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GROUP PROVIDES FLIGHTS FOR WOUNDED VETERANS --

Veterans Airlift Command provides free flights to wounded

soldiers, veterans and their family members.

 

 

For a previous story about the Veterans Airlift Command...click here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/nf
NOV06/nf112006-2.htm

Story here... http://www.indystar.com/
apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071
007/LOCAL/71007008

Story below:

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Group provides flights for wounded vets

Associated Press

VALPARAISO, Ind. — Every time wounded soldier Edward Trautner and his family must travel to a military hospital for more surgery, the one thing they don’t worry about is paying for air travel.

A new organization, Veterans Airlift Command, provides free flights to wounded soldiers, veterans and their family members. It has an ever growing list of hundreds of pilots and airplane owners who donate their time and resources to serve those who have served the country.

Trautner, who was shot in the head by a sniper while manning an Iraqi checkpoint on Aug. 24, 2006, has taken several flights arranged by Veterans Airlift Command. On Saturday, he and his mother, Stacy Fellers, flew into Porter County Municipal Airport on a private jet after surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

“Even though the person who sponsored the plane wants to remain anonymous, I’d like to thank them,” the 21-year-old Trautner said. “It just makes me feel really good to know there are people willing to donate their time and help.”

His mother added that “it’s downright patriotic” and greatly appreciated.

Pilots Tom Rea of Valparaiso and Jim Sheely of LaCrosse were the captains of Saturday’s flight, which marked their first chance to help a soldier and Veterans Airlift Command, which is based in St. Louis Park, Minn.

“I spent 20 years in the military, so I like to help when I can,” Rea said.

“I’m a Vietnam veteran and my son was in Iraq,” Sheely added. “I’m just glad to help any soldier who has been injured.”

Trautner, his family and the pilots talked to the media in hopes of spreading the word about the nonprofit organization so that more pilots and aircraft owners volunteer, more people donate and more soldiers learn that free flights are available to them.

Walt Fricke said he founded the group because of a personal experience.

“I spent six months in a hospital 700 miles from my hometown recovering from combat injuries sustained while flying a helicopter in Vietnam,” Fricke said. “My healing began in earnest when my family was able to gather the resources to make a trip to visit me.”

Fricke said his organization has arranged 150 flights in its first year of operation.

 

On the Net:
Veterans Airlift Command: www.veteransairlift.org

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Larry Scott  --