Woodrow Hairl, WWII veteran & HVAF client, takes first flight

A wave of patriotism and respect washed over the veterans who returned to the Indianapolis International Airport after their Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., April 5. Woodrow Wilson Hairl, 87, was a part of the group of 70 World War II veterans who flew to our nation’s capital to tour the national monument to the Great War and its heroes.

Woodrow in DC
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"I met a lot of people who I never would have met before," says Woodrow. "And it was quite a sight to see the monuments."

He also says it was quite a sight to view the country from an airplane window. This honor flight was his very first experience traveling by airplane.

When he went overseas in the 1940s, Hairl crossed the ocean by ship. "I had never been on a plane before," he said, "so I was able to experience that. I was able to show people what I stood up for and what I fought for and what this country is all about," says Woodrow, who traveled alongside HVAF volunteer and flight sponsor Jim Thompson.

Hairl entered the U.S. Army at age 16 and after basic training traveled by ship to Europe. His wartime experience consisted mostly of helping secure areas where battles already had occurred earlier in the war, he says. He spent time in France, Germany and Switzerland.

Hairl’s trip was organized by a group of volunteers affiliated with Indy Honor Flight, a group whose mission is to honor military veterans.

Hairl, who has experienced stints of homelessness in the years since his military service, relies on HVAF for food, hygiene items and clothing.

Woodrow photographed with other veterans

Woodrow in the wave of veterans in DC

87-year-old WWII veteran chosen for Indy Honor Flight, first ever plane ride

87-year-old WWII veteran Woodrow Wilson Hairl has been chosen to be among the veterans in Indy Honor Flight. Indy Honor Flight transports America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honor their sacrifices.

There are two ways that you can be part of this special event:

Operation Mail Call

Write a letter to Woodrow for him to read on his flight back on April 5

Indy Honor Flight

c/o Mail Call for Woodrow Wilson Hairl

9093 S. State Road 39

Mooresville, IN 46158
(Due date March 28)

Or, be part of Woodrow’s homecoming. Most of the heroes never received a homecoming.

Welcome Home

At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5 at the Indianapolis Airport you can welcome him home. (Arrive at the food court around 8 p.m. for a good spot). Bring American Flags, signs, banners and as many people as you can.

Woodrow served under General George S. Patton and traveled all over Europe from 1945-46 as a member of the US Army. He traveled on the Queen Mary from Washington D.C. to France. 3 days 3,000 soldiers.

“I was just a southern boy growing up in Greenville, Mississippi before the war. We raised cotton, corn, and peanuts.”

Despite his military record and accolades, Woodrow is remarkably modest. “This is what was asked of us. This is what we did. When I left Germany we were heading to Japan and they dropped the atomic bomb and that’s when I got out and got out of the military,” he adds.

But Woodrow struggled to keep a job which led to financial hardship. He came to HVAF in 2012 for help.

“If it wasn’t for HVAF, I don’t know where I’d get my next meal.”

Once a month for the past year, Woodrow has been relying on HVAF for food, toothbrushes, deodorant, clothes and other hygiene items that help get him through each month. Woodrow has made a lasting impression on HVAF staff members as well as outreach volunteer, Jim Thompson.

“When I first met him he told me he was a WWII veteran and we mostly see Vietnam era-veterans. I thought he’d be a good candidate for the Indy Honor Flight, whose mission is to transport American's veterans to Washington DC to visit several Memorials, but then I didn’t see him again for six months. I owe him because everything I have is because of people like him,” says Jim, and “I plan to be his sponsor on the trip.”

“I’m very excited to have been selected for Indy Honor Flight and to see these monuments on April 5,” says Woodrow. I'd like to think I leave a little history and I hope I did some good in this world and I think I did," he said.