World War II Vet Gets Unexpected 'Thank You'

Richard Herman never expected to be thanked for his service in World War II, so his heart was touched when he received hugs and kisses from strangers during a recent visit to Washington, D.C.

When Honor Flight New England, the non-profit group that honors American veterans, took Herman and more than 20 World War II vets from New Hampshire to Washington, D.C. earlier this month, Herman was overwhelmed by the royal treatment he received more than 70 years after serving his country.

"I never expected to be thanked," said the 92-year-old Milford resident who served in the U.S. Army.

"Times were different then. We all wanted to go. We couldn't wait to go and fight that war because of Hitler and because of the Nazis."

He and his daughter, Nancy Herman, who served as her father's guardian on the trip, went to the Veterans Administration hospital in Manchester, N.H., to board a plane to Washington with the other vets on Sept. 18.

That's when the long-deserved special treatment began. His excitement and gratitude can be heard in the words he typed in a thank-you note to family members who penned him letters that were presented to him on the trip as if it were a mail call for a soldier.

"After receiving our tee-shirts and our WW II Veteran caps, we boarded 2 buses for the drive to the airport," he wrote.

"We were escorted by two police cars -- front and back -- and about 25 black jacketed American Legion motorcyclists with several American flags, tooting their horns and blowing sirens all the way.

"When we entered the concourse at the airport, it was lined with people in all kinds of uniforms, waving American flags, applauding and shouting, 'Thank you for your service,' and a bagpiper playing military tunes! A very emotional start to an emotional experience for all of us..."

He continued, "When we arrived at the Baltimore-Washington Airport we were greeted by uniformed servicemen and women. A young Marine sergeant greeted me to say thank you, and I asked him where he had served. He said, 'Two tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan, and one in Africa.' And HE was thanking ME!"

Herman, a modest man, has done a lot for which he needed to be thanked.

As the paperwork for his Bronze Star Medal states, Herman acted heroically on April 15, 1945, in the battle for the Ruhr against the enemy in Germany.

"First Lieutenant Herman brilliantly led his section in attack on the towns, destroyed two strongly defended road blocks, captured 517 German prisoners and liberated 8 American prisoners of war," it says in part.

The Shell Avenue resident downplays his role, saying he had help from others.

With a little prodding, Herman did recall three near brushes with death as he conducted reconnaissance missions -- searching out, counting and identifying enemy troops, and sometimes capturing one for interrogation -- before Americans could move into enemy territory.

In 1942, he was fortunate enough to be in Officer Candidate School in the States when the reconnaissance group he had been with was wiped out in North Africa.

In 1945, when he was in Germany, a shell landed next to his vehicle, but it failed to explode.

And later, also in Germany, he was hit by shell fragments, which were caught by the mesh and metal in his belt.

"I had some lucky escapes," he said.

When the war ended, Herman returned to his bride, Ruth-Ann Herman, in the States. The two, who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary recently, had two children and four grandchildren.

When Herman came back to America, he says his country thanked him in other ways.

He took advantage of the G.I. Bill, which allowed him to attended Yale University free of charge and earn a master's degree in history and education. He later served as principal of the former Milford High School and as the city's assistant schools superintendent.

He also was allowed a low-interest mortgage to buy his first home.

But that was nothing like the emotion-packed day of gratitude he enjoyed earlier this month.

"Thence to Arlington Cemetery, where we witnessed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier;" he wrote to his family, "a fantastic ritual which included a rendition of Taps by a bugler which brought tears to my eyes."