By Pam Fernald

Three World War II veterans were welcomed home Sunday by a group of smiling SeaTac USO volunteers with banners and flags.

The Vets were returning from a whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. to visit the WWII, Iwo Jima, Korean and Vietnam war memorials. They also visited the Lincoln Memorial.

Please click the photo above for more.

The Veteran's trip was sponsored by a Freedom Fighter Honor Flight whose goal is "Helping every single veteran in America, willing and able of getting on a plane or a bus, visit THEIR memorial."

Their website is http://www.freedomfightershf.org/ Each Veteran is assigned a 'guardian' to accompany them on their trip. Sarge's guardian on the trip was Tom Hallum. Tom is also a Veteran.

The trio and their guardians left Seattle at 6 a.m. Friday and spent all day Saturday visiting the memorials, returning to SeaTac on Sunday.
'Sarge' Carter reported, "It was a beautiful trip though it was raining and windy."

Sarge was a first sergeant in the Army and served during 3 wars, which included time under General MacArthur. Sarge was wearing a large gold medallion given to him by General MacArthur for his service from 1940 to 1945. Sarge served in both the European and Pacific Theater, including a short time with the Australian Army.

Two other WWII vets made the same Freedom Fighter Honor Flight trip, although one of the WWII vets got away before he could be interviewed.
However, Bob Otto, a WWII Air Force vet modestly agreed to talk with us. Bob was a B24 tail gunner when the Germans shot down his plane over Austria. He was a POW for one year in Cerignola, Italy until the British freed him and his group in 1945.

Sarge, 87, is still in the Honor Guard and fires his M1 at military services. He also has served over 8,000 volunteer hours at the VA Hospital and Tahoma National Cemetery.

And he has given over 3,000 hours with the SeaTac USO. For those who do not know, the USO center at Sea-Tac International Airport provides our military with 24/7 travel assistance and access to all the comforts of home.

WWII Veterans, we salute you!