Veterans Airlift Command is an incredible organization doing incredibly important work for wounded warriors.

Pictured to the left is Walt Fricke whose own experience led him to launch this great cause. Here’s a quote from Mr. Fricke from their Website:

“I spent six months in a hospital 700 miles from my hometown recovering from combat injuries sustained while flying a helicopter in Vietnam. My healing began in earnest when my family was able to gather the resources to make a trip to visit me.”

Walt Fricke
Founder, Veteran’s Airlift Command

Veterans Airlift Command provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.

Currently their priority is on the veterans of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). As they grow and increased capacity allows, they plan to expand their mission to serve veterans of other conflicts as well.

Reading through their stories where their service has brought families together after long periods apart due to hospitalization is heartwarming. They really are leaving “no man behind”.

I can’t help recall my experience back in the 70′s when I was laid up in Walter Reed for a week at 15 years of age. It was very rare someone came in to visit the soldiers (I was the only civilian) and when my family came in for their one visit I recall feeling guilty as most of them had been laid up there for many weeks and months.

My hat goes off to Mr. Fricke and his entire organization. They are doing good.

Website: Veterans Airlift Command