could not go there so she returned to our hometown in Milwaukee with our 5 month old son while I was serving in Vietnam.

MY JOB IN VIETNAM

I traveled almost daily by airplane to Air Force and Army Bases to repair Ground Radios such as those in the back of Jeeps and very Special Communications Equipment as shown on the right photo.

I traveled in Vietnam on a variety of Airplanes. I took the picture on the left while I was seated behind the pilot of a C-130 airplane, a photo of which is shown in the middle. It was a really neat Airplane.

Often, we had to take off and land on some very short, “metal runways” at remote Army Bases like the one shown in the far right photo. A C-130 airplane could do this.

Even with the Vietnam War going on around us, we found time to do goodin other ways to help the VietnamesePeople

Here I am with children at a school my Air Force Squadron helped build near Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

The School Principal was so thankful of the school we built for them, that he invited our entire squadron to a special lunch they prepared for us at the school.

In February, 1971, I returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin having served my country. Here I am being greeted at the airport, holding my young son for the first time in a year while my wife looks at us smiling.

From 1971 until 2005 when I retired, I used the skills I learned in the Air Force to work first with Electronic Products and then Conveying Equipment as a Sales and Marketing Professional for Rexnord Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My “Never Forgotten Honor Flight” - April 18, 2016

From Central Wisconsin Airport – Wausau, Wisconsin to Washington, D.C.

My Daughter Laurie, assigned as a Guardian for me and another Veteran as we prepare to takeoff on our flight.

My Daughter, I and another Veteran, Ed Schnabl as we are about to takeoff on our flight.

As we arrive at the airport in Washington D.C., hundreds of people greet us with signs and waving flags, thanking us for service to our country

All who died in the Vietnam War are honored here.

We gather at the Vietnam Memorial Wall

Here I find my High School Classmates name – Thaddeus Zajac

58,000 American names are on this wall

The Faces of HonorA bronze statue of (3) Vietnam Fighting Men at the Memorial

Women of the WarDedicated to the eight service women killed in action in Vietnam

The Korean War Veterans Memorial

A group of 19 Statues depicts a squad on patrol in rough terrain and harsh weather

Our Group photo of 96 World War 2, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans taken at the World War 2 Memorial

Group Photo Close up – Richard Skroski – Center in back row

Iwo-Jima MemorialWorld War 2 Veteran showing pictures of his fellow servicemen who fought together at Iwo-Jima

Changing of the guard at “The Tomb of the Unknowns”

Every day, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, rain, snow or sun, a guard is there to honor those service members who died in past wars but whose remains have not been identified

The Washington Monument and reflecting pool

The U.S. Air Force Memorial

When in Vietnam, we did not have access to telephones, cell phones or computers to communicate with our relatives and friends. They did not exist yet in war zones.

On only two occasions during my year in Vietnam, I was able to talk to my wife by radio communications. Our short conversation went something like this – “Hi Judy. How is our son Rob doing? Over.” Judy would respond with” Rob is growing everyday and saying new words. Over”

Mail Call

What we did have was “Mail Call”….mail that we received from home. A letter or package from home meant so much to us and helped us get thru the bad times of war.

These photos show the mail you sent, being distributed to us while returning on the Honor Flight.

Mail Call

I read each and every letter you sent to me on the flight home

Thank you all for caring about me and taking the time to write letters to me for the Honor Flight.

I will keep your letters in a Special Place in my house so I can look at them anytime.

Your friend: Richard Skroski

Hundreds of people greeting us veterans as we returned to Central Wisconsin Airport in Wausau, Wisconsin in the evening

Here Richard Skroski, greeted by wife Judy walk thru the hundreds of well wishers at the airport.