Cole Camp's David Locke, like so many of his generation, served in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1971. He was in the Air Force and served with the 449th Bomber Squadron. The Vietnam War was so unpopular in the United States that it was widely protested on college campuses and other public areas. The military men returned home, though unfortunately not as heroes, but were often spit upon and totally disrespected. So much so that the men simply didn’t wear their uniforms while on leave like the servicemen from WWII and the Korean Conflict had.
Following his discharge, Dave returned to Oklahoma where he had grown up. He had been adopted when he was three days old and his adopted parents owned and operated a small neighborhood "mom and pop" grocery store in Boise, Oklahoma. When the bigger grocery chains put an end to the small corner market, his dad went to work in the oil fields on a drilling rig. Later in life, he served as the jailer for the sheriff’s department.
Like other Vietnam vets, Locke put it behind him and moved on with his life, never really talking about the war except with other Vietnam veterans, which is an unwritten code most adhere to. Unlike veterans from other wars, they do not tell war stories and speak of those days, except with each other.
One of those he had talked to lives out in Kansas and early on he took an honor flight to Washington out of Topeka. From that time forward, his friend kept encouraging Locke to sign up for one here in Missouri. Locke heard him out and agreed, “Okay, I will sometime.”
In every conversation with his Kansas friend, he would be encouraged to sign up and finally did, if for no other reason than to shut him up.
Locke was accepted for a flight to depart on October 30, 2024, from Columbia, Missouri. The Central Missouri Honor Flight gathered Locke and 95 other Vietnam Vets at the Marriot and fed them what they called breakfast at 11:00 PM. Attendees were then bussed to St Louis to board a Southwest airlines flight to Washington, landing at Reagan National. They were given their lunch at 8:15 AM while en route to their first destination.
What a whirlwind day! The tour viewed the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean and Air Force Memorials, plus the Marine’s Iwo Jima Memorial. They were privileged to see the Lincoln and Washington Memorials, and saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While in Arlington, the bus driver asked if anyone had a special grave they wanted to visit. Dave immediately said “I want to see Audie Murphy’s grave.” The driver said it was no problem because it was along his route. Dave was allowed to leave the bus and have his photo taken by the grave marker. Murphy was the most decorated American combat soldier in WWII. His death defying exploits made him a legend and he returned home to a career in the Hollywood movies, many of them westerns. Murphy was only five foot five and half inches tall, but he rode high in the saddle to Dave Locke for what he did in a time of war.
When questioned about which Memorial he liked the most, Locke quickly responded, “The Air Force Memorial.” He then related how the monument sits close to the Pentagon and consists of three spheres soaring into the air, the center sphere being the highest. He said they were told the monument hadn’t been built yet on 9-11 but if it had been there, the plane that struck the Pentagon would have hit the center sphere instead as it stands where the plane passed.
Before departing Washington, participants were fed dinner at 3:00 PM in the Women’s Memorial, then it was back to St Louis and a bus back to Columbia. The Honor Flight Locke was on was the only flight in 2024 that was comprised of 100% Vietnam veterans.
When the tour reached Kingdom City, they were given a royal escort back to Columbia by the Patriot Guard Riders and the Highway Patrol. All on-ramps were blocked of traffic until they passed and for the first time, they were finally given the respect and welcome back they should have had all those many years ago.
The Central Missouri Honor Flight is an all volunteer organization and has existed for fifteen years, flying 5,500 veterans to visit the nation’s Capitol and to be able to reflect at their own memorials. There is no doubt it’s a wonderful program because Locke stated with firm emotion, “It was the best day of my life, ever!”
