T, Dan Benson, in the October 12th Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Bob Smasal, 82, died just before his Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.
In June 1943, the 17-year-old dropped out of high school and joined the Marine Corps in Milwaukee, One year later, he was at Iwo Jima to witness the historic flag-raising.
This past August, he learned of the Honor Flight Program that provides World War II veterans a free charter to DC to see the memorial and he was one of the first to sign up in Port Washington. On September 8th, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died September 27th, two days after receiving notice of his acceptance on the flight.
However, the flag that draped with casket will make the trip this November 19th.
WW II VETS DYING
An average of a thousand World War II veterans are dying each day now as they enter their eighties and nineties. This program that provides quick, one-day trips to the World War II Memorial now has 52 hubs in 26 states. The one at Port Washington is Wisconsin's second, the first being at LaCrosse. The first flight from the Port Washington hub leaves November 19th and will have 113 aboard, including 80 veterans.
A Great Program, But Too Bad for Mr. Smaal. The Greatest Generation.
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