While on the April 2025 Veterans Honor Flight, Joel is joined by Warren Dunham. 

Warren was born and raised in Ulen, MN, and now lives in Hawley. He was drafted by the Army and served from 1968 through 1969. After his discharge from the Army, he worked in dairy farming. He has been married to Susan since 1970, has three kids, and is a grandpa to seven grandchildren. He is a member of VFW Post 1223 in Dilworth. 

Learn more about the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN on their website. 

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The Mayor of Moorhead, MN, Shelly Carlson, talks to Joel while on the Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C.

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Douglas martin grew up in Cogswell, ND and now lives in Milnor. He was drafted by the Army and served from September 1966 through September 1968. After his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he was stationed in Vietnam where he worked as an artillery gunner. Douglas also earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star during his service. 

After his discharge from the Army, he went back to work for Bobcat for 38 years. 

He is a member of VFW Post 6339 in Forman and the DAV. 

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Bruce is a US Army Veteran that grew up in Enderlin, North Dakota and now lives in Fargo. He joined the Army and served from 1968 through 1969. After completing basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he spent time with the 30th Artillery in Okinawa. From there, he was moved to the 199th Light Infantry in An Loc-Long Binh, Vietnam. 

He is a member of the American Legion and serves in the post's Honor Guard as their Chaplain. 

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Ryan Janke from KFGO News interviews Michael McCarthy while in D.C. on a Veterans Honor Flight. Michael grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and now calls Moorhead home. He Served in the Navy from 1960 through 1963. When he was finished with basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he served on shore patrol and in personnel at Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan. 

After the Navy, we worked in law enforcement for 27 years. He is a member of American Legion Post 21 in Moorhead, Minnesota. 

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Al grew up in Austin, Minnesota and now lives in Miltona. He was drafted by the Army in December 1961 and served for two years, with basic training spent at Fort Carson, Colorado. After his service, he returned to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. 

He is a member of the American Legion Post #87 in Alexandria and has been a Commander for the last 10 years. 

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Adam grew up on a farm outside Fertile, Minnesota and now lives in Bemidji. He enlisted in the National Guard in March 1965 and remained in the service until March 1971. He graduated from basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and then spent time as a rifle squad leader in Crookston. He also completed Cold Weather Operations Course at Fort Greeley, Alaska and was in the Honor Guard. 

After his time in the Guard, he was a natural gas transmission compression and pipeline operator and heavy equipment operator for many years.

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Russell is a U.S. Navy veteran, and grew up in and still lives in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He joined the Navy in April 1974 and served until April 1999, graduating from basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. After basic training, he spent time in San Diego, California working as a mechanic aboard the USS Ajax AR6, EOD Model Unit, and USS George Phillips FF6-12. He spend a year and a half in the Persian Gulf and another year and a half involved in Desert Storm. 

He is a member of the VFW, DAV, and Walk of Flags in Fergus Falls, and previously earned the Adjutant of the Year for the time spent with the DAV.

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Joel Heitkamp is joined by James, Marvin, and Merton Hutchinson on the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN. 

James "Jim" Hutchinson was in the Army for three years from 1962 through 1965. After basic training, he spent his days in service at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was assigned to the 1st Transportation Co. in Nuremberg, Germany. He was a truck driver and an M-14 rifle sharpshooter. 

Marvin "Hutch" Hutchinson joined the Army and served from 1958 through 1962. He served as a combat engineer and a cook. The Army brought him to Camp Hovey, Korea, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and Delta Junction, Alaska. After the Army, he spent many years working as a trucker. 

Merton Hutchinson joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1962 and served there until 1967. Once he finished basic training, he served in the Motor Division at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He loved being a radio operator while in the service. He is a member of the American Legion in Middle River. 

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Ryan Janke from KFGO News talks with Beth, the daughter of James L. Verwey. He's from Lakota, North Dakota, and now lives in Valley City. He joined the Army and served from 1970 through 1971 on active duty. He then spent another 34 years with the National Guard. 

His daughter, Beth, talks about her experience as an escort for her dad on the Honor Flight trip to D.C.

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