Join us as long-time ABC 7 reporter Paul Meincke sits down with our senior war heroes from WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to explore their stories and memories of serving their nation.
Episodes
Friday Nov 13, 2020
Friday Nov 13, 2020
On the occasion of this Veterans Day week, Honor Flight Chicago Board President John Ptak sat down with our own Paul Meincke to discuss HFC's approach to its mission during the current pandemic. Ptak details the many ways that Honor Flight Chicago has continued thanking its heroes even while flights to D.C. are paused.
Friday Oct 30, 2020
Friday Oct 30, 2020
WWII veteran Hank Roberson was drafted into the Army from his home in the segregated south. He arrived in Normandy one week after D-Day assigned to the 957th Quartermaster supply company -- part of what would become known as the vital "Red Ball Express" supply chain. In this timely episode, Roberson discusses being confined to a non-combat role because of racial barriers, his reaction to black soldiers like himself finally being allowed to fight during the Battle of the Bulge, and his experiences with discrimination during and after the war.
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Korean War veteran Bob Guilfoyle paints a picture of what it was like to serve in the Korean War. This proud Marine battled the Chinese, the cold and the wildlife as a forward observer in what he firmly believes was his patriotic duty. This episode features several light-hearted tales as well as a story about the stark realities of war. It also includes a chance meeting so incredible it must be heard to be believed!
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
Long-time ABC 7 Chicago reporter Paul Meincke and WWII Navy Seaman Marion Burns discuss Burns' time aboard the USS Franklin, a ship which withstood multiple attacks including a direct bombing hit in March of 1945 that resulted in the loss of more than 800 of his fellow sailors. Burns' powerful story includes his ongoing struggle with PTSD and the impact his Honor Flight Chicago experience had on him.
Monday Sep 14, 2020
Monday Sep 14, 2020
The third episode of Honor Flight Chicago's Honor. Thank. Inspire. Podcast, features a conversation between long-time ABC 7 Chicago reporter Paul Meincke and WWII Navy veteran Joe Borst, a Fireman 2nd Class who was aboard the USS St. Lo when it became the first major warship to sink after a direct hit from a Japanese kamikaze attack during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
In this second episode of Honor Flight Chicago's Honor. Thank. Inspire. Podcast, long-time ABC 7 Chicago reporter Paul Meincke sits down with WWII Army Veteran Irv Abramson to talk about his service in the European Theatre, including being severely wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. Irv discusses his struggle with PTSD and how he finally revealed his war experiences to his family because of an assignment his daughter completed for high school.
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
In this debut episode of Honor Flight Chicago's Honor. Thank. Inspire. Podcast, long-time ABC 7 Chicago reporter Paul Meincke sits down with WWII Navy Veteran John Ullinskey to discuss his involvement in D-Day and the Battle of Okinawa and everything in between: including his reaction to VJ Day and getting to meet the Pope!