McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

By M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer

“It gave them closure... some closure for what they didn’t get from this country when they first came back. And you could feel it.” These poignant words from Jesse Johnson, a volunteer on the recent Western North Dakota Honor Flight, encapsulate the profound impact the journey had on the veterans from the Watford City American Legion Post 29 and one from Harwood, ND, who made the trip to Washington D.C. on Saturday, April 26.

The Honor Flight, a mission to express the nation’s deep gratitude to its veterans, carried Leroy Defoe, James “Kermit” Kirkland, Russ Hanson, Ron Klang, Calvin Haugen, Gerald Johnson, and Bruce Johnson (father of Jesse Johnson) to the nation’s capital. Accompanying them as dedicated volunteers were Jesse Johnson and Roy Degenstein, both themselves veterans and members of the Watford City American Legion Post 29.

For Jesse, who served actively in the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1991, and Roy, an Army veteran who served for nearly seven years beginning in 1972, volunteering on this flight was a deeply personal experience. Jesse, the current commander of the Carly Rogan Post 29, felt a double honor. “I was flabbergasted, at first, but honored that I was selected by my peers,” he shared. “And then it meant even more to me to find out my father got to go. So I got a bucket list thing for me to be on this flight with my father.”
Roy echoed the profound sense of emotion. When asked what it meant to be selected for the flight, Roy explained that  it meant “more than I can even think,” he said, describing the experience. “It was just totally awesome.”

The Honor Flight Network, founded in 2005 by Earl Morse and Jeff Miller, was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to ensure that veterans, particularly those of World War II, could visit the newly completed World War II Memorial. What began with a small group of Ohio veterans has blossomed into a nationwide movement, expanding to include veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and those facing terminal illness. The Western North Dakota flight marked the sixth such journey organized in the region, with the goal of providing a long-overdue “welcome home” to those who served.

Jesse recounted the powerful reception the veterans received at every turn. “The biggest thing to me, was the reception at the Minot Airport,” he shared, describing the water cannon salute upon arrival and the enthusiastic crowds of volunteers and well-wishers. Roy said he was also deeply moved by the experience. “Just the masses of people showing up to welcome them home,” he said, admitting that even talking about the experience was difficult to do without getting choked up.

For many Vietnam veterans on the flight, the trip offered a chance to heal wounds that time alone could not mend. Roy recalled the difficult homecoming many faced. “At the time, they said, ‘Do not go home in your uniform’….in some places it was that bad. They got treated bad when they came home from there.” The Honor Flight provides a stark contrast, offering the respect and appreciation that was often absent upon their return decades ago.

Jesse highlighted the intergenerational impact of the trip. “To see the younger generation acknowledge that, and for these guys to get that acknowledgement from their peers more than anything, it’s just the closure and the acknowledgement of the sacrifices that they had to make.”

The journey itself was a whirlwind of poignant visits, including the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. For Jesse, a first-time visitor to these sites, the experience was “so amazing.” Roy emphasized the profound impact of seeing the Vietnam War Memorial on the veterans. “The first one was these guys seeing the Vietnam Memorial” he noted, highlighting it as a major moment for many. The group also visited the Pentagon Memorial, a deeply moving tribute to the victims of 9/11.  

The Honor Flight program operates entirely on donations, ensuring that veterans can experience this journey of honor at no cost. As Jesse emphasized, “It didn’t cost us a dime, unless we bought a souvenir. So that was sponsored by private donations, legions, and everybody and anybody, because it actually takes a lot to put one flight together.”

Looking to the future, both Jesse and Roy expressed their hope that every veteran who served will have the opportunity to participate in an Honor Flight. “I hope that everybody that served gets a chance to go on one of these,” Roy stated passionately.
The Western North Dakota Honor Flight is a powerful symbol of gratitude and remembrance. It offers a tangible way for communities to acknowledge the sacrifices made by their veterans and provide a measure of the honor they so richly deserve.
To support future Honor Flights and ensure more veterans can experience this life-changing tribute, donations can be made to the “Western North Dakota Honor Flight” with information on how to contribute found on their Facebook page.

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