Pierce Tidwell and the World War II Honor Flight

Friday, April 23^rd will live as a memorable day in the lives of eighty seven veterans from the west Georgia and east Alabama areas who took part in the Honor Flight to Washington DC.  “Royal Treatment” would be the apt term to describe the adventure, tour, and special guidance ladled out for those of the “Greatest Generation” who fought for world wide freedom.

   Pierce Tidwell, who served in 1944 on the USS Cepheus and its 38 mm gun crew, was part of every one of the fighting theatres back in World War II: European, Pacific, China, Burma, India plus Korea. For him this trip was, “Impressive and more.”

   Pierce’s daughter Alice Brown picked him up in Greenville and he stayed overnight with her in Fortson as it was an early 4:30 wake up call for the vets to report at the airport at 6 am in Columbus. After breakfast at the airport, the special accolades began with the crowds clapping, cheering, and waving flags not to mention councilmen, the mayor, and other political representatives there to thank the vets for their spirit, sacrifice, commitment, and service. 

   It took time to load and unload the travelers, Pierce said, because there were a lot of wheel chairs.  For every veteran there was usually one guardian.  Pierce, an active and outdoors gentleman, shared a guardian with another veteran and they both enjoyed making the acquaintance of guardian Chuck Hecht, administrator of Muscogee Home Health who stayed close and really took care of them.

   The man in charge at the airport sent the veterans off with the message, “See you tonight about 8 o’clock,” but Friday traffic bumped their ETA back three hours later just giving the vets more time for camaraderie and to tell tales.

  The travelers were met in Washington by “Big Brass” or generals who welcomed them and thanked them for their World War II service. They loaded buses and went to the World War II Memorial located on prime real estate on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

   The memorial was built to honor the 16 million who served in the armed forces, the more than 400,000 who died, plus the millions at home who supported the war effort. It was built from $197 million in donations and completed in 2004. Pierce especially enjoyed seeing the pillars for each state, Freedom Wall, and the Field of Stars. The veterans made a group picture there and will be given a video of their day long trip.

   Boarding the bus where they ate box lunches, the veterans toured the Korean Memorial which is near the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool.  The granite memorial and impressive sculptures contain the classic message reminding viewers that “Freedom is not Free.” Pierce enjoyed seeing the Iwo Jima Memorial immortalizing the famous photo of soldiers struggling to raise the flag.

   A highlight for Pierce was touring Arlington National Cemetery a sight he had driven by but never toured.  The veterans filled four large trams and took a couple hours to go through the 690 acres where war casualties, presidents, chief justices, explorers, and historical figures are buried. “The immaculate maintenance and beautiful lay out are so impressive,” Pierce said.

   The group’s last stop was to see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Pierce said he was positioned within ten feet of one end and saw everything perfectly. The veterans were amazed at the soldiers’ precision special march and salute that takes so much practice by the all volunteer group.

   This Honor Flight was precluded from being given the usual military salute by fire trucks hosing down the plane because of its late departure from Baltimore as they were delayed by Friday evening traffic on the Beltway and the illness of one veteran. But the camaraderie on the trip was special too as Pierce learned that veteran Roy Goolsby’s brother was on the flight and lives across the street from his sister Betty Brown in Manchester!

   Returning in the late hours to Columbus was the biggest treat of all as the weary veterans were met by a group of well wishers totaling 12-1300 waving flags and cheering.  A band played military songs as the veterans walked in and met their families.  Pierce had a throng of family and friends numbering over twenty five including his sister Betty Brown, Irene Matthews and Janice Garrett from Gay, nieces and nephews and their families, Piece’s daughter Alice and her daughter Ella, Pierce’s son Bo and his daughter Beth and friend Chase Hudson.

   But the day was memorable for the heroes and as Pierce said, “Grand: everything I expected and more.”