Colin Barstad
WASHINGTON (KFGO) – A Vietnam veteran who traveled to Washington, D.C. on this spring’s Honor Flight said making the trip has brought him healing and closure for the anger he’s felt after returning home from the war in 1971.
Colin “Coby” Barstad enlisted in the military in March of 1967 after learning from the Selective Service draft board in Devils Lake that he would likely be drafted by that July. Opting to join, rather than be drafted, was a way for people to have more control over what they did and where they went during the war.
After learning he would probably be drafted soon, Barstad told his mother that he would go to the recruiter’s office in Minot and enlist in the Air Force.
“I went to Minot the next day, went to the second floor of the federal building, and the Air Force door was closed with a sign on it that said they were going to be back at a certain time. Across the hall, the Navy door was wide open so in I walked and said, ‘sign me up.’ So, they did and a couple weeks later, I headed to San Diego for boot camp,” Barstad said.
Over his nearly four years in the Navy, Barstad was sent to Vietnam four times. Most of the deployments were short term trips to bring cargo, like toilet paper, guns, artillery, and even beer to Army and Marine bases. One of the missions was a seven-month deployment.
During one of the deployments, Barstad said he helped rescue a Marine who was in an airplane that was shot down and crashed near a river.
“One of the pilots went one way, and the other went the other way, and we picked up one,” Barstad said. “He was real glad to [get to a] better place than in the water. He was happy to see us and about an hour [or] hour and a half later, a helicopter came and picked him up and took him wherever he was going.”
Barstad said he decided to sign up for the Honor Flight three years ago because he felt like he needed something. When he went to process out of the Navy in San Francisco, Barstad had an experience that left him angry for 52 years.
Barstad said he was told not to go through the San Francisco Airport in his military uniform. This was a problem for him because he didn’t have any civilian clothes since they weren’t allowed on the ship due to space limitations.
“The reason was because the protestors might spit on us, swear at us, or harm us,” Barstad said. “They were doing it for our own safety, but it made me quite angry. I had been angry for quite a while over it.”
Barstad said he thinks the Honor Flight has brought him the healing and closure he’s been looking for.
“I’ve enjoyed the Honor Flight immensely,” Barstad said. “The people have been great. When we got off the plane in Baltimore, there were people in the airport that applauded us getting off the plane. It really made tears come to my eye. I got a little bit emotional, and if a grown man can’t cry – why not? There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Honor Flight veterans from all over the county are welcomed to the airport in Baltimore by people who want to show their respect.
While many veterans may be undecided about going for different reasons, Barstad said he would encourage them to fill out an application and get on the list. He said it was a three-year process from the time he applied until he made the trip.
Barstad said one of the things he enjoyed about the Honor Flight trip last month was being able to connect with veterans who had experiences similar to his own.
“It was interesting and fun visiting with all these folks,” Barstad said. “I told somebody that I think I’ve laughed as much in the last two days as I have in the last two years. It’s been fun for me. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Barstad is a member of the VFW and DAV in Devils Lake.
Over 100 veterans made the Spring Honor Flight trip from Fargo to Washington D.C. last month. Stops included the National Museum of the United States Army, U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, Air Force Memorial, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials at the National Mall, and Arlington National Cemetery.
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