Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN

KFGO's Robbie Daniels, spoke with Bernie, next to the Vietnam Memorial Wall:   Bernard J. “Bernie” McKigney US Army // ND National Guard SP5 // 1SG I grew up in Dougherty, Iowa and now call Moorhead, Minnesota home. I was drafted by the Army and served on active duty from July 1968 through May 1970. After completing basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, I became an infantryman...

While on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C., Joel Heitkamp sits down with Einer "Phil" Wold.  Phil is from Grace City, ND and now calls Calvin his home. He served in the Marine Corps on active duty from 1966 through 1969. He served as a Motor Vehicle Operator in Chu Lai, Vietnam, and later was stationed at El Toro Air Base in California. After discharging from the Marines, he drove...

Joel Heitkamp sits down with Roger Olmstad while in Washington, D.C. on the Veterans Honor Flight. Roger was born in Grand Forks, ND and still lives in the area. He was drafted by the Army and served from March 1968 through October 1969. When he finished basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne working as a medic. He received a Soldier's Medal for his time in...

Joel sits down with Gary Guggenberger while in Washington, D.C. with the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN.  Gary grew up in Cold Spring, MN and now lives in Bemidji, MN. He joined the Army and served from 1968 through 1976. After completing basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he then spent time with the 1st Logistical Command 48th Group 6th Transportation Battalion 352nd Transportation C...

Joel is joined by Gary "G-Man" Gullicks while in Washington, D.C. on the Honor Flight.  Gary grew up in Palermo, ND and now lives in Grand Forks. He was drafted by the Army and was off to basic training in May 1968. He was assigned to Company C 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, seeing time in Vietnam and completed his time with the military in 1969.  After he got out of the Army, he worked...

Joel Heitkamp joined the Veterans Honor Flight, and is joined by Bob Glen. Bob was born, raised, and still lives in Badger, MN. He was drafted in October 1966, and served until June 1968. He spent basic training at Fort Bliss, TX and worked as a bulldozer operator, clearing brush 100 meters wide on each side of the road. He was stationed in Bearcat, Vietnam.  After the Army, he farmed and was...

Joel Heitkamp sits down with Wendell Affield while on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C. Wendell grew up and still resides in Bemidji, MN. When he was 17 years old, he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1965 through 1969. He completed basic training in San Diego, CA, and served two years on the USS Rogers DD 876. In 1967, he transferred to the Mobile Riverine Force, which was a combin...

While on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C., Joel is joined by Lanny Moore.  Lanny Moore grew up in Williston, ND and now lives in Grand Forks, ND. He was drafted by the U.S. Army and left home in July 1965. After graduating basic training, he joined the 1st Brigade 11th Aviation 162nd Assault Helicopter Company, and later with the 173rd Helicopter Company. In July 1967, his time w...

Joel is joined by Leo Ackerman while on the Veterans Honor Flight in April 2025.  Leo was born and raised in Hillsboro, ND and still lives there today. He joined the National Guard in 1965 and served until 1971. He spent his basic training at Fort Polk, LA and was then assigned to the 141st Engineering Battalion, Co. B. He was part of the team that built the runway at Hector International Air...

While on the April 2025 Veterans Honor Flight, Joel sits down with Jim Hagen to talk about the flight and his service.  Jim is from Northwood, ND and still lives there today. He was drafted and then volunteered for the Air Force, and served from March 1971 through March 1975. He spent basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas, and was then assigned to the 319th at Grand Forks AFB. He worked on...

While on the April 2025 Veterans Honor Flight, Joel is joined by Warren Dunham.  Warren was born and raised in Ulen, MN, and now lives in Hawley. He was drafted by the Army and served from 1968 through 1969. After his discharge from the Army, he worked in dairy farming. He has been married to Susan since 1970, has three kids, and is a grandpa to seven grandchildren. He is a member of VFW Post...

The Mayor of Moorhead, MN, Shelly Carlson, talks to Joel while on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Douglas martin grew up in Cogswell, ND and now lives in Milnor. He was drafted by the Army and served from September 1966 through September 1968. After his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he was stationed in Vietnam where he worked as an artillery gunner. Douglas also earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star during his service.  After his discharge from the Army, he went back to work for Bo...

Bruce is a US Army Veteran that grew up in Enderlin, North Dakota and now lives in Fargo. He joined the Army and served from 1968 through 1969. After completing basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he spent time with the 30th Artillery in Okinawa. From there, he was moved to the 199th Light Infantry in An Loc-Long Binh, Vietnam.  He is a member of the American Legion and serves in the post's...

Ryan Janke from KFGO News interviews Michael McCarthy while in D.C. on a Veterans Honor Flight. Michael grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and now calls Moorhead home. He Served in the Navy from 1960 through 1963. When he was finished with basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he served on shore patrol and in personnel at Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan.  After the Navy, we worked in law enfor...

Al grew up in Austin, Minnesota and now lives in Miltona. He was drafted by the Army in December 1961 and served for two years, with basic training spent at Fort Carson, Colorado. After his service, he returned to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where he worked as a heavy equipment operator.  He is a member of the American Legion Post #87 in Alexandria and has been a Commander for the...

Adam grew up on a farm outside Fertile, Minnesota and now lives in Bemidji. He enlisted in the National Guard in March 1965 and remained in the service until March 1971. He graduated from basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and then spent time as a rifle squad leader in Crookston. He also completed Cold Weather Operations Course at Fort Greeley, Alaska and was in the Honor Guard.  After his tim...

Russell is a U.S. Navy veteran, and grew up in and still lives in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He joined the Navy in April 1974 and served until April 1999, graduating from basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. After basic training, he spent time in San Diego, California working as a mechanic aboard the USS Ajax AR6, EOD Model Unit, and USS George Phillips FF6-12. He spend a year and a half in the...

Joel Heitkamp is joined by James, Marvin, and Merton Hutchinson on the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN.  James "Jim" Hutchinson was in the Army for three years from 1962 through 1965. After basic training, he spent his days in service at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was assigned to the 1st Transportation Co. in Nuremberg, Germany. He was a truck driver and an M-14 rifle sharpshooter. ...

Ryan Janke from KFGO News talks with Beth, the daughter of James L. Verwey. He's from Lakota, North Dakota, and now lives in Valley City. He joined the Army and served from 1970 through 1971 on active duty. He then spent another 34 years with the National Guard.  His daughter, Beth, talks about her experience as an escort for her dad on the Honor Flight trip to D.C. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Keith Keuhl is a US Army veteran that currently lives in Wahpeton and is from Hankinson, North Dakota. He enlisted and joined the Army in August of 1969, went overseas in 1970, came home in 1971, and got out in February of 1972. He graduated from basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington and then spent time in Vietnam rebuilding and grading roads.  After the Army, he spent 40 years working as a tru...

Joel Heitkamp gets the chance to talk with US Army veteran, Larry Milbrandt. Larry is from Hankinson, ND, and joined the Army in July 1961 and served until June 1963. After basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he spent time as a teletype operator, working in sending and receiving messages from the communication center in Germany.  He is a member of American Legion Post 88 in Hankins...

Joel Heitkamp talks with Bruce Murphy. Bruce is a US Army veteran and currently resides in Hankinson, North Dakota. He joined the the Army in 1960 and ended his service in 1964. He attended basic training at Fort Ord, California and then spent time as an aircraft maintenance man in California, Alabama, New Mexico, Korea, and West Virginia. He even received a Letter of Commendation!  He is a member...

Harry Stenson was born in McVille, North Dakota and now calls West Fargo home. He was drafted by the Army in January 1959 and staying in through January 1961. He graduated from basic training at Fort Riley, Kansan and then spent time in the 2nd Inf. Div. where he worked as a Drill Sergeant in Fort Benning, Georgia.  After the Army, he worked as a high school teacher for 32 years. He is a member of...

US Navy Veteran Arthur Saari grew up in Henning, Minnesota and still calls the area home. He joined the Navy in September 1961 and served until January 1966, joining at age 19. He completed basic training at San Diego, California and then spent time with VF211, Pacific Fleet, and aboard the USS Hancock. He worked as a jet machanic and was based out of Miramar, California.  After the Navy, he worke...