Ocean City resident and Korean War Veteran Fred Little’s military service was celebrated on June 5th when he traveled to Washington, DC courtesy of The Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization that transports America’s veterans to visit memorials in the capital city.
Little served in the US Air Force from 1953-1957, followed by two-years in the Army Reserve, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Air Police. He was stationed at Rushmore Air Force Station in South Dakota, where the Atomic Energy Commission maintained and stored atomic weapons. He held a “critical top secret clearance.”
Ocean City’s Frank Hetzel (left), a member of Ocean City American Legion Squadron 524, served as Fred Little guardian on his odyssey to Washington, DC.
This is the eleventh year that Honor Flight of Southern New Jersey has sponsored a veterans trip to Washington. Activities began at The Northfield Middle School, where students from the National Junior Honor Society held bake sales each month to raise funds for a limo bus.
“We are very proud of the students, citizens, and Veterans from our area who work so hard to make each Honor Flight a success,” said Mary Ann Devine, 7th grade teacher and National Junior Honor Society Advisor at Northfield Community School.
Fred Little pauses to reflect at The Korean War Monument.
The vets were next transported to Williamstown High School, where they were greeted with a police escort. The vets returned to Williamstown, following their Washington visit, for dinner and “mail call” (letters from family, friends and civic leaders) thanking them for their service.
“The participation by the students from Northfield and Williamstown was unbelievable,” said Little. “They waited on us totally. It gives me such faith in the younger generation.”
Honor Flight of Southern New Jersey veterans gather for a group photograph in Washington, DC.
Once in Washington, the vets toured The WWII Memorial, The Korean War Memorial, The Viet Nam War Wall, and the Iwo Jima Memorial. The day’s events began at 5:30 AM and concluded when all vets returned home aroun11:00 pm.
“In addition to his military service, Fred Little is a founding member of Ocean City American Legion’s Sons of the American Legion Squadron 524,” said Legion Commander Bob Marzulli. “In his youth, Fred earned the rank of Eagle Scout, proving that community and national service is a lifelong quality.”
Fred Little poses with a military honor guard at the New Jersey WWII Monument.
For more information about honoring veterans, contact:
Honor Flight, Inc. 175 South Tuttle Road Springfield, OH 45505
Korean War veteran Fred Little by the reflecting pool of The Washington Monument.
