Arduser takes part in Veterans Honor Flight

HARTINGTON — A Randolph Vietnam veteran got the trip of a lifetime on June 3.

Navy veteran Charles (Chuck) Arduser was chosen for a free trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by the nonprofit Midwest Honor Flight.

Their website states their mission is to transport America’s Veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifices of themselves and fellow Veterans.

Arduser said he was surprised when he received the call because his daughter, Andraa, applied for the wait list about a year ago. She was able to accompany her father on the trip, but she had to pay her own expenses.

A plane carrying 83 Vietnam War Veterans, two Korean War veterans and one World War II veteran left from Sioux City, Iowa, at 5:30 a.m.

Once in Washington, D.C., the group spent the day visiting numerous memorials, including the Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, World War II Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial and witnessed the changing of the guards.

The whole trip happened in one day, with the attendees returning to Iowa at 5:30 p.m. the same Tuesday they left, said Arduser.

Arduser said he started serving in the Navy in 1966 and spent time in Philadelphia, and Gulfport, Mississippi.

He was then stationed in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.

Arduser said his favorite memorials were the Navy Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. He pointed out the symbolism of the Air Force Memorial and its tribute to the tragedy of 9/11.

"They've got 184 benches, the people who were killed on the plane, their benches point toward the Pentagon," said Arduser. "The people who were killed in the Pentagon, they're facing away. That was neat."