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<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear Family and Friends<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many of you know that I served during the Vietnam War. So just to keep the record straight I enlisted (not drafted) in 16 May 1969 for 3 years active service and 3 years reserve service in the U.S. Army. From January 1970 through December 1970 I served in Vietnam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n During my time in Service and after I was Honorably Discharged it was not always pleasant. While in the Service and home on \u201cLeave\u201d even some\u00a0\u201cfriends\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0did not want to be seen with me \u201cIn Uniform\u201d. For those of you who were not around in 1970 or too young to remember\u2026It\u2019s true! People would see us in Uniform; call us \u201cbaby killers\u201d and some even spat at us. While I was in Vietnam, a\u00a0friend<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0whose name I won\u2019t reveal would send me letters but with the American Flag Postage stamp stuck on \u201cUpside Down\u201d to show he was \u201cProtesting\u201d. I guess he thought it was the right thing to do, but from my point of view (and I was the one who was in danger of the enemy) It wasn\u2019t the right thing to do!!!… When I was Honorably Discharged there weren\u2019t too many saying \u201cWelcome Home Soldier!!\u201d — Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-da\u2026Life Goes On!…Times have changed. It\u2019s taken almost 50 years but now we hear from strangers \u201cThank You for your Service!!\u201d Today the common greeting between two or more Vietnam Veterans is \u201cWelcome Home Brother!!!\u201d (Or Sister!)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Sunday 17 October 2021\u00a0had one of the most unforgettable experience of my life. I was chosen to be one of 72 Vietnam War and 6 Korean War Veterans to participate in the \u201cHonor Flight \u2013 South Florida\u201d Project. This is a 100% all volunteer organization whose mission is to \u201cWelcome Home\u201d Veterans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was assigned a \u201cGuardian\u201d who looked after me the entire day and I do mean the \u201cEntire Day\u201d. My Guardian was Courtney Cannon. Courtney picked me up at my home at 1:30AM Sunday 17 October 2021, drove me to a common pick-up point in Boca Raton where I and the other Veterans and Guardians boarded a Luxury Chartered Bus taking us to Miami Airport.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we arrived at Miami International Airport we were ordered to sit in wheelchairs so our Guardian could wheel us \u201cSingle File\u201d through the Airport to the Gate. As we passed through the Airport Policepersons. Firepersons, Doctors, Nurses, Pilots, Stewards, Stewardess, Passengers and all others applauded, some carrying hand painted signs, some waved the Flag and all wished us Welcome Home. On the Jet to Washington DC we were advised that each \u201cHonor Flight\u201d is dedicated to a US Military person who died in combat and that this flight is dedicated to Marine Private First Class Bruce W. Carter who was awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat in Vietnam on 7 August 1969. PFC Carter threw himself over an incoming enemy grenade saving the lives of his fellow Marines. As a special guest Private Carter\u2019s mother, Georgie Carter Krell was invited to join us on this Trip. She is the Past National President of the American Gold Star Mothers. Georgie began her volunteer career in 1989 and has donated over 8,500 hours serving Veterans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The\u00a0Private Jet\u00a0<\/u>flew us to Washington DC. We spent the entire day visiting The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery where we watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. From there It was back to Ronald Reagan Airport, again in wheelchair escorted by our Guardian single file through a parade of well-wishers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the Jet flight back to Miami while we were in the air, each of us was given a \u201cSurprise\u201d Envelope. The envelope contained letters from members of our Family and friends but also from children from elementary schools (Mine was from a school in Tennessee!, Housewives and teachers we don\u2019t know \u2013 All letters were addressed directly to \u201cDavid Louie\u201d.\u201d I was in tears of joy as I read the letters on the trip home. We were also given a special gift, a small box containing \u201cSmall Piece of Actual Granite from The Vietnam Wall Memorial \u2013 This is now Your Treasure\u201d. We finally landed in Miami International Airport at about 10:00PM. Again in wheelchair single file parade with well-wishers with signs and greetings through to the parking lot. Charter Bus back to Boca Raton. My Guardian drove me home the trip ended at 12:30AM Monday 18 October 2021. This is truly and unforgettable lifetime experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can see more below by following the link and you can google\/Facetime\/Instagram \u201cHonor Flight South Florida\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yup\u2026That\u2019s me at 9:28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/fb.watch\/8J8y-BlUuy\/<\/a>\u00a0(9:28), me at 4-5 seconds\u00a0https:\/\/fb.watch\/8J8m0hWRfI\/<\/a>\u00a0(0:04) and me at 2:41 waving my hat:\u00a0https:\/\/wsvn.com\/news\/local\/72-south-florida-veterans-welcomed-back-at-mia-after-honor-flight-to-dc\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n GOD BLESS AMERICA\u2026LAND OF OPPORTUNITY!!!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n David J. Louie Sr.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ltkimlau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/David-Louie-Honor-Flight.jpg\")
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