“I’m surprised and honored.” Vietnam vets reunite with aircraft they flew

For the men and women who served during the Vietnam War, the wounds may have scabbed over, but the scars of war still run deep. When presented with an opportunity to come together and reunite with one of the very aircraft they flew and worked on, even 50 years later, it presents a small but significant step in healing old wounds and sharing memories.

For eight Vietnam veterans, a Gold Star son, and families, such an opportunity was presented, and with Alaska as the backdrop, some would even be able to take a flight on the one of the 424KT, also known as “The Otter.”

The idea came about via social media when Sarah Loreth, the Media Manager for K2 Aviation and Rust Flying Service, decided to do a post highlighting the history of the airplanes.

“It came about accidentally,” Loreth explains. “I thought it would be really good content to write some up some history of the planes since our aircraft are from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. So I made a post on Facebook putting the history of the aircraft, how it flew in Vietnam, and how it got to us.” She said from there, it all went viral, and soon Loreth was receiving calls from veterans from the Vietnam War that flew the aircraft, heard that some of the men and their families were planning a trip to Alaska and decided to make a day of it.

The Otter was one of the first types of Army aircraft deployed to South Vietnam in February 1962. This aircraft represents a U-1 Otter aircraft that was assigned to the 18th Aviation Company, 45th Transportation Battalion which served in Vietnam from July 1, 1962 until September 24, 1963. Otters would serve in Vietnam throughout the entire war and in other regions across the globe for over 20 years.

Loreth said that initially, they had no idea the history behind the airplane, but once she started looking into the history, she was awestruck by the history of the planes, some which had been far-flung from the skies here in Alaska, including in the United Nations and the Tanzanian Air Force.

Sarah Loreth “Today we are reuniting some Vietnam Veterans with their aircraft, 4KT, that they haven’t seen for 50 or 60 years. We have the 18th and 54th Aviation Companies coming, and they were the ones that flew the aircraft. We have the maintenance staff, crew, as well as some of the pilots that flew them. We’re hoping to honor them and make a really nice day for them and give them a flight in the aircraft.”

“We are so excited. We could not be more excited!” She said that Glen Johnmeyer, a pilot of one of the Otters, had visited in May and was so excited to see the airplane, saying that he hadn’t seen one since the 1980s.

“He got in there and was so pumped to be able to get in the pilot’s seat again and see the aircraft. We’re hoping to make it a really nice day for them.”

Most of the men took to skies in the same aircraft they flew in Vietnam for a sightseeing trip around Denali and an opportunity to land on a glacier for a once in a lifetime view.

“We are just really excited to be able to honor these veterans today. We know they didn’t get quite the reception they were hoping for when they came back since the war was so controversial. We’re really looking forward to being able to honor their service and what they did and have a piece of their history at K2 and hopefully preserve the legacy of the aircraft for them and keep it flying for them.”

Suzanne Rust, owner of Rust Flying Service in Anchorage, took a moment to welcome the veterans and family members and recognize the special connection between the men and 4KT.

“It is with profound respect and heartfelt gratitude that we gather here today,” said Rust. “Today’s not just a reunion with friends, but a reunion with a significant piece of your shared history,” she said of the 4KT, or 81719 as it was known by the 54th Aviation Company, which served alongside other companies in Vietnam.

Rust reflected on the significance reuniting some of the men with the aircraft they flew during a turbulent time in the United States, when people were protesting the war and stigmatizing the men and women who were serving overseas.

“We are reminded today of the courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit that demonstrated during one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history,” she said, recognizing that the airplane is not simply another airplane, but a symbol of the men’s bravery, sacrifice, and enduring bond that connects them, even decades later.

“To the veterans present, you answered the call to serve with honor and integrity, facing unimaginable hardships and dangers. You flew missions that required extraordinary skill and bravery, and in doing so, you upheld the highest values of our Armed Forces. Today, we not only honor your service, but the camaraderie that sustained you through those hard times. As you reunite, may it bring back memories of your time together, the missions flown, the challenges overcome, and the triumphs achieved. This aircraft is a testament to your enduring legacy, a tangible reminder of the history you lived and the sacrifices you made. We at K2 Aviation are deeply honored to host this reunion and meet your families. We are committed to preserving the legacy of 4KT and ensuring future generations understand and appreciate the incredible history it represents. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice…it’s our privilege to stand with you and celebrate the extraordinary contributions you made to our country.”

“I would do it again,” said Roy Smith, one of the veterans who made the trip.

“I’m surprised and honored,” said Bill Glover, who was making his second trip to Alaska along with his wife Patty, both of whom visibly moved at the reception they were all receiving. “We weren’t exactly honored when we came home. For most of us, we’re honored to have had our lives.”

Glover explained that the tensions in the country were so high that the first thing he did when he returned was take off his uniform. “It wasn’t a good time. Individually, it affected us all.” He said that things like the reception and flight are steps that help the healing.

As for his time on the “Otter,” he served as a crew chief in country on the aircraft after being drafted, flying nearly 600 hours.

“It was a great job, even though it was in Vietnam, it was just a great job to have,” he said, and as he reflected on his service before the flight, Glover said:

“Every day was a long day. But in a personal way, it turned out to be a positive. But I was fortunate.”