DENVER - A dozen World War II veterans are back home in Colorado after fighting to get back to the island of Iwo Jima, where they fought and served as young men.
Time is running out for the vets, ages 85 to 93.
But the trip, sponsored by the Denver based Greatest Generations Foundation, nearly went wrong when the vets were stranded on Okinawa on their way to the 65th anniversary of the battle.
A charter flight backed out. A backup plane broke down. The government of Japan at one point said the vets couldn't land on the island, and the US military at first refused to help.
It looked bleak for the vets, until U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) stepped in, worked with the Japanese Ambassador, and the Marines to get the vets a flight.
"They weren't going to take no for an answer, my office wasn't going to take no for an answer, the Marines were not going to leave you stranded on Okinawa," Perlmutter told the veterans.
They made it, and touched then sand of Iwo Jima, climbed Mount Suribachi where the famous flag-raising photo was taken, and walked on the beaches where so many fought and died.
The vets said they remembered everything. And never once forgot the soldiers that couldn't be there.
"We all have the same feelings, same emotions. We all lost a lot of buddies. It all comes back to you," veteran Joe Weinmeier told us. "As we approached, I looked out the window, I just fell apart."
It was the trip of a lifetime, capped off by a homecoming with a Marine Honor guard and a crowd of family and fans that nearly brought Denver International Airport to a standstill Tuesday.
"Those Marines they'll do it any way they can. They did it for us," veteran Jim Blane said. "It's a great moment."
It seemed like a lot to the veterans. But it's also a reminder that we can never do enough to say thanks for their service and sacrifice.
To learn more about the trip visit
http://www.ourfinalreturn.com/
to learn more about the greatest generations foundation, go to
www.tggf.us
Time is running out for the vets, ages 85 to 93.
But the trip, sponsored by the Denver based Greatest Generations Foundation, nearly went wrong when the vets were stranded on Okinawa on their way to the 65th anniversary of the battle.
A charter flight backed out. A backup plane broke down. The government of Japan at one point said the vets couldn't land on the island, and the US military at first refused to help.
It looked bleak for the vets, until U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) stepped in, worked with the Japanese Ambassador, and the Marines to get the vets a flight.
"They weren't going to take no for an answer, my office wasn't going to take no for an answer, the Marines were not going to leave you stranded on Okinawa," Perlmutter told the veterans.
They made it, and touched then sand of Iwo Jima, climbed Mount Suribachi where the famous flag-raising photo was taken, and walked on the beaches where so many fought and died.
The vets said they remembered everything. And never once forgot the soldiers that couldn't be there.
"We all have the same feelings, same emotions. We all lost a lot of buddies. It all comes back to you," veteran Joe Weinmeier told us. "As we approached, I looked out the window, I just fell apart."
It was the trip of a lifetime, capped off by a homecoming with a Marine Honor guard and a crowd of family and fans that nearly brought Denver International Airport to a standstill Tuesday.
"Those Marines they'll do it any way they can. They did it for us," veteran Jim Blane said. "It's a great moment."
It seemed like a lot to the veterans. But it's also a reminder that we can never do enough to say thanks for their service and sacrifice.
To learn more about the trip visit
http://www.ourfinalreturn.com/
to learn more about the greatest generations foundation, go to
www.tggf.us
