I was online a few years ago and ran across Chicago Honor Flight, which is an organization that takes veterans to see Washington D.C. for a day. I reached out to them and asked if my wife and I could volunteer, even though we are not from Chicago. My wife and I decided to sign up to volunteer as a ‘Guardian’ (escort). If selected our job would be to escort our veteran for the day. Not all of the Guardians were volunteers there were at least a half dozen who were family members, that flew ahead of the Honor flight, so they could surprise their loved ones. At least two were grandchildren, which was a huge surprise for their grandfathers.

We arrived at Dulles International Airport, checked in, got our green polo shirts, and waited until the plane that carried the honor flight veterans arrived. I was paired up with a Marine Veteran from Chicago, who served during the Korean War, his name was Cpl Jess B Holcomb. I was provided with a short bio about Jess, which stated that he was wounded three times in Korea and was part of the second landing near Inchon. The bio went on to state that Jess had a grenade explode near him, but a copy of the bible that he kept in his pocket stopped the bullet and saved his life.

The plan was when the veterans arrived, everyone should line up forming a path for veterans to walk down, with everyone cheering for them. The faces of these heroes were amazing as they were all surprised at the welcome that they were receiving. Passengers and crew from other flights stopped and joined the welcoming line. I shook the hands of dozens and dozens of these brave men and women, who were all Korean War and WWII veterans from the Chicago area. I kept scanning the crowd, looking for Jess and towards the middle of the group and I immediately recognized him from the bio they provided. When he came to shake my hand, I stepped forward, introduced myself, and told him that I was his Guardian for the day, I told him that I too am a Marine vet, and his face lit up as if he knew that he would be in good hands.

Once all the veterans were paired up with their guardians, we boarded the buses and we were on the way to our first stop of the day, the Air Force Memorial, where the Air Force Rifle Drill team put on a demonstration for the veterans. I have to give them props, they were not the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, but they were good.

The rest of the day, we toured DC and made stops at the World War II Memorial, the Udvar-Hazy Air Center, the Vietnam Wall, and the Korean War Memorial. Between stops, I got to hear all about Jess and his Marine Corps service. It was amazing and I could not believe that I was talking to a real Korean War hero and I was so humbled by it. He talked about his time at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Jess was taken aback when I told him that in Marine Corps boot camp, we learn about the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and in Marine Corps lore it is known as the Frozen Chosin.

Once the war stories were starting to dry up, I jumped in and asked questions about his time before and after the war. I got to hear how he was stationed at MCB Quantico and how I-95 was not built yet. And how as an MP he got calls about accidents on the parts of the road that were still being built. I heard all about his family, his bride, and his children and grandchildren. It was an awesome time.

When the Honor Flight got back to Chicago that evening, there was a huge surprise waiting for the veterans. There were hundreds of people waiting for them to arrive, there was dancing, and a band and Jess told me that he was taken aback by it all. He asked me several times that day if I was getting paid to escort him, and it was as if he didn’t believe me when I told him that I was a volunteer and I was honored to be the Guardian of a real Marine Corps hero.

And the best part was I got to see the bible that saved his life, which completed the story for me. I tried to stay in contact with Jess, including sending him photos from the trip and several phone calls to just chat (something I’m terrible at). I’m sad to report that Jess passed away on June 24, 2019, and his wife, whom I never met, passed September 17, 2021.

Please consider donating to Chicago Honor Flight or an Honor Flight for your hometown.