Reaching 10,000 - Jimmy & Chris Hiles, Vietnam Veterans

Honor Flight Columbus is proud to be flying our 10,000th Veteran to Washington D.C. on October 10, 2024. To commemorate this significant milestone, we will be sharing the inspiring stories of 10 Veterans. Each story we share will represent 1,000 of the 10,000 Veterans we have had the honor of flying. This particular profile shares the story of a couple who served in the Marines and met during their service. Follow along as we honor, share, and celebrate the heroes of our country.

James (Jimmy) Hilles still remembers the very first time he saw a Marine wearing their Dress Blues. This impactful moment, while collecting donations for Toys for Tots, stuck with Hilles and he decided on the spot, “I gotta have one of those!” He officially enlisted in the USMC Reserves in 1968 while he was still in high school. By August of that year, he entered active duty and was stationed in San Diego where he referred to himself as a “Hollywood Marine.”

Originally, it was recommended to Hilles that his military occupational specialty (MOS) be cook, though he was assigned to be a truck driver in the motor pool. He recalled Gas Chamber training where they were exposed to controlled amounts of tear gas to teach them how to survive chemical attacks using their equipment. His fellow trainees would give each other a hard time because they were not permitted to leave the exercise until they perfected the necessary skills.

After basic training, Hilles was sent to Da Nang, Vietnam at just 18 years old. His brother, also in the service, was sent out of the war zone as Hilles entered it. Eventually, his commanding officer ordered him to serve as an MP (military police) and he was sent to Marine Corps Base Camp LeJune to train. This move would forever change his life; here he met his wife Christine (Chris).

Chris grew up in Northern Illinois and was also inspired at a young age to join the Marines. She enlisted in high school as she saw it as her “only choice.” Though her brother also served in the Marines, her father was reluctant to sign for her enlistment. However, he knew it was what Chris wanted and signed for her. She left for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina just two weeks after her graduation. Like her husband, Chris recalled Gas Chamber training as the most difficult part of basic training.

She was assigned to MCAS Cherry Point as administrative support for the Military Police. During her service, she not only was trained in administrative support, but she learned to drive a ¾ Ton vehicle before she even had a civilian driver’s license.  While her company’s Gunny did not like her, she fondly remembers the other people with whom she served.

When she met Jimmy Hilles, she was a KP (kitchen police) in the Mess Hall. One of her friends was with Jimmy and introduced the two of them. Jimmy shared the memory of this meeting saying, “I knew that day. I told my friend I am going to marry that girl. And I did.” Jimmy and Chris were married at the chapel on base at Camp Lejeune. Chris’ family could not attend the wedding and instead, the Colonel in charge of MPs on the base gave her away and paid for their rehearsal dinner. Chris remarked, “Marine Corps family [is] just like that.”

After their service, the Hilles settled in Columbus. Chris said because she didn’t get to “horse around” after high school like other young people, she did that upon their return. Chris worked at JC Penney in Westland and then Eastland. Jimmy worked at The Ohio State University until he retired. Both Jimmy and Chris left the service with the rank of Sergeant E5. Chris said that “less than 2% were female and I earned my rank.” Their lives today stay busy with three cats and three dogs along with Jimmy’s service on the Knights of Columbus Council.

Together, the Hilles took their Honor Flight with Honor Flight Columbus on May 5, 2023, on Mission 121.  When they were asked what advice they had for people today from their experiences, they both gave similar responses. Jimmy said, “Be proud of our country and of the military, even if you didn’t serve. Those people keep you free.” Chris said, “Everybody needs to do something important and the military matters.”

Reaching 10,000 - Stanley Maybruck, WWII Veteran

Honor Flight Columbus is proud to be flying our 10,000th Veteran to Washington D.C. on October 10, 2024. To commemorate this significant milestone, we will be sharing the inspiring stories of 10 Veterans. Each story we share will represent 1,000 of the 10,000 Veterans we have had the honor of flying. Follow along as we honor, share, and celebrate the heroes of our country.

Stanley Maybruck was born on May 2, 1925. His mother, an immigrant from Poland, married his father a businessman in Ohio, and together they raised the Maybruck family. Once Maybruck was older, he decided to go to school to become a Dentist. He chose to pick up the profession because he was inspired by a favorite uncle who worked as a Dentist. He was attending The Ohio State University in his second quarter when he was drafted.

Maybruck completed his basic training at Camp Berkely in Texas. He was then sent to San Francisco to train as a dental technician for 2-3 months. After he completed his training as a technician, he was sent to Camp Chenango in Pennsylvania. This replacement depo was where he was until he was assigned to be a combat medic in the 4th infantry division. The military wanted combat medics, not dental technicians and Maybruck soon found himself on his way to Europe in the thick of World War II.

By the time Maybruck arrived at the port of embarkation in New York, the United States was planning for the Normandy Invasion. He arrived in England where he took a train to the coast to await orders for the Invasion to begin. After two weeks and completing training with his unit, he began his journey to Omaha Beach. Maybruck was part of the 12th or 13th wave on the beaches of Normandy and as a combat medic assigned to the front lines, he tried to help as many soldiers as he could. One particular soldier was in need and Maybruck made his way to take care of him when he was shot in the back by a sniper. He was taken out of Normandy and to England where he stayed for 5 months undergoing operations and medical care. Though he was ambulatory, his right arm was paralyzed. Finally, he was sent back to the United States to a hospital in Michigan.

Maybruck was discharged Aug 10th, 1945 and taken to a medical unit at Fort Hayes in Columbus, OH. He received care there 3-4 times a week to work on his right arm movement. During this time he attended college and was forced to use his left hand to write which made school tough for the right handed Private First Class Maybruck. He completed nine quarters at OSU when his father encouraged him to change fields and join the family business. Maybruck agreed and he has remained successful in his business ventures to this very day at the age of 99.

The Veteran of the Normandy Invasion and Purple Heart recipient took his Honor Flight May 15, 2022 on Mission 114. He shared that it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of his life. When asked more about his Honor Flight he shared,

“The people were so courteous… I can’t describe how much I enjoyed it and how much I remember. I don’t think a week goes by that I don’t think bout that trip. When you came home, they greet us and it was so exciting. I had tears in my eyes. I never, never had anything happen to me like that.”

Maybruck also shared that the only place he wanted to go in D.C. that he couldn’t during his trip was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. His mother’s family including his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were all killed in the Holocaust. Less than 20 years old, Private First Class Stanely Maybruck fought to put an end to the Nazi Regime that killed his family, as a combat medic.

Maybruck confessed that he could not give advice to anybody saying, “I am just one person. I just tell them (the next generation) to be proud of our country and anytime you can be faithful—do something for your country.”

Reaching 10,000 - Emeline Golden, Vietnam Era

Honor Flight Columbus is proud to be flying our 10,000th Veteran to Washington D.C. on October 10, 2024. To commemorate this significant milestone, we will be sharing the inspiring stories of 10 Veterans. Each story we share will represent 1,000 of the 10,000 Veterans we have had the honor of flying. Follow along as we honor, share, and celebrate the heroes of our country.

Emeline Golden was born the middle child of her family on August 7, 1945. She had 10 brothers and 2 sisters, most of whom served in the military. Golden enlisted herself after having been out of school for about a year working in Hancock, MD at London Fog, a raincoat company. With so many of her siblings having served in the military, she was familiar with the idea and spoke with a recruiter to enlist in the army.

Golden was sent to complete her basic training in Fort McClellan, Alabama in September of 1964. She remembers basic fondly sharing that if people were to thank her for being there, she would have responded, “thank you for having me.” The organization and regimental activities appealed to her, and she appreciated the routine. After completing basic and service school at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas as a medical corpsman, she was assigned to Fort Mead, MD. She was sent to work at the OB ward at Kimbrough Army Hospital. This was a new experience for her, and it was especially difficult at times when families did not have a healthy birth to celebrate.

Eventually, she asked to be reassigned to the ER. Golden enjoyed the work in the ER and took a lot of pride in being able to help the community in this way. She met several people in the medical corps while working in the ER who were shipped off to Vietnam. She was informed that they never made it, as their helicopter had been shot down before it could land. Though this certainly was a challenging blow to her experience, her work as a medic there was fulfilling. At this time, medics in the ER were able to do a lot of the same work that nurses did. Golden’s assignment at Kimbrough not only gave her interesting work, but it was there she met her husband, Ray, who also served in the army.

After three years of service, Golden was discharged on September 28, 1967. She was also four months pregnant. Ray was still in the army and the couple moved to Laurel, MD to be close to where he was stationed. While Golden was no longer in the military herself, her service to the country continued. Ray served in the military for 22 years. The family was stationed in Japan for a time at Camp Oji, Camp Zama, and Tachikawa where her son was born. Though they were moved from place to place, she had friends who seemed to always follow. Jim and Janet were similarly stationed alongside the Goldens. Golden commented that her life in the military was good. She moved to Ohio just three years ago, and has joined us in calling this great state home.

When asked about what Golden would share with the next generation she said,

“I was raised in Hancock, Maryland, and I wasn't exposed to a lot of different people. [But] in the Army.  You learn to depend on each other…  You learn to love each other, back each other up, keep care of each other, and you learn that camaraderie.”

She believes that every child should see the war memorials in Washington DC to understand what our Veterans have done for this country.

Golden has not yet taken her Honor Flight but is scheduled to be on the October 10th flight where we will celebrate flying our 10,000th Veteran. She said she is excited most about the people she will meet and was “tickled pink” about being booked on the flight. In addition to the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial has a special place in her heart as she lost a cousin during the conflict.

She shared with us that if she could, she would still fight for our country today. Her bravery and valor represent so many Veterans who would say the very same thing. Honor Flight Columbus is eager to honor Golden with her flight—a well deserved experience.