'You won't forget it for the rest of your life'

Prenger brothers bask in respect shown to Honor Flight veterans

Jefferson City natives Don, left, and John Prenger smile as they talk about their Nov. 3 Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. Both men served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Don from 1966-68 and John from 1969-70. In the foreground at right is a photograph of John.
Jefferson City natives Don, left, and John Prenger smile as they talk about their Nov. 3 Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. Both men served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Don from 1966-68 and John from 1969-70. In the foreground at right is a photograph of John.

When Jefferson City-area brothers Donald and John Prenger finished their respective tours in Vietnam, they didn't face the hostility that some of their fellow soldiers faced. But they weren't greeted with open arms either.

But last week, as a part of Central Missouri Honor Flight, the brothers were greeted with open arms throughout their 24-hour trip to the nation's capital. It was something they'll never forget, and still get emotional talking about a week later.

"At every turn, there was a surprise for the veterans," Don said. "I cried for two days. I'm still tearing up."

His brother, John, said: "You're just shown a great deal of respect, and get to visit the nation's Capitol and all the monuments, and the Vietnam Wall.

They were among 72 veterans who were flown at no cost to them to Washington, D.C., on a whirlwind trip - with little sleep - to show them the national war memorials, and to honor them in a way they've never experienced for their service to our country.

"You will cry, you'll be real serious at times, and be you'll be proud. I teared up several times," Don said. "When we walked through the airports at Washington, D.C., the passengers clapped. We were welcomed everywhere we went. It was 10 times better" than returning from Vietnam, he said.

Don, three years older than his brother, was out of high school and working for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis when he was drafted. After basic training and crane operator school at Fort Leonard Wood, he went to Vietnam in 1966. "I looked forward to going," he said. "I was ready."

During part of his tour, he worked as a crane operator about 30 miles south of Saigon. He didn't see a lot of combat, but was a part of the Tet Offensive in 1968.

"They told me when shots start firing, you get that damn crane out of there," he said, adding that there were times he had to do just that.

About the time he finished his tour and got home, his brother was out of high school and having a hard time finding a job.

John and a friend tried to get on at Missouri Power & Light, and "one of first questions they asked was "What's your military status?' If you were 1A you were soon to be drafted. I was 1A; they said, "You get your military taken care of and come back to see us.'"

He followed in his brother's footsteps, joining the U.S. Army and training in artillery in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before going to Vietnam in 1969, a few months after his brother had returned.

After eight months in the artillery, the U.S. military began pulling back troops in response to public outcry. That gave John an opportunity to work the remainder of his tour as a bartender for an officers' club in Saigon.

Both experienced and saw things in Vietnam that they still, to this day, don't feel comfortable talking about.

A few years after John got home, he got that job at Missouri Power & Light Co.

"There was no big "welcome home' party or parade," John said. "You were just kind of put right back in society."

Of the 72 veterans on the trip, the Prengers said two were World War II vets, 25 were Korean War veterans and the rest were Vietnam veterans.

Both brothers urged their fellow veterans to take the trip, if they have the chance.

"I'm really proud to be a veteran. I wasn't a few years ago," Don said. Now, he said, people thank him for his service and respect him for being a veteran. The Honor Flight, he said, took that to a whole new level.

His brother, John, said: "You won't forget it for the rest of your life."