WASHINGTON (KFGO) – A group of women on the latest Veterans Honor Flight of North Dakota and Minnesota received quite a surprise in Washington, D.C.
The seven women, including three Vietnam Veterans and four volunteers were honored at the Military Women’s Memorial where they received their military portfolios and officially recognized for their service with a certificate. The ceremony is open to any current or former woman who served in the military.
Diane Koole, Grace Matson, and Sherry Kemper all served during the Vietnam War.
Koole, of Moorhead, joined the Navy in 1971 and served until 1974 as a clerk/typist. She made the Honor Flight trip with her brother and brother-in-law who are fellow Vietnam War veterans, and their sister who traveled as a volunteer. Koole said she was in shock when she was presented with her portfolio at the Military Women’s Memorial.
“Tears were shed,” Koole said. “[I felt] like, ‘I don’t know if I deserve this. It was very humbling. I’m very thankful.”
Koole said the highlights of the trip was seeing the monuments and bringing back memories that she shared with veterans.
Matson joined the Navy in 1967 and served in that branch until 1971 where she worked as a clerk working on records to prepare payday distribution. She also served three years in the Minnesota National Guard and 17 years in the North Dakota Air National Guard. Matson made the Honor Flight trip with her husband, Dale. She said she couldn’t imagine anything better than being on the trip with him.
“It’s really a blessing to be able to experience this together, and to be able to go home and talk about it and remember the things we did and saw here,” Matson said.
Matson said she didn’t really think about what women really had done to contribute to how women serve in the military now until the ceremony at the Military Women’s Memorial. She said she’s still trying to process the experience.
“I still know I’m a small grain of sand that contributed to what we have today,” Matson said. “Many, many, many women have contributed, and even died, for the United States of America.”
Dale Matson said he knows his wife is an outstanding person and it was nice to see her recognized. The Matson’s live in Frazee, Minnesota.
The third Vietnam veteran honored at the Military Women’s Memorial was Sherry Kemper. She served in the Army from 1970 to 1972. She was a dental assistant at Letterman General Hospital where she met her husband, Jerry, who is also a veteran who was on the flight.
After receiving the honor at the memorial, Kemper said she felt loved, appreciated, and spoiled.
The Kempers married in 1972. Because they were in San Francisco and their families were back home, Sherry and Jerry never had much of a wedding celebration, including a first dance.
They had that first dance on night number two of the Veterans Honor Flight as Slamabama played George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” and their fellow veterans, volunteers, and even the couple’s daughter and grandchildren watched and celebrated them.
“There’s a lot of good memories from this trip,” Kemper said.
After her service, Kemper worked at the Fargo VA Hospital as a medical supply technician from 1986-2012.
The four other women were volunteers on the trip.
Holly Doyle is separated from the Air Force where she worked on B-52 Bombers. She said she is an advocate for women veterans who she feels should acknowledge their service and let others know they served. Doyle said she got emotional being honored with the three Vietnam veterans.
“These are the women that paved the way for me and the rest of (us). They made life a lot easier for the rest of us,” Doyle said. “It still isn’t perfect. I think it’s getting better and better, but I know what they went through was probably some of the toughest things you could ever go through in life as a woman in their career field. I thank every one of them for making it better for me. These are some of the most brave and amazing women you will probably ever encounter in your life.”
Brandi Grossman is a Chief Master Sgt. E-9 in the Air Force. It’s a military rank that less than 1% of service members attain. She said it is an honor to make the rank, be honored for it, and be honored alongside the other women. She echoed Doyle in saying the Vietnam veterans are the women who paved the way for her and attributes her success to them.
“Having been the first woman in my unit to do a few separate roles as the first woman, I know that women have paved the way before I’ve gotten there and they’ve dealt with a lot of things that I haven’t had to deal with,” Grossman said. “I’m very honored to serve beside them and honor their memory.”
Taylor Clasen has served in the Air National Guard since 2022. She said being honored with the other women was amazing and was honored to be on the Veterans Honor Flight.
“I was utterly shocked that I got to be a part of that,” Clasen said. “It was amazing. I felt truly honored.”
Retired Master Sgt. Janal Larsen of the Air Force was also honored at the Military Women’s Memorial.
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