Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

By John Holman Special to The Freeman WAUKESHA — Many American servicemen and women boarded their final flights as they were sent to fight some of our nation's deadli- est wars, never to return. The Sept. 13 Stars and Stripes Honor Flight took 73 World War II and 21 Korean War veterans from southeastern Wisconsin to be hon- ored for their service and to pay tribute to those who traded their lives for the freedom of many. The flight to Washington, D.C., departed Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport at 7 a.m. "I was thinking about when I left New York to leave to Korea," said Anthony Mulert, Brookfield resi- dent and Korean War Air Force vet- eran. "It was nighttime and the city was all lit up. Just looking out at the city, I thought, 'I may never get to see this city again.'" His voice cracked, and he broke off. Then he continued, "That was an awesome feeling." Upon their 9:45 a.m. arrival at Dulles International Airport, the heroes received a heartwarming welcome, despite the rainy condi- tions and cool temperatures. "There were so many people, I'd guess at least a couple thousand — Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, teenagers, older people," said 88-year-old WWII Army veteran John Bosch. "I just want to thank all of those people for coming to honor us and those par- ents who brought their children out to teach them to value and appreci- ate the freedom veterans had to earn for our country." Bosch and Mulert described mass- es of young children reaching out to shake the veterans' hands and thank them for their service. Mulert said there were so many hands he just started doling out fist-bumps. "They didn't think I knew what that was," said Mulert. "They loved that. I felt so appreciative of them honoring us." The veterans wore color-coded ribbons denoting which of the five buses they would take on the tour: red, white and blue for the Ameri- can flag, and of course, green and yellow for the Packers. Bosch's daughter and Mulert's son accompanied them on the trip. Their children got to witness first- hand the strength of military rela- tionships as the veterans mingled and swapped stories. "Our guests were just as happy to go as we were," said Bosch. "They got to experience a little bit of the camaraderie you find in the mili- tary. Nothing changes with us after we get out." The heroes paid tribute to the fall- en as they visited the WWII, Iwo Jima, Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam, Air Force and Marine Corps Memo- rials, as well as Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Changing of the Guard, Korean War Memorial Bosch said he was moved watch- ing the Changing of the Guard at Arlington, a ritual that happens every 30 minutes from April 1 through Sept. 30 and every hour between Oct. 1 through March 31. A Marine Corps relief comman- der in dress blues announces the Changing of the Guard, walks to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and salutes, faces the crowd and asks them to stand and be silent. The commander commences a white-glove inspection on the oncoming sentry's M-14 rifle, and then they walk to meet the offgoing sentinel in front of the Tomb. Together, they salute the Unknown, the countless soldiers who died or became prisoners of war. The offgo- ing guard passes his or her post orders to the relieving guard, who acknowledges them. At a pace of 90 steps per minute, the new sentinel takes 21 paces behind the Tomb and faces east, then north for 21 seconds each, takes 21 steps in that direction and repeats. The 21 seconds represents the mil- itary's highest honor, the 21-gun salute. Mulert was able to witness the Air Force Memorial for the first time — he had actually never heard of it. He said the Korean War Memorial res- onated with him most. "There were statues of service members from all the different nations who fought that war," said Mulert. "It looks ghostly — they look anxious and on alert, walking through a field. You could feel the danger they faced as they scouted through the area, ready for action. It really captured the feeling there." 'They were there for us now like we were for them' Fittingly the sun came out as the veterans returned to Dulles to return home, reflecting on their experiences. "The sky cleared up, and there was one big, white cloud on the hori- zon," said Bosch. "There was a sil- ver glow coming out from behind it. It sure was something." They touched down at Mitchell International after 10 p.m., two hours later than scheduled. "We let the ladies go first," said Bosch, his mid-20th-century chival- ry still intact. "They always come first." The heroes emerged to see hun- dreds of people awaiting their return, to welcome them home once again. "Kids were waving flags and hold- ing up signs," said Bosch. "They showed such patriotism to their country. They're good Americans, and they're special in my book." "Seeing all of those people there for us at the homecoming made me feel like they really appreciated what we did back then," said Mulert. "They were there for us now like we were for them." Page 6A/Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove OCTOBER 2014 OFFER C a sh R e w a r d 235600001 Your News, not Milwaukee's The first 13 Weeks for just $30 • Elmbrook school news • East and Central sports coverage • Local columnists Mark Belling & Jessica McBride • National brand coupons each week "Hey Brookfield!" The Freeman has you covered! YES! Start my subscription to The FREEMAN for the first 13 Weeks for just $30! 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SC:housead RC: 3M30 Josh Perttunen/Freeman Staff World War II Army veteran John Bosch, 88, of Pewaukee shares some of the photos that were taken in April 1945, during his time in the Philippines. Film was hard to come by during that time, but since Bosch worked at a drugstore before being drafted, he had film sent to him. WELCOME HOME WWII, Korean War veterans reflect on Honor Flight

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