Area vets make trip to D.C.

SIDNEY - Norman "Rocky" Bernard is a proud American who served his country during the Korean War.

The 83-year-old New Weston man - one of 42 area veterans who recently participated in the 10th Veterans to Washington, D.C., bus trip - said the memories from a wreath presentation at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will last a lifetime.

Two other area veterans, John Shue of North Star and Dorothy Trapp of Minster, also attended the trip, which began with a jubilant send-off Friday morning and a joyous return Sunday afternoon.

"I never thought I would make it to the nation's capital," Bernard said. "Being able to visit the Korean Memorial was an impossible dream."

"This was a first-class trip from start to finish," Bernard continued. "It just makes you so proud to be an American when complete strangers come up to thank you for helping to preserve freedom."  

Bernard, known for the barbecued chicken dinners he prepared at festivals and special events throughout the area, served as a radio operator for the U.S. Army.

"I was on the line and behind the line," he said. "You never knew who the enemy was. Some civilians were friendly and others were ready to kill you if they had a chance."

He also served with a combat engineering company, helping to build roads and bridges. His least favorite assignment was driving an ammunition truck behind the line. He admitted with a chuckle he frequently felt as if a bull's-eye was on his back..

Shue, at 65, said his favorite part of the trip was watching the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. He called the stop at the Vietnam Memorial the most thought-provoking and moving.

Serving in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1973, he was assigned to a landing troop ship off the coast of Vietnam.

"We dropped Marines off on the beach," he said quietly. "The enemy was firing at us and we were firing right back."

Shue did not see the Marines go ashore; he was down in the engine room making sure everything was ready for a quick retreat.

Standing before the wall emblazoned with more than 58,000 names, he recalled faces of the Marines on board his ship and wondered whether they had survived the beach landings.

"Sometimes the guys came aboard in the Philippines so we spent some time together," Shue said. "I still wonder how they fared ... perhaps some of them are listed on the wall."

Having seen the traveling Vietnam Wall, he wanted to view the real thing. A cousin helped to turn his dream into reality, he said.

Bernard was one of only three Korean War veterans on the trip, but Shue had plenty of company with Vietnam War comrades.

Everywhere the two-bus delegation stopped, the veterans were greeted by visitors. Former Sen. Bob Dole chatted with the group on Saturday at the World War II Memorial, telling them he comes each week to talk with fellow veterans. Others, including foreign tourists, were on hand to pose for pictures.

Trapp, 64, saw familiar sights on the trip, including Arlington where at an earlier age she had to scale a wall after the gates closed for the night. At the time, she was a U.S. Army clerk typist at the Pentagon and stayed at Fort Myer Tri-Service Barracks in nearby Virginia.

"I didn't know the gates were locked at a certain time," she said. "I was 19 then. I would not try it now."

Trapp recalled being assigned to work with microfilm at the Pentagon. She was given a security code to deposit the microfilm at a heavily fortified vault.

"You couldn't write down the code. You had to memorize it," she said. "I entered the wrong code and found rifles pointed at me ... you don't forget something like that."

Ray and Jody Prater, co-chairs of the organizations sponsoring the trips, said the previous excursions included 319 World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans.

"We don't get many World War II vets these days because their numbers are dwindling fast," Ray Prater said. "Seeing the veterans stand before the memorials and the emotions crossing their faces is something you never forget."

The Veterans to Washington, D.C., Committee began after the Honor Flight program in Ohio reportedly ceased. Once limited to Shelby County, the Sidney-based program now accepts veterans from Auglaize, Mercer and Darke counties.

An application process takes place before each trip. Officials said the numbers of veterans applying for the trip has declined. A date has not been announced for the next excursion.

Veterans make the trip for free thanks to sponsoring organizations and individuals who pick up the $355 tab. Companions/caregivers and volunteers pay their own way.

"They made a great sacrifice on our behalf in the interest of freedom," Ray Prater said. "This is one small way to recognize those efforts."