Honor Flight opens eyes back home

A whirlwind one-day trip to Washington D.C. was a life-changing experience for Air Force veteran Richard Draszkiewicz. It also happened to be one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had when it comes to getting to know my 81-year-old father. 

The experiences my father would share about Vietnam in the stories I heard growing up were like a slideshow of random images that were hand chosen. The gregarious nature of my father was present in many of these tales involving his time riding rickshaws, getting to know the female bar and club owners he called “mama sans,” and a few stories about gathering intelligence information using various technology and maps. 

Air Force veteran Richard Draszkiewicz opens a packet of mail from family and friends thanking him for his service during his return flight from Washington D.C.
(Photo by Renee Draszkiewicz/Lakeland Times)

Draszkiewicz mentioned in some stories that returning home from Vietnam was not an experience that he enjoyed sharing because the cause for the war was not supported by the American community at the time. The time spent serving in Vietnam remained part of his past that was shared only in carefully selected stories. 

Upon return, like many veterans, Draszkiewicz went about a normal life and did not pursue a military career or continue to remain connected to Veteran Affairs or services offered to veterans. His time in the Air Force overseas caused hearing damage, which he tried to have looked at, but nothing came of solving the problem. The hearing loss limited his options for work within airlines as he wanted to do. “The Veterans Administration told me to get a different job when I tried working for airlines and was rejected,” he said.

Draszkiewicz chose to find his own career path and settled into a satisfying life settling into a marriage, had two children, and eventually retired after the age of 70. 

It wasn’t until retiring to the Northwoods when Draszkiewicz began getting questions from local veterans and community members as to why he had not gotten benefits or went on an Honor Flight. A simple man, he simply felt he didn’t need to go out of his way to get anything extra from his service. He felt that he was no more deserving. “We all served together and were brothers in what we were doing for our country,” said Draszkiewicz.

Originally, he felt the experience would be nice because “[he] had never been to D.C. and wanted to see all the monuments, especially the Vietnam Memorial.”

After being encouraged to file the paperwork and wait on the list during COVID, he finally got a call back to attend the flight on Sept. 25, 2023. 

“I felt it was my duty because so many people worked hard to get me on the flight,” said Draszkiewicz. The Northwoods community is dedicated to helping the many veterans that have come north to retire. It wasn’t long before his friends at his regular Sunday hangout started encouraging him to apply for assistance and also see about going on the Honor Flight. Sue Draszkiewicz, his wife of 49 years, explained “the community has been so helpful and he finally succeeded at applying for veterans benefits after a few community members gave him contacts and walked him through the process.” 

“The trip made me appreciate my service experience in Vietnam. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people there to greet us. It gave me a sense of pride, whereas my original homecoming felt that my service in the Air Force was not appreciated.” Draszkiewicz said. A life experience that was clouded over with generic stories of stereotypical time overseas became much more significant for Draszkiewicz with a different type of return home.

“I received a packet of mail from family and friends all thanking me for my service; I never knew these people looked at me like that. It was overwhelming to receive so much recognition,” said Draszkiewicz.

“I did not know my spouse during his service years, but I am glad he was honored all these years later. The experience was one of bonding, healing and camaraderie,” said Sue Draszkiewicz.

Sharing the experience with others that have an understanding of your experience is powerful. The trip allowed many to honor those veterans who still have experiences to process and those that are not among us and have served with valor for the country. While I say that I got to know my father in an eye-opening way, it was because he was able to have a genuine, authentic experience. The trip brought him some healing and peace, which I can see brings a sense of lightness about him that never was there before. The Northwoods looks after its community. Draszkiewicz is one veteran who was able to process his service and receiving of such warm care and regard from this Honor Flight that is thanks to this community.