Jack Vernon is pictured at one of the memorials in D.C. during his whirlwind trip.
Waiting to welcome Jack home were Shannon Evans, Kansas City, Missouri; John Vernon and daughter, Kinslei, Montrose, Minnesota; Nancy Hummel, Clarinda, Iowa; and Dannye Bradfield and Ginny Vernon, Fairfax, Missouri.
Jack Vernon served in the U.S. Navy and did two tours in Vietnam.
Jack Vernon, a U.S. Navy veteran, was recently selected to take an Honor Flight. Jack, who was accompanied by his daughter, Jennifer Schoonover, traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of the Heartland Honor Flight. Heartland Honor Flight of Kansas City is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. Heroes are transported to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials.
Jack’s flight departed KCI at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
Jack, along with other Vietnam veterans, Korean veterans, and one WWII veteran, visited the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Memorials which were built in honor of all veterans that served during those wars. As well as these stops they had a full day of visiting other military memorials, as well as witnessing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington Cemetery. Each veteran was accompanied by a guardian, a volunteer or a family member.
The flight returned to Kansas City just before 10:00 p.m. that night. As the veterans returned through the airport terminal, they were surprised with a “Welcome Home” crowd of over 1,000 persons.
Jack Vernon, MM2, served in the U.S. Navy aboard the destroyer USS Henderson- DD785 from 1964 to 1967. He did two tours in Vietnam. On August 11, 1964, the USS Henderson began annual cruises in Vietnamese waters, supporting the 7th Fleet amphibious and shore bombardment operations, and guarding aircraft carriers on “Yankee Station.” She returned to Long Beach in December, underwent modernization overhaul and intensive shore bombardment training, and returned to the intensified struggle in South Vietnam in July 1965. During the next five months she ranged the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin while screening Oriskany (CV-34) and serving on the gun line. In December she steamed to the Gulf of Siam, where she conducted shore bombardment missions against Viet Cong positions on the Ca Mau Peninsula. As escort for Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), the veteran destroyer departed Hong Kong in December and arrived in Long Beach in January 1966. Returning to the troubled waters of Southeast Asia in January 1967 for another WestPac, she supported attack carrier operations and conducted more shore bombardment assignments. A WESTPAC is a deployment of ships and other units which conduct operations and exercises in the Pacific region, generally for about six months. WORLDPACS were the same, but sailed around the world, usually for approximately nine months.
