ELIDA — Elida native Harold Boley took the second trip of his life that he will likely recall with vivid memory.
The first was in 1952 as a member of the U.S. Army. Boley, now 84, was drafted and eventually sent to Korea during the war.
The second trip, in much better circumstances, took place Saturday. Boley was a member of a contingent of Korean War veterans who participated in Honor Flight. The organization flies veterans to see sites in Washington, D.C. The group checked out such sites as Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the various war memorials, including the Korean War Memorial.
Boley’s daughter, Cheri Zuber, served as escort with Boley. Each veteran had an escort, in many cases an attending family member.
“It was just a way of giving them some memories,” Zuber said.
Boley said he was surprised when he learned of the trip. His children signed him up for the trip more than a year ago.
“I’m really pleased that there are still people who think enough of us,” Boley said. “It isn’t as good as it used to be. There are many people who still care, but there are so many who couldn’t care less for what we did.”
Boley was one of eight sons who served in the military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Amazingly, all eight survived and made the trip home. Boley served as a quartermaster, issuing supplies to soldiers preparing to go and fight.
“I wasn’t in a danger zone,” Boley said, “but I was close enough where you could hear the guns going off.”
Boley recalled one small single-engine plane that came to their area for several weeks and would drop a single, low yield bomb, and fly back.
“It got to be kind of a joke,” Boley said. “We called him Bed Check Charlie.”
He recalled the Korean people as being very respectful, yet very poor.
“I remember seeing the kids going to school with nothing but a sardine can for lunch,” Boley said.
Boley returned home in September 1954. Three weeks later he married Kay and they have been married for 62 years. They had three daughters, seven grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Before leaving, Elida Police Chief Dale Metzger stopped at Boley’s home and presented him with the Challenge Coin from the city to commemorate his service.
“A lot of people not affiliated with the military do not realize the sacrifices made,” Metzger said.
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