Advertise on podcast: Honor. Thank. Inspire. An Honor Flight Chicago Podcast

Ed Bales was a top-secret crypto officer aboard the USS Beale, patrolling the Caribbean in the early 1960s. Not only did his ship serve as an escort for the merchant freighter Houston during the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Beale also participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade. In one particular incident during that blockage, the Beale dropped a depth charge on a Russian submarine that brought the world as close to nuclear war as it has ever been. Bales tells the story in this must-listen episode!

Ray Ariaz served in Vietnam, as did his brother, Edward. When Edward was killed, it was Ray who accompanied his brother home to Chicago. In the aftermath of the war, Ray turned to music for healing, but not just for himself. For decades, he has traveled to Hines VA multiple times per week to play for his fellow Veterans, walking the halls with a song and a smile.

Harry and Larry Hartigan were known to their family as simply "The Twins." Both joined the Navy during the Vietnam War. Harry was stationed in Pearl Harbor. Larry was a corpsman attached to a Marine unit in Vietnam, where he was killed in early 1969. The Twins returned home together, with Harry accompanying his brother's body back to the States. Harry has worked to keep Larry's memory alive ever since.

When Rex Miller's draft notice came, he went to his physical in Detroit, Michigan, before slipping into Canada with some buddies. He called home, and his WWII Veteran father told him in no uncertain terms to get back to the States. Rex inevitably went to war in Vietnam, but the biggest shock of all was how he was treated upon his return to "The World" following his tour. Then, decades later, Honor Flight Chicago flipped the script.

In the jungles of Vietnam, Frank Trout took a bullet to the head. He was discovered by a unit that was not his own, bandaged, and evacuated. At some point during this process, he clinically died. Most remarkably, he knew none of this until a chance meeting at a reunion 40 years later. Frank's humor—and many adventures in life—make his story a perfect fit for this podcast's landmark 100th episode.

Carl Brader served in Vietnam as a helicopter crew chief aboard high-risk missions transporting Special Forces into Laos and Cambodia for assignments that remained classified for long after the war.

Ken Duggar was badly wounded in Vietnam. He was hospitalized for months and came home to recuperate before his guilt at leaving his brothers-in-arms behind in the field led him to re-enlist. He got as far as Germany before complications from his original wounds led to his death. Because he died away from Vietnam, his sister, Phyllis, had to fight for years to have Ken's name added to the Wall. She won. This is her story.

Marine Corps Veteran Michael Bubacz did two tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, assigned to train and serve alongside South Vietnamese Marines during helicopter missions into Laos and Cambodia. Three times Hueys he was aboard were shot down. The final instance led to more than two weeks of a wounded Bubacz surviving alone in the jungle, waiting for rescue.

Hayley Ermer volunteers with Honor Flight Chicago as a "red shirt:" a medical professional who gives of their time and expertise to ensure a safe and comfortable day for our Veterans. Hayley's own father served in Vietnam, and her work with HFC's heroes has helped her understand her dad's experience in war and the resulting PTSD he brought home with him.

In the Spring of 1971, Gary Holian surprised his family by coming home for his R&R from Vietnam. The Gary who arrived at their doorstep was quite unlike the Gary they knew before he left for war. Three months later, Gary was killed when his Huey gunship was shot down over the DMZ. His sisters, Jody and Lory, traveled on Honor Flight Chicago's Mission 125 in September of 2025 to honor his memory. They share their family's story here.

Arnie Oskin never saw combat in Vietnam, but he witnessed firsthand its effects on those who did. Arnie's profession was social work, and he used his skills as a neuro-psychiatric specialist to make recommendations around the mental state of veterans coming back from Vietnam. Over a long career in the Army, Arnie's own mental well-being was affected by what he saw.

Army Special Forces Veteran Bruce Hill served in Laos during the Vietnam War as part of clandestine operations that were not formally acknowledged for many years. Though Hill made it home, a Vietnam tragedy unrelated to his time in Laos changed his life forever, and set him on a path toward honoring his fellow Veteran at every turn.

The Battle of Ia Drang in November of 1965 was the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War. The engagement -- which resulted in 237 dead and 258 wounded on the American side -- spawned a critically acclaimed book and a major motion picture detailing the events around Landing Zones X-Ray and Albany. Lieutenant Bob Konrardy was there. This is his story.

Carl Adams spent the Vietnam War walking his dog. As an Air Force sentry dog handler at Phan Rang Air Base, Carl's job was to patrol the perimeter each night to defend against sappers and other attacks. The adventures of Carl and his sentry dog, Andy, were often entertaining, sometimes irreverent, and occasionally terrifying -- but above all else, the K9 unit was known for its dedication and professionalism in the field.

In May of 1969, Jim Miller was badly wounded in a sapper attack on his firebase near the infamous "Hamburger Hill." In the months that followed, Jim had to re-learn how to walk. He also sought to learn exactly what had happened that day, a process that took far longer.