>> FEAR TAKES OVER.
FEAR FREEZES PEOPLE. >> THIS MORNING THE 82-YEAR-OLD
LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER AN
INTRUDER NEARLY KILLED HIM IN
HIS OWN HOME.
>>> THEY SURVIVED THE WAR IN
VIETNAM, BUT THEY DIDN’T ALL
RETURN HOME TO A HERO’S WELCOME
AND NOW MORE THAN 50 YEARS
LATER, DOZENS OF LOCAL VIETNAM VETS ARE BEING HONORED WITH THE
TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
NBC 7’S AUDRA STAFFORD WAS LIVE
THIS MORN AS THEY ARRIVED AT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FOR AN HONOR
FLIGHT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
INTRODUCES US TO TWO WHO SHARE A
VERY SPECIAL CONNECTION. >> MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER
SERVING IN VIETNAM, THE MEMORIES ARE STILL ETCHED IN THEIR MINDS.
>> MORTAR BLEW UP IN FRONT OF ME
AND FELL INTO A RICE PATTY.
I SPENT ANOTHER 11 MONTHS IN
HANOI.
>> ETCHED.
>> IT’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T
FORGET LIKE THE NAMES ON THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL.
>> I HAVE SOME FRIENDS FROM MY
HOMETOWN AND FRIENDS FROM MY
EXPERIENCE IN VIETNAM THAT THEIR NAMES WILL BE THERE.
>> THIS WEEKEND BOTH JACK
OLMSTEAD WILL BE THEM.
THEY’RE AMONG 95 LOCAL VIETNAM
VETS WHO LEFT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FRIDAY MORNING ON AN
HONOR FLIGHT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
>> I’VE NEVER BEEN TO
WASHINGTON.
I’VE WANTED TO GO AND SEE THE MEMORIAL.
EVERYBODY SAYS TAKE A LOT OF
TISSUE.
>> IT IS A MOVING THING, AND
YOU’RE -- YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF
REFLECTED IN THAT BLACK GRANITE,
YOU KNOW AND AS YOU GO BY THESE
NAMES AND THEN YOU RUN ACROSS
ONE THAT YOU KNOW AND THAT’S
WHEN IT REALLY HITS YOU.
>> THOSE MEMORIES, AL AND JACK
HAVE SHAREDED A LOT OF THEM OVER
THE YEARS.
>> SOMEONE THAT I’VE KNOWN MOST
OF MY LIFE. >> AND THEY’RE LOOKING FORWARD
TO MAKING NEW MEMORIES THIS
WEEKEND.
>> AL CALLED ME AND SAID I THINK
I’M GOING WITH YOU.
SO, YEAH.
THAT’S SPECIAL.
>> WHAT’S EVEN MORE SPECIAL,
JACK’S WIFE OF 45 YEARS GERRI
CONSPIRED WITH HONOR FLIGHT SAN DIEGO TO SET UP THE WHOLE THING
AND HIS DAUGHTER DANA IS GOING
TO GO ALONG WITH THEM AS THEIR
GUARDIAN. SHE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE
HER HANDS FULL WITH THOSE TWO
THIS WEEKEND.
THAT FLIGHT IS SET TO RETURN