Four area World War II veterans will get a big send-off tomorrow morning at CVG airport for a special trip to Washington, D.C. to join the national recognition of the 70th anniversary of V-E (Victory in Europe) Day on National Mall, thanks to a local benefactor.
Noah Switzer as a young Navy man (Photo provided)
Of the 16 million U.S. service members from WWII, about 850,000 survive, and only about 300 will make it to the V-E Day event.
Thanks to The Urology Group, four of area veterans will be among the 300.
The four servicemen are:
Noah Switzer, age 89 of Taylor Mill – the last surviving member of the 5th Marine Division of the U.S. Navy; he spent 36 days at the battle of Iwo Jima;
Walter Kraus, age 94 of Ft. Mitchell – U.S. Navy submarine division, survived the sinking of the USS S-36 off the coast of Indonesia.
Howard Requard, age 89 of Edgewood – U.S. Marine Corps, fought in the Battle of Okinawa.
Gerald Bentle, age 90, of Milan, IN. – U.S. Army, stationed in Naples, Italy.
Gerald Bentle, U.S. Army (Photo provided)
In addition to attending the official recognition event on the National Mall, the local veterans will dine at the Army-Navy Club, receive a tour of Arlington Cemetery and visit other significant sites in the nation’s capital.
These local heroes will join other WWII vets from around the country, representatives of America’s WWII Allies, historians and other dignitaries for a May 8 wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington.
The wreath-laying will be followed by a flyover of 15 formations of WWII vintage aircraft in the skies above the nation’s capital.
A special send-off for the veterans will be held in the 2nd floor Honor Flight area between Delta ticketing and the general security gate at CVG at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Skyler Groves, a 6th grader at Grant County Middle Schools will sing the National Anthem and Earl Walz, CEO of the Urology Group will speak.
Dr. Gary Kirsh (Photo provided)
“These men represent the courage and sacrifice of an entire generation. It’s been a pleasure to get to know them as patients and as people, and it’s our honor help them enjoy this national recognition.” Gary Kirsh, President of The Urology Group, which has coordinated and underwritten all expenses for the trip.
Many patients of The Urology Group are members of this age group – “The Greatest Generation.”
