John Haynes was born in Madison in the beginning of the Nice Melancholy. 

A “time of nice flux,” the 92-year-old known as it, Haynes was thrust into accountability at a younger age. He recalled plowing his grandfather’s area and skipping highschool to assist his mom and 5 different siblings. 

His father, a Service provider Marine, went again to the navy weeks after Peal Harbor. Haynes’ brother joined the Coast Guard.

On the time, Haynes was in grade faculty.

“I keep in mind we would have liked black out curtains on the home windows in case of one other assault,” he stated. “At evening you needed to keep away from driving and should you did, they stated to not flip in your headlights.”

Haynes tried to enlist within the Marines at age 13 however was turned away. Two years later, whereas staying along with his uncle in Jacksonville and with out telling his household, he enlisted within the Marines at simply 15 years previous by mendacity about his age. 

“Everybody wished to assist,” he stated. “I used to be no totally different.”

Inside days, he was shipped off to Parris Island, the notorious boot camp that was colorfully depicted in Stanley Kubrick’s movie “Full Steel Jacket.” Whereas he was there, American troops dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, successfully ending the battle.

After passing by the rigorous “weed out” coaching on Parris Island, Haynes was despatched to China to assist settle for the give up of the Japanese Military.

Unbeknownst to him, this was the start of an honor and accolade-filled navy profession that might stretch three a long time and despatched him throughout the globe and thru the ranks of the U.S. Marines from gunner to main. 

And on Saturday, he’ll be honored once more. 

The primary Honor Flight in two years

Haynes is one in all over 77 veterans — who served in both World Conflict ll, the Korean battle or the battle in Vietnam — set to board a Tallahassee aircraft headed for Maryland Saturday to tour memorials in Washington, D.C.

The Honor Flight journey, which has been cancelled the final two years due to COVID-19, has despatched over 245,000 veterans to Washington, D.C., for the reason that nonprofit was based in 2005. 

Earlier Honor Flight protection:

The organizers of the Tallahassee department have requested Haynes for the final seven years if he is wished to take the journey, however he is all the time declined, saying, “I wished my fellow veterans to have an opportunity to go earlier than I took up a seat as a result of I’ve been to Washington.”

This time, Haynes can be the one veteran on board the Capital-bound flight who served throughout the second World Conflict. One different World Conflict ll veteran, who was initially slated to fly, has fallen ailing.

Different veterans initially scheduled for the Saturday journey have died inside the final two years. 

“Nothing is stopping this flight,” stated Mac Kemp, the chairman of Honor Flight Tallahassee, throughout a preliminary instruction assembly. 

Tom Napier, the vice chairman of Honor Flight Tallahassee, stated Thursday that he is elated concerning the flight and so are the veterans: “It is lengthy overdue,” he stated. “These veterans are so excited and prepared for a full day.”

An ascending navy, instructional  profession compelled to pause

Haynes, who by no means attended highschool, retired from lively responsibility in 1975 and instantly enrolled in faculty on the College of Maryland, the place he earned a bachelor’s diploma. He then earned a grasp’s diploma from Central Michigan College.

For the following 17 years Haynes labored for the Navy Trident Submarine Program earlier than he moved to the Naval Sea Methods Command in Washington, D.C., as an engineer. 

After a profitable stint within the Capital, he labored for 15 years because the naval seas system coordinator in Cape Canaveral, bringing him again to the Sunshine State.

Since he enrolled within the navy at 15, Haynes by no means took a breath, he stated. At all times trying to find the subsequent problem, he was in a forward-moving state for over 40 years. 

Nonetheless, whereas he was in Cape Canaveral, a prostate most cancers analysis modified that. 

“Once you hear you have got most cancers, it is like being hit within the head with a sledgehammer,” he stated, including that docs believed it was from agent orange in Vietnam. “Right here I’m going alongside, doing these good issues and unexpectedly I’ve most cancers.”

He retired and took the following few months to undergo remedy.

“Once I did not die, I needed to provide you with a brand new understanding with myself,” he stated, remembering his ideas: ” ‘What was I going to do within the subsequent part of my life?’ ” 

He selected to work as a service officer, serving to veterans acquire their earned advantages — a job he nonetheless holds to at the present time. 

Lively, tranquil life in Monticello 

Haynes, a father of three who was widowed twice, stays lively and unbiased.

He lives alone, however spends lots of time along with his daughter who occupies a cottage on his 8.5-acre property in Monticello. 

He drives his truck into Tallahassee day by day and fills his schedule with interviews with universities and authorities or veteran businesses.  

“I wish to preserve my thoughts and schedule occupied,” he stated with a mild smile and a adjustment of his glasses. 

Throughout a two-hour interview with the Democrat, his iPhone continually buzzed. After every look at his telephone, he’d politely say, “It could actually wait.” 

At one level, he turned annoyed that he couldn’t instantly recall the precise date that World Conflict ll formally ended. He rapidly fingered by the two,200-page Veterans Advantages Guide, which was filled with dog-eared pages and Submit-It notes, to search out the date.

“A-ha, Sept. 2, 1945,” he stated, including: “It actually stored going for one more 12 months or so as a result of phrase didn’t journey as quick because it does in the present day.”

The e book got here off a barely cluttered L-shaped desk in his cozy residence workplace, the partitions of which have been filled with metals, plaques and awards from his distinguished navy profession features a Purple Coronary heart. 

“I’ve been blessed in my life,” he stated, trying across the room. “I had the dignity of serving my nation, and that is why I did.”

John is trying ahead to the flight as it should put him side-by facet along with his favourite folks — veterans. 

“I’m actually excited,” he stated. “I am going to be again with a bunch of my previous buddies and associates, telling sea tales and saying, ‘do you keep in mind when?’ It is all the time good to get collectively and really feel that comradery once more.”

Editor’s be aware: A Tallahassee Democrat reporter can be on board the Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and comply with @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.

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