Lincoln veteran 91, dies on way home from D.C. (National World War II Memorial)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10377104


Donald Dragoo of Lincoln is carried onto the plane Tuesday.

The death of a Lincoln veteran on a return flight from Washington marked the first death in a national program that has taken more than 5,000 World War II vets to the nation's capital in recent years, the trip's organizer said today.

Donald Dragoo, 91, collapsed on the charter flight carrying some 120 WWII veterans about 20 minutes before the plane landed Tuesday night in Lincoln, said flight organizer Bill Williams of Omaha.

Doctors aboard the plane immediately attended to Dragoo but were unable to revive the Army veteran, who served in England, France, Belgium, Italy and Germany during WWII.

Dragoo had a number of medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes and heart problems, Williams said. The veteran had been scheduled to travel on Williams' first Heartland Honor Flight in May, but canceled because he was hospitalized.

"I talked to his daughter afterward, and we both realized how timely it was. He didn't die on the way out there, he got to experience the day and experience his time with all these other veterans," Williams said.

Dragoo and the other veterans had left Lincoln early Tuesday and spent the day visiting monuments around the capital, including the National World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

"I have heard numerous times from World War II veterans that if it's my time, there is no better place than an honor flight," Williams said.


• Contact the writer: 444-1084, [e-mail]

[Gman]

1. They won't be with us for much longer..

they're dying by the thousands now.

[Historic NY]

2. At least he got to see it in person w/o the RW carp .....about it

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/memorial.asp

I was there 14 days before it was dedicated in 2004 and watched the workers put in the last pieces of granite in the back wall. My buddy and I began clapping at the embarrassed workers and soon we had visitors standing there clapping with us. The NPS Park Ranger was even surprised that so many people would do this spontaneously. I recognized it as a defining moment in honoring the "Greatest Generation" which my father was one of. I did it for him. The place is special and commands a great presence on the mall.