Fyler plans
trip to WWII
Memorial
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As a 19-year-old, Ken Fyler traveled halfway around the world when called to serve his country in 1943. At the time, he was working in communications with the Army Air Force while stationed in the South Pacific during World War II.
Sixty-seven years later he’s hoping to make one more flight, this time as an honored guest in appreciation of his military service.
Fyler signed up for the Kansas Honor Flight program more than a year ago, with hopes of boarding a charter out of Garden City on Sept. 30.
As a WWII veteran, Fyler has a complimentary seat on the flight. Each of his three sons, Ken, Wichita; Mike, McPherson; and Steve, Scott City, have paid $500 to accompany their father as part of the three-day, two-night trip that will include the WWII Memorial, in addition to many other sites in the Washington, D.C., area.
“I’m not aware of anyone from Scott County who has made this trip. I’ve been trying to get (other veterans) from around here to go along, but I haven’t found anyone willing or able,” says the 86-year-old. “Most of the World War II veterans I’m familiar with have passed away.”
And that adds a sense of urgency to the Honor Flight program.
There are about 12,000 WWII veterans in Kansas and an average of 17 men die each day.
“That’s why fundraising is so critical,” says Dan Curtis, Honor Flight coordinator with Central Prairie RC&D, Great Bend. “We have three charter flights planned for this fall, but we’re short $104,000.”
A Sept. 28 flight out of Wichita is “95 percent locked in.” Because of problems with filling flights out of Garden City and Salina, along with a shortage of funds, those may be delayed until October. Curtis is hopeful of sending 400-600 veterans to Washington, D.C., on flights this fall, but for that to happen the passenger lists and funding must be in place by Sept. 10.
Curtis says those who have been on the waiting list longest will be given first opportunity to sign-up for the Honor Flights, regardless of their departure site.
Stationed in So. Pacific
When the 19-year-old Fyler entered the service in March of 1943 he completed basic training at Kearns, Utah, before attending clerical school at Ft. Collins, Colo.
After a brief stop in Honolulu, he was stationed on Angaur and Peleliu, which are part of the Palau island group, approximately 2,000 miles south of Tokyo.
“Our B24 went out of Angaur every morning on bombing missions,” says Fyler.
Fyler, who was a staff sergeant in the Army Air Force, and his crew were responsible for setting up communications immediately behind the combat troops.
“Everything we did was top secret, working in code rooms,” he explains.
While Fyler is being recognized for his service in WWII, he remained in the reserves for two hitches and entered active duty for one year during the Korean Conflict.
“I’ve never been to Washington, D.C., before. I would love to see the World War II Memorial,” Fyler says. “Having my sons with me will make it even more special.”
Honor Flight Program
Even though the Honor Flight program has been in operation at the national level for five years, Fyler said he didn’t become aware of the program until he saw a newspaper article about a flight leaving Liberal last year.
The Central Prairie RC&D has been organizing honor flights for nearly 2-1/2 years. During this time 10 flights have departed Kansas with 834 WWII Kansas veterans and their guardians.
Curtis says charter flights have not only been the most cost effective way of sending veterans to Washington, D.C., but it’s given them more time to take part in tours and see the sites once they arrive. The cost for a three-day, two-night itinerary is $650 for guardians who accompany a veteran.
“We’re one of the few hubs that make sure our veterans get the best treatment. Others will charge up to $1,000 per person,” Curtis says. “And because of commercial flight schedules they may only get five hours on the ground to see the sites.”
Those who participate in the Central Prairie Honor Flights are guaranteed to see 11 memorials, in addition to their choice of five other museums and historic sites in the area.
“We also include a banquet for our veterans,” says Curtis, who has been on eight of the 10 flights. “Of the 94 hubs in the country, I feel we provide one of the best trips anywhere.”
The current schedule calls for between 400 and 700 veterans to fly out of Kansas this fall. If funding isn’t secured by mid-August, Curtis says two of the flights will be pushed back to October - and possibly later. If donations aren’t in place by Sept. 10, the next flights won’t depart until next spring due to the weather.
“Most of these veterans have been on the waiting list for 1-1/2 years,” Curtis says. “If every Kansan would give $1 we could fly every World War II veteran in the state. That’s our goal.”
However, time is also working against the Central Prairie Honor Flights.
By next spring, more than 3,000 WWII veterans will have passed away.
“We want to make sure every veteran who wants to go to Washington is given the chance to make the trip,” Curtis adds. “We want to show our appreciation for what they did for our nation.”