Over the past weekend, Chuck Chaldekas was among a group of returning veterans who landed in San Diego to a crowd cheering for them in a heartfelt welcome.
This crowd was a contrast to his return from Vietnam in 1972.
Chaldekas was left speechless as he exited his plane, made his way down the escalator seeing sailors saluting him on the right and a floor full of spectators of all ages.
“I had a very joyful heart,” said Chaldekas. “I couldn’t utter a single word.”
Ninety Naval Special Warfare Korean and Vietnam combat veterans participated in the first commemorative pilgrimage of 2024 hosted by Honor Flight San Diego (HFSD) from April 26-28.
The three-day trip included visits to Washington, D.C. memorials honoring those who fought in WWII, Lincoln, Korea and Vietnam; Navy, and Marine Corps Memorials; as well as Arlington National Cemetery for the changing-of-the-guard ceremony.
“The memories and the thoughts that were brought back brought me to tears at least five or six times on that trip,” said Chaldekas.
A nonprofit branch of the nationwide Honor Flight Network, HFSD escorts veterans to Washington, D.C. using monies donated by individuals, foundations, associations, business owners and corporations who wish to recognize veterans’ contributions and thank them for their service and sacrifice to the United States, according to the branch’s website.
On the tour’s last day, a very emotional homecoming at San Diego International Airport reminded participating veterans how grateful the community is for their service.
“We appreciated the San Diego community support and more so, the veterans appreciated it,” wrote Holly Shaffner, vice-chair and public relations director. “They truly got the homecoming they didn’t receive 50-plus years ago when they came home from Vietnam.”
The organization said the flight welcoming U.S. Navy Special Warfare Operators is a first in the 19-year history of the Honor Flight Network. Among the veterans on board was Medal of Honor recipient Michael Thornton.
According to HFSD Chair Julie Brightwell, all of the participants came through Coronado for their training, and more than a dozen others who accompanied them during the weekend were from Coronado.
“These Vietnam combat veterans were finally able to see that the citizens of Coronado, San Diego, and the entire nation are grateful for their service and sacrifice,” wrote Brightwell. “What they did has not been forgotten, and over 800 people came to the airport to make sure they know that!”
A brotherhood for all
The last weekend in April marked the reconnection of a lifetime for local and visiting veterans, a trip that reinforced bonds formed among warriors more than a half-century ago.
Vietnam veteran Mike Chase, 77, described the three days in Washington, D.C., as being, “almost like a fraternity party.”
Chase, a retired professor, has lived in Coronado for the past 50 years and said he was encouraged to participate by fellow veteran officer Chuck Chaldekas.
“It’s a moving experience,” said Chase. “All you can say is, ‘Thank you,’ because everybody’s there, including little kids.”
Chase added that he extended the invitation to his friend and veteran, Leonard Coppenrath.
As one of the youngest participating veterans on the tour Coppenrath, 72, shared in the gratitude Chase expressed about reconnecting with old pals who share significant life memories.
“It’s a brotherhood that just continues. These are relationships you started as very young men through some very hard times,” said Coppenrath. “It might’ve been 50 years since the last time you saw them, but that love is still there.”
Coppenrath, who traveled from Idaho to participate in the trip, said he received more than 50 letters from multiple people as they headed east.
“There probably wasn’t a dry eye on that airplane reading those letters on the way to Baltimore,” said Coppenrath.
Following a weekend of camaraderie and emotions, Coppenrath expressed appreciation for the friendly airport receptions he, like Chaldekas and other veterans, experienced which helped them heal from bitter experiences they faced coming home from Vietnam amid anti-war protests that sometimes demonized U.S. troops.
“This did not erase those memories, but it will push them way back in our memories so that they’re not so easily brought up,” said Chaldekas. “The people of honor flight were so helpful in changing our thoughts and bringing about those memories so we could put an end to many of them if it is possible to do that.”
“The important thing is you took care of your brother seals,” said Coppenrath. “That’s the mantra we were raised (with) in that community and it didn’t skip a beat this weekend, and we were still there for each other through all these years.”
In fact, after returning home, Chaldekas welcomed a fellow participant and his wife to the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado.
The monument features a wall of remembrance for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel who gave their lives during the Vietnam War (1960-1975). It also is the home to three restored craft that represent the type of boats used by the “Brown Water Navy” in Vietnam, according to the organization’s website. Also displayed are the names of those Navy men who were awarded the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross.
“I rode all of those boats during my three tours of Vietnam,” said Chaldekas during a recent tour of the Memorial.
Originally from Detroit, Chaldekas said he was part of training class 50 and arrived in Coronado in 1968. Following his training that ended in May, 1969, Chaldekas was assigned to the Seal Platoon that was part of SEAL Team 1 and deployed to Vietnam.
“One of the reasons that I’m here is three of the people on the wall were in my first platoon and two of them were in our training class,” said Chaldekas, who retired as the force training officer at Naval special warfare in 1993. “Our personal grief from those who were like brothers to us is nothing compared to what families have to deal with.”
For the past 15 years, Chaldekas has been part of the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument Fund, a nonprofit organization working to maintain the memorial for years to come.
Chaldekas said that memorial officers and groups of other volunteers spend days out of the week helping to keep it a space where a variety of people convene. With primary work like mowing occurring on Tuesday and cleaning the boats every third Saturday.
As president of the Memorial Monument Fund, Chaldekas said it is his desire to make sure that the families of those people on the wall understand that somebody cares for what they did, where they went and who they were and now more than ever following his honor tour.
“Going on this trip has charged me up,” said Chaldekas. “If I can give my thinking to other people and help them to understand who those people were and who the people who operated these boats were, that’s worth it to me.”
And while the Vietnam Unit Memorial is open for all who wish to visit, Chaldekas encourages non-DOD visitors requiring an approved escort to visit the Vietnam Unit Memorial website to make arrangements.
“The fact that we’re getting things like this in place is a reflection of the passion of a lot of our guys who have served in the teams,” said Coppenrath. “You got to have the passion. And Chuck’s one of those guys. It means a lot.”
“It’s not just me, it’s a whole bunch of other volunteers,” added Chaldekas who hopes to continue growing the volunteer network. “It’s up to us to maintain that site so that family members can come and visit there and have good memories again of their family members and friends who did not come home.”
For now, another of Chaldekas’ priorities is to write to all those that took the time to thank him for his service in the bundle of letters he received during the departure and return flight to San Diego.
“It was just amazing to receive that many letters and cards and thoughts from people throughout the country,” said Chaldekas. “I appreciated their effort to make me feel better.”
