Luke makes WWII Honor Flight

From Marybille Daily Forum: Luke makes WWII Honor Flight

Maryville, Mo. —

For a man who professes to have an affinity for "home" — and has been at the same Conception Junction address with his wife, Mary, since 1949 — Dutch Luke has been around.

And not just to the several local venues where he and his musical group entertain on a regular basis.

Luke, 86, began his travels when he entered the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1944, a stint which took him from Kansas City to basic training in San Diego and then to Guadalcanal, Okinawa and the mainland of China during the height of the action in the South Pacific during World War II.

Civilian adventures with wife and family have continued through the years, increasing significantly since his retirement to include a return trip to China where he visited many of the places he had seen on his first trip there during the war.

"Things had changed a lot, that's for sure," Luke said this week. "Especially the cars. Everyone used bicycles to get around when I was there after the war, there were thousands of them."

Luke's most recent excursion was considerably shorter, but his day as a member of an Honor Flight Network excursion to Washington, D.C., was just as memorable.

Accompanied by daughter, Edna Schieber of Kansas City, Luke was one of 27 veterans to make the Sept. 28 visit to Washington and tour the comparatively new WWII Memorial as well as the Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam, Marine and Air Force memorials.

The group also toured the Arlington National Cemetery, where they witnessed a changing to the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Luke said he was somewhat surprised by the size of the WWII Memorial and its dominant location in the center of the National Mall.

Departing Kansas City at 6 a.m., the Honor Flight members were greeted at Reagan National Airport by a small group then by a cheering crowd of some 300 veterans organization members and the U.S. Marine Corps Band. The visiting veterans treated like royalty throughout the day.

The military band held special importance for Luke because part of his military service was spent as a member of a unit marching band. His primary duty, however, was as a corpsman — which is Marine for medic.

Luke also had the opportunity to visit with U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri while in Washington.

Standing on the porch of his home, from where Ravenwood, the Clyde monastery, the basilica at Conception Abbey and the Jefferson C-123 school are all visible — Luke confirmed his fondness for far-ranging travel and the comfort he feels from returning home.

"I've never been one for pomp and glory," he said. "When there is a job to do, you just go ahead and do it without a lot of fanfare."