“When I came back from Vietnam it was not good,” the Forestville resident said. “It was bad, and I held to horrible memories from 1968 until just recently.”

Tooley said service members did not have a proper reception when they returned from Vietnam, with the exception of family members and a few close friends. He recalled how people labeled him and his fellow soldiers “baby killers” for their role in the Vietnam War.

After decades of living with the painful memories of the war and being shamed by the American people he fought to help, Tooley said the Honor Flight trip changed everything.

“This year showed me that over the years, people have started seeing our servicemen in a different light,” he said.

Tooley described the “mail call” part of the Honor Flight as one of the highlights of the trip. Cards were submitted from young students thanking Tooley for his service on behalf of the nation.

Tooley compared the appreciation and honor he received from the American people during the Honor Flight to the original reception of World War II veterans with “ticker tape parades.”

“Servicemen were welcomed, and they were appreciated,” he said. “We’re seeing that now. This Honor Flight did worlds of good for me. I’m so appreciative of what Honor Flight has done for me and for all of us.”

As part of the Honor Flight experience, Tooley said each of the veterans were accompanied by a “guardian” to ensure their safety. Tooley said his grandson, Hayden Tooley, was able to come with him to Washington as his guardian. The Honor Flight served as a bonding experience between the veteran and his grandson.

“The best person in the world that could do it,” Tooley said. “We’re so close, and I feel closer to him now than I did even before.”

The Honor Flight experience included a tour of the different U.S. military memorials in Washington D.C. Tooley said the group’s visit to the Arlington Tomb of the Unknown Solider was particularly moving.

“They had two gentlemen from World War II come forward in their wheelchairs and a sentry there had them helping him change the wreath of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” he said. “I don’t think there was a dry eye. It was so moving.”

At the Vietnam Memorial, Tooley’s grandson helped him locate the names of two of his fellow servicemen who lost their lives in the war. One of the men was Larry Smith, a former schoolmate of Tooley, who was killed in Vietnam. Tooley and his grandson were also able to locate the name of his former sergeant.

“He died in my arms,” Tooley said. “I loved him like my own brother. I cried the day he died.”

Another highlight of the Honor Flight trip was the “mail call” surprise for each of the veterans. The mail call is a callback to the significance of soldiers receiving letters in the mail during their service to the country. Tooley said it was “huge” for the service members to receive letters from home. During the recent Honor Flight experience, Tooley and the other veterans received letters from young students who thanked the veterans for their sacrificial service to the United States.

Tooley said he cannot thank the people who organize Honor Flight enough for what they did to honor him and his fellow veterans.

“What an honor that was to be welcomed and to be loved and appreciated,” he said. “It was a blessing and a half for me. I’ll never forget Honor Flight. I’ll never forget the kindness. If I can say anything to encourage another veteran to go, I’m going to do that. This was one of the best things that’s ever happened in my life. It’s meant the world to me.”

Tooley explained that he was injured just prior to a battle where his company suffered heavy losses.

“I stepped on a mine,” he said. “The day after I got hurt, was a bloodbath. Several of the men I knew were killed.”

Despite being injured, Tooley said he did not want to be sent home.

“When I was hurt, I didn’t want to come home,” he said. “I begged them to let me stay with my guys over there.”

As an infantry medic, Tooley witnessed unspeakable horrors, experienced immense loss, and watched people die in his arms. However, even though he was injured, suffered the loss of friends and witnessed traumatic experiences, Tooley said he would fight again today for his country if he had the opportunity.

“I’d do it again,” he said. “My country is worth that much to me. We never met, but when I went to Vietnam to fight communism, I did it for you so that you would be free.”

Having faced what he described as the “ugliness of communism” in the Vietnam War, Tooley said the United states is the “best country in the world.” While Tooley said the Vietnam War was a “horrible day” in U.S. history and the attitudes of the nation have historically been against Vietnam veterans, he believes something good has finally come about from a terrible situation.

“God took a bad thing and turned into something really good,” he said. “Something good is Honor Flight, and people are changing their attitudes towards servicemen. It’s really good that something has come out of this. We’re shown respect now and appreciation. To me, that’s the good side of it.”

Tooley said another positive thing that has come about from his time in the service, is that he has been able to help others by speaking about his experience in the Vietnam War. Tooley has spoken in multiple public schools and shared his experience to help inspire others.

“I still do that,” he said. “It gives me a good feeling and it helps somebody else.”

Barb Cessna, Vets Finding Vets project coordinator, can help facilitate the application process, answer questions and coordinate travel to Buffalo for the Honor Flight and back to Chautauqua County at no charge for veterans. Cessna can be contacted at the Fenton History Center at 716-664-6256.

The Vets Finding Vets Project Coordinator planning hours are paid in part by a grant through Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.