DANANG, VIETNAM (WTAQ) – Almost a week into their return to Vietnam a group of NE Wisconsin veterans, part of an Old Glory Honor Flight trip, are handling their emotions in different ways.
For Ron Lingle, it’s a chance to realize some things about himself and rejoice in a welcome back he didn’t really see coming.
Appleton’s Ron Lingle was one of the hundreds who would apply, and one of the just over 50 would be chosen.
When the plane landed in Saigon he started to realize something almost mystical was happening.
“I had a feeling of almost like spirits were here to welcome me.”
The army veteran is talking about the troops, some of them his friends, who never made it home.
“Almost like….they, the feeling is that someone’s back.”
It was something Lingle says he never expected on this trip.
“It kind of gave me the chills when I felt that because I never felt that before.”
Lingle served at Khe Sanh in 1968, the scene of brutal, bloody fighting.
He never spoke much about those days, but has been opening up more in recent years and thinks this tour, with these veterans, will help him feel better and not so alone.
“This trip I think is going to seal that for me.”
Follow the stories, interviews, pictures, and videos of this Old Glory Honor Flight over the next few weeks by the checking out the ‘Return To Vietnam’ hub at wtaq.co.
The veterans return to Menasha High School from their Vietnam trip Saturday, March 9th. The public is invited to their welcome home celebration, with the doors opening at 5 pm.
