Veteran Celebrates Honor Flight Nearly 60 Years After Service

John Bangs, an 80-year-old veteran, experienced a long-awaited moment of recognition when he participated in the North Star Honor Flight this September. Nearly six decades after his service in the U.S. Army, Bangs was honored alongside fellow veterans, reflecting on his time in the military and the sacrifices made.

Bangs, originally from Alden, Minnesota, enlisted in 1965 at the age of 18. Despite having the option to avoid service with a doctor’s note, he chose to serve his country. After completing basic training at Fort Worth, Texas, he advanced to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland for further training. He fondly recalls visiting Washington, D.C. most weekends during that period.

Following his training, Bangs was assigned to the 11th Cavalry in Vietnam, where he operated an armored personnel carrier. Reflecting on his unit’s experience, he noted, “Other companies saw more action than we had.” Unfortunately, in the summer of 1967, Bangs was injured during his service.

On the night of his injury, he was one of several wounded in his platoon. After receiving initial care at the hospital in Long Binh Post, he underwent surgery to remove shrapnel and repair his injuries. He received his Purple Heart while still recovering from anesthesia, a moment he admits he does not fully recall.

After being transported to Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, he began his journey back to the United States, which included stops in Anchorage, Alaska, and Virginia. Eventually, he arrived at a naval hospital in Illinois for further treatment. Following his recovery, Bangs completed his military service at Fort Knox, where he remained until November 1967.

After leaving the Army, Bangs worked at the Wilson & Co. meat packing plant until its closure in 2001. He then transitioned to delivering parts for Auto Value. Recently, he retired for health reasons, marking the end of a long career.

The North Star Honor Flight provided Bangs with the opportunity to celebrate his service in a way he had not experienced before. Accompanied by his daughter, he embarked on the flight from Rochester, Minnesota, which lasted approximately two hours. The trip included visits to several patriotic sites in the nation’s capital, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Although Bangs had previously seen many memorials during his training, he had never visited this particular site.

The experience was particularly meaningful for him, as he had been unable to attend many veterans’ reunions due to their cost. Upon returning to Minnesota, Bangs and the other veterans were greeted by a warm welcome at the Rochester airport, where a large crowd celebrated their service. “I never thought I would ever see anything like that,” he expressed, highlighting the emotional significance of the event.

For more information about the North Star Honor Flight, interested individuals can visit their website at northstarhonorflight.org.