In 1966, Ed Kinworthy was a high school graduate working at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis when the Vietnam War draft began. He was faced with a choice: He could enlist and serve in the Navy, Air Force or Marines for four years—reducing his odds of seeing combat—or he could await the call, serve in the Army, and be discharged in two years. “I expected to be drafted at some point in time,” he says.
Kinworthy was drafted in 1968 and reported for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. Meeting men from across the country was eye-opening. “It was an awakening to different cultures and different ways people were raised,” he says.
After basic training, he was assigned to the military police and sent to Nha Trang on the coast. “I wound up with an excellent tour of duty in many respects,” he says. “My job was primarily to protect the generals and other commanders who came into the area for strategy sessions and guard the compound area, which was a pretty safe duty.”
He patrolled the highway and city, which allowed him to get to know the locals personally. “I got to see what was going on in the cities on a daily basis. I was always respectful to the Vietnamese people. I probably bonded with as many Vietnamese people as I did with the military people, because I split my time close to 50/50,” he says. “But a lot of tragedy took place—things that you never want to see—and that was hard.”
He earned a Bronze Star for his service and was discharged in 1969. “When I left Vietnam, I felt some remorse because I was leaving friends with the job unfinished,” he says. “Sometimes, the military can wind up being your family, but I was fortunate enough to have a good, solid family to return home to in Poplar Bluff.”
Kinworthy went on to earn a degree in psychology and worked with youth at a correction center and later with veterans struggling with PTSD and substance use. “I teach people how to eliminate depression and anxiety,” he says. “Now that I’m retired, I’m working on a program to help others eliminate depression to live a life they don’t need a vacation from.”
When he learned about the Honor Flight of the Ozarks—part of the national Honor Flight Network, which honors America’s veterans by flying them to see their memorials in Washington, D.C.—he thoughtfully considered the opportunity. “Some friends had gone on it,” he says. “Many veterans have emotional wounds that never healed and were bitter about being treated disrespectfully when they returned home. However, rejecting appreciation keeps you in a bad place. Everyone must process pain to be healthy. Going on this flight can give veterans a better perspective.”
“My father has always been humble about his service,” says his daughter, Jill Phillips, owner of Jill Phillips Coaching. “This flight has been an opportunity to talk with him about his experience.”
“The flight made me realize that sacrifice has to be ongoing so we can continue to have the freedoms that are afforded to our country. I served my country—and I’m glad that I did,” Kinworthy says. “It’s the best country in the world, and it demands sacrifice.”
Their service paid the price. Each Honor Flight is a heartfelt thank-you to those who’ve already given so much. Veterans travel at no cost, thanks to community support. One of the greatest ways you can help is by spreading the word to local heroes who haven’t yet taken this journey. To learn more, apply, volunteer, or donate, visit www.honorflightoftheozarks.org
Honor Flight of the Ozarks provides veterans with an opportunity to visit their memorials in Washington, D.C. Part of the Honor Flight Network, the non-profit exists purely to honor the sacrifice made by the men and women who have served the United States, and has been in existence since 2013.