CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A shared past brought two strangers together on a recent Honor Flight.
For some, the Honor Flight is a moment to reflect on decades of service. Others use it as a way to pay tribute to fallen war heroes.
It was at a memorial dedicated to veterans that Korean War veterans Daniel Whitney and Lawrence Olivia met.
While they served in separate branches, they were able to come together and reflect on their service.
“You were where?” Oliva asked. Whitney replied, “I was Army. I ended up on Okinawa for 17 months.”
The two share more than just memories of war, they share an appreciation for their fellow service members.
Whitney felt it was his duty to use the Honor Flight to pay respect to his late friend.
“He was a BAR [Browning automatic rifle] man and they taught him to shoot,” Whitney explained of his friend. “Keep moving because they would fear the enemy would concentrate on someone like a machine gun. They’d go after you. That friend of mine went from Corporal to Sergeant First Class first class in 24 hours.”
Leaving behind a bouquet of flowers in honor of his friend, the connection between those who served remains strong.
It is a bond that Olivia can also relate to.
“It’s a camaraderie that you develop, even though you may not know that person, but you have something in common that you could relate to, and you were proud of it,” Olivia described. “We are very proud to serve.”
It has been 71 years since the Korean War ended.
While many things have changed since then, it is clear this is a special friendship that will stand the test of time.
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