Dorado Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 World War II veteran en route to Pearl Harbor ceremony booted from flight A 90-year-old World War II veteran en route to a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor was booted from his flight to accommodate the weight of additional jet fuel needed for the trip. According to Hawaii News Now, Ewalt “Walt” Shatz, a WWII veteran credited with shooting down a Japanese plane during the 1941 attack, was scheduled to take a United Airlines flight direct from Los Angeles to Honolulu on Wednesday, but was re-booked on an American Airlines flight leaving eight hours later that included a layover in Maui. “I was surprised. I didn't know which way to go. Here I am at LAX with all these people and it's all new to me. I was just lost I didn't know what to do which is an awful feeling," Shatz told the paper. Shatz was traveling alone and suffers from macular degeneration, an eye condition that limits his sight. "They just left me kind of stranded. Here I'm 90 years old, and I don't know -- I really didn't have anybody else I could call." Shatz said he was told by a United Airlines agent at LAX only two passengers on the Boeing 737 to Honolulu had been booted. "I thought that they just overbooked the deal and they were trying to get rid of a couple of customers and somebody had my seat -- and that's what made me mad, because I paid for that seat. I paid for that seat and somebody else is sitting in it," Shatz told WOAI News 4. “I was lost. I didn’t know what to do.” Shatz reportedly told two United desk agents -- and a supervisor -- he was a WWII vet invited to attend a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona memorial to mark the attack’s anniversary. United, in a statement to Hawaii News Now, said, “Inclement weather in the path of United flight 1226 required the flight to carry additional fuel and, as a result, reduce the number of passengers on board by 41. “United agents in Los Angeles re-booked those customers, including Mr. Shatz, on the best available alternate flights on United and other airlines. We look forward to speaking with Mr. Shatz and the other affected customers.” Shatz arrived in Honolulu just before midnight and in time for the ceremony. Word of his Shatz’s plight traveled quickly on the Internet, and 71 people – mostly U.S. service members – organized a last-second welcoming party for him at the airport in Honolulu. "Getting ready to put my khakis on and go greet a WWII vet (Pearl Harbor Survivor)... If you are on island and would like to come greet and honor this hero, come on out," Navy Chief Benjiman Scott wrote in part on his Facebook page, according to the paper. "Everybody wanted a picture with me and they were making out like I was hero, but I'm not really. It was embarrassing in a way, but I liked it. It was nice," Shatz told WOAI News 4. Reportedly added Chief Navy Counselor Rex Parmelee: “This is why we're serving. We're here to tell their story. We're here to show our respect for them. It's a tremendous honor and that's why we take it so serious. Heritage is huge." Shatz was 18 years old in 1941 when Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor. The Navy has reportedly credited him with shooting down a Japanese plane during the battle with an anti-aircraft gun. "I don't know if I did or not; somebody said I did,” Shatz reportedly said. “I fired a 50 caliber machine gun and it's possible I did shoot at some planes, but whether I hit any or not -- that's another story. I don't take any credit for any of that. Whether I did or not, probably only God knows.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorado Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 A 90-year-old World War II veteran en route to a ceremony marking the 72ndanniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor was booted from his flight toaccommodate the weight of additional jet fuel needed for the trip. Really....? They couldn't have moved some luggage onto another flight? Geez.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancocas Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 They should have supplied a private aircraft just for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Obviously the ticket agents he spoke to were unimpressed with his story. Some people would have gone the extra mile to help him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry T Harrison Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 FIRE THEM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Usually the will ask for volunteers to take a later flight and give you a voucher for a free flight. Of course, if I was 90 years old, I may not be interested in a voucher for a future flight. It's not time to buy green bananas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Fly the Friendly Skies of Uninterested! I wonder if some of those young ticket agents even know what happened at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941? It is also difficult for them to associate these wrinkled old men with the youngsters who survived the shock and horror of that morning. Americans seem to have a short memory and attention span, and we have been woefully lax in acquainting our children and grandchildren with history. Thanks for all your service and sacrifice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Somebody needs their butt kicked...over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 WHAT 4T SAID!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Mushman Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Fly the Friendly Skies of Uninterested! I wonder if some of those young ticket agents even know what happened at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941? It is also difficult for them to associate these wrinkled old men with the youngsters who survived the shock and horror of that morning. Americans seem to have a short memory and attention span, and we have been woefully lax in acquainting our children and grandchildren with history. Thanks for all your service and sacrifice! +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Hand Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Word of his Shatz’s plight traveled quickly on the Internet, and 71people – mostly U.S. service members – organized a last-second welcomingparty for him at the airport in Honolulu. "Getting ready to put my khakis on and go greet a WWII vet (PearlHarbor Survivor)... If you are on island and would like to come greetand honor this hero, come on out," Navy Chief Benjiman Scott wrote inpart on his Facebook page, according to the paper. Thank you Chief Scott and all the others for their serviced, and remembrance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.