WWII veterans prepare for Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

To participate in the whirlwind day, all the veterans of World War II will board flight from the Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee to leave for Washington D. C. It will be the fourth Never Forgotten Honor Flight, which will give chance for World War II veterans to see the National World War II Memorial.

Floyd Pagel, who celebrated his 87th birthday today, will be among the participants. Presently he is a resident of Wisconsin Rapids but many years ago he was in Washington D. C. so he is curious to see the changes and sharing stories with other veterans. At the age of 18, Pagel was drafted the Milwaukee area where he lived.

Pagel said that all the 18- and 19-year-olds were put in the same division of the Army's 75th Infantry, part of a group nicknamed "The Diaper Division”. He then told that he has been issued a physical, a streetcar ticket and asked to report when and where.

Pagel told that from 1943 to 1946, he participated in historic battles and missions like the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Colmar and the Crossing of the Rhine.

Pagel as a part of D Company was right behind the front rifle line which is really tough and he often told his wife to forget those years