Army veteran, retired South Bend police officer receives Honor Flight trip

Nearly 296,000 veterans have participated in Honor Flights in the last 19 years. The veterans travel for a whirlwind one-day trip to Washington, D.C., to see national monuments, travel with comrades, and share experiences and stories. They remember the fallen and they are thankful for coming home. They are treated like heroes. As they should be.

Add to the list John Mortakis, of South Bend. “It was emotional right off the bat from the beginning to the end. With the return flight to Fort Wayne, there was a band and people standing in the terminal. There were letters from people thanking me for my service. I was proud to take part in the day. Proud to serve.”

Both John and his friend Doug Shank, who volunteered to accompany him, were moved by the tour and the reception. “Everything from box lunches to mementoes of the trip were provided,” John said.

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Doug, who lives in Elkhart, has known John for about 16 years. It was an exciting experience to be able to make the trip with his friend. “The trip to Arlington (National Cemetery) was breathtaking. Seeing the changing of the guard was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing how the vets responded was moving. Seeing them puts everything in a different light.”

A brief history of honor flights. The first honor flight was in 2005 to give World War II veterans a chance to see the war monuments dedicated to their service. The first journey had six small planes, volunteer pilots and 12 veterans.

It expanded, added veterans and flights. Now there are now 135 hubs in 42 states that take 20,000 vets per year. All at no cost to the veterans.

John served from 1975 through 1981 with two years of active duty at Fort Sill, Okla. He was a military police officer. He had several years of inactive service, went to Indiana University South Bend and graduated with a degree in criminal justice.

He was a South Bend Police officer for 34 years, retiring in 2017 with the rank of detective sergeant. John is known by most people as Mort. However, let’s stick with John. His wife, Ann Carol Nash, cautioned John isn’t as well-known as Mort.

John is a modest and private sort. He was unsure why he got the chance to take the trip. He didn’t ask for it. He received word from a longtime friend, David Sonntag, of North Freedom, Wis., about the trip at the end of April and a packet of materials would be sent. John flew to Washington in mid-May.

David said he served with John in the military police. “John has a huge heart, and I’m closer to him than I am with some of my siblings. He needed to be rewarded for his service. He always stood for what is right.”

John points out that he did not serve on a war front.

But he is fighting another battle, which is a rare form of blood cancer, Sézary syndrome. It is a form of blood cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Certain white blood cells called T cells become cancerous. This affects the skin, and rashes or lesions occur.

Fort Sill, much like Fort Lejeune, has had issues with toxic PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl in the water systems. The forever chemicals have been linked to several illnesses, including blood disorders, and John's doctors say his cancer may be related to his exposure at Fort Sill.

All veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards during military service—at home or abroad—are now eligible for Veterans Administration health care, if the VA determines it's service-connected.

John said he has "filed an inquiry with the VA." That puts his name in a file.

The Honor Flight TLC program offers the trip to veterans of any service era who are critically ill. Some friends and relatives started to call and check in when they heard he was going. They were concerned about his condition. “Some relatives called to question my condition. They were upset.” John brushed that off.

Ann Carol said he has a wonderful team of doctors at the University of Chicago. “It is a type of lymphoma that is not curable but can be managed and slowed with medicines. He was diagnosed in 2019 and has been in good care here and at the U. of Chicago.”

John said he is “one in a million.”

His wife agrees that he is one of a kind and he is always looking forward to the next thing like the trip. “I am overwhelmed by the kindness of the people who put Honor Flight together. So many people expressed gratitude for his service and it was a beautiful experience. I am so glad he could do it and grateful to our friend Doug for his support” Ann Carol said.

“I am very sad that Mort has this illness, because I want him to enjoy retirement and all the experiences he deserves after a long life of service. He has wonderful medical care and is able to be involved in a lot of things even though he needs to rest a lot. His discomfort is treatable, and we anticipate that he will be able to enjoy life for a long time. He does not complain, and he keeps his sense of humor and his kindness intact. I’m pretty amazed by his attitude,” she said.

Mort has a way of apologizing about he illness like it is his fault, she added.  “The way I look at it is that he’s my hero and it’s an honor to walk this path with him. I feel blessed to be able to retire and be with him for medical appointments and procedures. He may want me to boss him around a little less, but he is grateful for his family, friends and church who provide moral and practical support.”

The couple makes plans, but they are flexible if issues arise. “Each day is a gift, and we are blessed,” Ann Carol said.

Kathy’s email is [email protected].

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend man, retired cop receives Honor Flight for army service