Seuferling takes Heartland Honor Flight to D.C.
Cheers, claps and the shrill of bagpipes echoed through a terminal at Kansas City International Airport as 84 Kansas City veterans returned home from the Heartland Honor Flight (HHF) on May 3. A crowd of 2,000 people lined the hall at 10:30 p.m., holding American flags and signs to welcome home and say thank you to the 38 WWII veterans, 38 Korean veterans and eight Vietnam veterans who took the flight.
WWII veteran Joe Seuferling of Cameron, along with his daughter Janice O’Connor, attended this honor flight. While on their one-day trip, they stopped at the WWII, Vietnam and Korean War memorials along with other sites throughout the day. According to O’Connor, each veteran had a guardian, and the trip was full of medical staff and volunteers who took care of the veterans.
“They really did their homework on organization,” said O’Connor. “Each vet was given a color; Dad’s was gold. He had a gold hat, sat at the gold table and rode on the gold bus. A volunteer would come on the bus at every stop and take roll call. They really knew what they were doing.”
According to Heartlandhonorflight.org, HHF, a non-profit organization, was started to honor our veterans and allow them to visit the memorials built for their sacrifices It was organized by Gary Swanson and Mark Martin in 2008 and was the first honor flight to fly WWII vets in the Kansas City area. Honor flights run twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. All veterans receive a bound booklet with bios and information from the trip.
While all the veterans were loaded on the plane, ready to make their way back to Kansas City, HHF had one more surprise in store for them. Each veteran was handed an oversized manila envelope full of mail from friends, loved ones and colleagues.
“They called it mail call,” said O’Connor wiping away tears while flipping through a large three-ring binder packed full of letters and drawings addressed to Seuferling. “[HHF] had me contact people to write letters. My niece’s little girl and her kindergarten class wrote letters and drew photos too.”
“It really gets to ya,” added Seuferling. “Anyone who has been in the military should get that experience.”
O’Connor plans on going again, this time as a volunteer, to help other veterans experience this once in a lifetime trip. She said it is something everyone should put on his or her bucket list.
Shortly after returning home, Seuferling and O’Conner visited with the fifth grade English classes of Amy Gunn and Travis Curtis. The students wrote Seuferling letters long enough to be essays. According to O’Connor, the students listened, asked questions and did not move an inch while Seuferling told his story.
O’Connor recalls five boys following them out to the car as they left the school, as if they would be going home with them. Being a retired teacher, O’Connor said she knows this experience with stay with these children forever.
“One student hugged me and laid his head on my shoulder,” said Seuferling with a grin. “They went home bragging and one said we are so lucky we got to see a real WWII veteran.”
Matt Evans, reporter with KMBC 9 News, live streamed the flight from Kansas City, to Washington D.C. and back. A few of his clips can be seen at www.facebook.com/MattEvansKMBC
“These trips are by far the most rewarding experiences I've ever had as a reporter,” stated Evans on his facebook page. “I said this to many of the veterans today, but for those of you who I didn't get the chance to talk to: thank you for your service, your sacrifices will NEVER be forgotten.”
Visit www.heartlandhonorflight.org for more information on sending a veteran on this flight, donations, or volunteering.
The life and times of Joe Seuferling
Joe Seuferling, born October 1925, grew up on a dairy farm with an older brother and sister in Bucyrus, Kan. and graduated from Bucyrus Rural High School in 1943. In Aug. of 1944, at the age of 18, he was drafted into the US Army infantry.
“I didn’t picture myself going to war,” said Seuferling. “I didn’t know what war was hardly. If they wanted me to go today I wouldn’t go I don’t think. I didn’t have any idea just how dangerous it was.”
Seuferling went to basic training in Anniston, Ala. where he did lots of walking and practiced at the rifle range. He remembers one of the other 200 soldiers catching his tent on fire accidentally with a candle. Basic Training was cut short for Seuferling and he was sent to Europe to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. He was sent to New York on Jan. 1 and boarded the Queen Mary, headed for Le Havre, France, a month later.
“The Queen Mary was fast,” said Seuferling. “It only took us seven days to get there. She changed direction every seven minutes. We had no support with us and they said it would take an enemy that long to sight a torpedo on us.”
However, Queen Mary was unable to dock at Le Harve, due to a boat enemy forces sank in the port, forcing them to dock in Scotland. Seuferling and his company traveled by “40/8” train cars on their trip from Scotland to France. According to fortyandeight.org, the train cars were marked “40/8” to indicate the capacity the car held, either 40 men or eight horses.
“By the time we got to France, the Battle of the Bulge had ended,” recalled Seuferling. “The worst deal I had for a long time was when we were still trying to take back the territory they lost. They sent my buddy and me up in front with a telephone and went to the front line to try and hear what they were doing across the big fencerow ahead of us. Pretty soon we heard a hell of an explosion. We couldn’t feel it there but they said back where the rest of them were it really shook the ground. I’m not sure but they could have blown up a bridge or something.”
Seuferling walked across France, Germany and into Austria, having to occasionally stop and wait in streams. With no extra change of socks, Seuferling contracted athlete’s foot. While in the hospital being treated, his company fought a hard battle. He said a big share of his company was sent back to the hospital or were killed. He felt pretty lucky he didn’t get hurt other than his feet. To this day, Seuferling has permanent damage to his feet from extended exposure to the damp, unsanitary and cold conditions.
“I can’t say it was nice while it lasted but it was an experience,” added Seuferling. “I don’t forget it. I feel sorry for anyone who has to go but somebody has to go. I don’t know if anyone else was like me and didn’t realize what it was about until I got there. I don’t always think about all the bad times I had. I’m glad I went since I got home alright, helped save our country and it was a good experience.”
Seuferling was discharged July 4, 1946. He was awarded the World War II Occupation Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory.
After his service, he met his wife Velma Stephens on a blind date in Paola, Kan. and married her in 1948. They have six children, 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He served as a contract milk hauler for Mid-America Dairymen as Seuferling Milk Hauling for 28 years. Later, Seuferling purchased a Dairy Queen Brazier in Cameron in 1974 and one in Bethany in 1979. Both have since changed hands, Cameron in 2009 and Bethany in 2015.
“I had two seven day a week jobs,” said Seuferling about running the Dairy Queens. “Hard work never hurt anybody.”
Seuferling is still an active member of the community. He attends daily mass at St. Munchin’s Catholic Church in Cameron, is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta, Lions Club, Veteran of Foreign Affairs, American Legion, chairman of the Cameron Development Center, on the board of directors at First Cameron State Bank and serves dinner to the homeless at the Haven in St. Joseph once a month. He also served at the Grand Marshal in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1994 and was named volunteer of the year by the Cameron Betterment Committee.
“As I reflect on the success and accomplishments of my dad, there are many thoughts that come to mind,” stated O’Connor. “He is dedicated to his family, faith, country and community, a man of integrity. He has modeled an incredible work ethic, demonstrated the importance of service to his church and community, and has continued to give and serve others his entire life. He always puts others before himself, which makes him an extraordinary example of a Christian man. He is a true hero. I consider myself extremely fortunate to call him, DAD!”
