Local Men Take Vietnam Veterans Flight To Washington D.C.

by Diane Lowrey
R-T Editor
It’s been 44 years since Trenton residents Larry Huffstutter and Larry Spencer left the military following their service in the Vietnam War. But a trip the brothers-in-law took earlier this month finally brought the war to an end.
Huffstutter and Spencer were among 71 former military personnel on the inaugural honor flight to Washington D.C. for Vietnam veterans, “The Yellow Ribbon Flight,” which took place on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Patterned after the World War II Honor Flight program, veterans are able to take in the military and historic sites of Washington D.C., including those memorials honoring their particular years of service.
Both Huffstutter, who served with the Navy in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970, and Spencer, who served with the Army in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, remember coming home after their service in Vietnam, a war that was not particularly popular with America at the time.
“When I first came home, I was told to change into civilian clothes because of the protestors,” Spencer said.
Huffstutter added that he found it hard to get a job in the area for which he had trained while in the military, noting that his experience with helicopters was not enough.
“I can remember going to Oklahoma to get a job in what I knew, which was helicopters, and when I told them I was a Vietnam veteran they would say ‘sorry, we can’t use you’,” he said.
But the trip to Washington D.C. changed all that and, according to Huffstutter “after 44 years out, it now seems like the war is over.”
The trip began in Columbia, where the Central Missouri Honor Flight program has organized hundreds of trips for World War II veterans as well as this first flight for Vietnam veterans. Spencer’s uncle, who had taken one of the World War II flights, told Spencer about the planned trip and both he and Huffstutter decided to apply. It was over a year before both men were notified they were chosen, but both were certainly happy that they would be on the same flight.
“My uncle Clinton Spencer was the one who told me about it and when I sent in my application, I put a note in that I would like to go with my brother-in-law,” Spencer said.
Veterans from throughout Missouri made up the first group, including persons from Brookfield, Macon, Carrollton, Fulton, Troy and many from the Columbia area. A “guardian” was assigned to each veteran to take care of his or her every need. One of the guardians on this trip was Eran Eaton, grandson of the late Bill and Marilyn Robbins and himself a military veteran.
“Eran made a special point of coming to the bus and introducing himself,” Huffstutter said. “He wanted us to know we had another Trenton connection in the group.”
The trip began with a breakfast and short program before the veterans were loaded onto a bus and taken to St. Louis for the flight to Baltimore, MD and then on to Washington D.C.
“The reception we got at all the airports was just amazing,” Huffstutter said. “Everywhere we went, people would clap for us and show their gratitude.”
“You can’t begin to know the experiences unless you’ve been there,” Spencer said. “I was totally speechless. It was at the top of my bucket list.”
Huffstutter said that it didn’t seem to matter where the group went, people would come up to them to thank them for their service. Some even made some apologies for how they were treated when they returned home initially.
“It was probably the most emotional day I’ve ever had in my life,” Spencer said.
The veterans were placed into groups of three and were assigned an escort, who took care of their every need. For Huffstutter, his escort was a retired major general who was originally from Chillicothe while Spencer’s escort was a captain from the Highway Patrol and an Army veteran.
Once in Baltimore, the group was bused to Washington D.C. and saw many memorials, including the Vietnam Wall, which both men said was a solemn experience. Huffstutter said there were 44 names on the wall of persons with which he served while there were 32 names on the wall from Spencer’s unit.
The group also stopped at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, observing the changing of the guard.
“Those guys are really special,” Huffstutter said. “What they go through to serve in that capacity and what they have to do, it’s special.”
The group made a stop at Arlington National Cemetery, giving Huffstutter and Spencer a chance to look for the grave of Audie Murphy, one of their favorite actors who was also a decorated soldier during World War II. Huffstutter said there are between 35 and 40 funerals a day at Arlington.
Following an evening meal, the veterans were loaded back onto the bus and headed back to Baltimore, leaving there by airplane back to St. Louis. The flight home was an emotional one, not only for Huffstutter and Spencer, but for all who were on the airplane.
“They had mail call for us, where our families and friends had written us letters to read on the way back home,” Huffstutter said. “My wife, sisters and girls wrote me and I even got some letters from the kids at the R-6 School.”
Spencer noted that as letters were being read, there wasn’t a dry eye on the airplane.
“I think that if you gathered all the tears that were shed, there would have been a bucketful, easy,” he said.
The group, after arriving in St. Louis, were transported by bus and were met at Kingdom City by 247 motorcycle riders, who escorted the group back into to Columbia. There the veterans were met by family and friends, including Spencer’s uncle. Following a short program and meal, the group was then dismissed to head home with their families.
“This was definitely one of the better trips I have ever taken,” Huffstutter said. “I feel good about being on that first flight. It makes me feel very special.”
All honor flights are free to veterans, with funds coming from donations and fundraisers. Huffstutter told of one young boy in Osage who recently held a walk-a-thon to benefit the program and there are other similar stories as well.
Any Vietnam War veteran, whether they served directly in Vietnam or in support, is eligible to take part. The next flight is scheduled for November.
Persons interested in learning more about the honor flight program and/or making application can go to the website, www.centralmissourihonorflight.com. Information about serving as a volunteer or guardian is also available on the website.