Johan
15 July 2008, 04:21
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-09-veteran-trip-dealth_N.htm
"Vet dies on flight home from WWII Memorial
OMAHA (AP) — A 91-year-old Nebraska veteran on a one-day trip to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., died on the flight home just hours after the visit.
Donald Dragoo, a World War II Army vet, traveled to Washington as part of the Heartland Honor Flight, which transports veterans free of charge to the memorial and other sights.
He slumped over and became unresponsive about 20 minutes before the return flight carrying more than 100 veterans landed in Lincoln, flight organizer Bill Williams said. Two doctors onboard were unable to revive him, Williams said.
Dragoo, who served with the 3rd Armored Division in Europe, had been ailing from numerous conditions but was able to visit the memorial, Williams said.
Dragoo's daughter, Cindy Slone, a nurse, accompanied her father on the tour.
"He told me it was the perfect day," Slone said. "He felt honored to be there."
Dragoo originally asked to be on a flight scheduled for May, but was hospitalized with pneumonia, Slone said.
"This was a big event to him, and he wasn't going to miss it again," she said.
Honor Flight Network has helped more than 5,000 veterans travel to the nation's capital, and Dragoo was the first to die while on one of the trips, Williams said."
Not bad to leave this way- asleep after a perfect day.
Maybe some of his Comrade tell him the card game upstair has no action, and they need him there right away. ;)
RIP-
"Vet dies on flight home from WWII Memorial
OMAHA (AP) — A 91-year-old Nebraska veteran on a one-day trip to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., died on the flight home just hours after the visit.
Donald Dragoo, a World War II Army vet, traveled to Washington as part of the Heartland Honor Flight, which transports veterans free of charge to the memorial and other sights.
He slumped over and became unresponsive about 20 minutes before the return flight carrying more than 100 veterans landed in Lincoln, flight organizer Bill Williams said. Two doctors onboard were unable to revive him, Williams said.
Dragoo, who served with the 3rd Armored Division in Europe, had been ailing from numerous conditions but was able to visit the memorial, Williams said.
Dragoo's daughter, Cindy Slone, a nurse, accompanied her father on the tour.
"He told me it was the perfect day," Slone said. "He felt honored to be there."
Dragoo originally asked to be on a flight scheduled for May, but was hospitalized with pneumonia, Slone said.
"This was a big event to him, and he wasn't going to miss it again," she said.
Honor Flight Network has helped more than 5,000 veterans travel to the nation's capital, and Dragoo was the first to die while on one of the trips, Williams said."
Not bad to leave this way- asleep after a perfect day.
Maybe some of his Comrade tell him the card game upstair has no action, and they need him there right away. ;)
RIP-