A Broad View by Jerry Hogan: Another Better View of What Americans are Like!

Rockwall, TX (December 19, 2025) – At this time of year when we are constantly being told of all the bad things going on in the world, maybe we need to stop and really look at what we American citizens are really like.

This story was given to me by a former Vietnam veteran, Michael Kuklenski, a Navy Corpsman from Rowlett who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions one dark night. You might remember him from previous articles written in this paper.

This is a truthful story told by an airline Captain.

As he said, “My lead flight attendant came to me and said, ‘We have an H.R. on this flight’ (H.R. stands for Human Remains). Are they Military I asked? Yes, she said. Is there an escort? I asked.

Yes, I’ve already assigned him a seat. Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early, I said.

A short while later a young Army Sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed Soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his Soldier. (The escorts of these fallen Soldiers talk about them as if they were still alive and with us.)

He said ‘My Soldier is on his way back to Virginia. He proceeded to answer my questions but offered no words. I told him he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen Soldiers.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back, and made an uneventful departure.

About 30 minutes into the flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant. ‘I just found out the family of the Soldier we are carrying is also on board. The mother, father, wife and a 2 year old daughter are upset because they were unable to see the container that the Soldier was in before we left.’

We were on our way to a major hub where the family was to wait for four hours for the connecting flight to take them and their son on to Virginia. The father asked if there was any way the family could be outside the cargo door and watch the Soldier being taken off the plane.

I told the attendant that I was on it and would get back to her.

I got on our secondary radio and contacted our dispatcher and explained the problem to him. He said he understood and would be back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. Here is his reply.

‘Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a second van for the family.

The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.

Captain, most of us here in-flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.’

I sent the message back telling the control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father.

After landing we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. When we entered the ramp and checked with the ramp controller, we were told all traffic was being held for us. There is a team in place to meet the aircraft, we were told.

Then I realized that as soon as I turned off the seat belt sign, everyone would stand up and delay the family getting off the plane.

As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller, we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement. His response, ‘take your time.’

I stopped the aircraft, set the parking brake and pushed the public address button and said, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking; I have stopped short of the gate to make a special announcement.

We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His name is Private XXXXXX, a Soldier who lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXX. Also on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first, Thank you.

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we stopped, the passengers stayed in their seats waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and started gathering their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of, ‘God Bless You’, I’m sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered as the family made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of America.”

Quite a story that really tells what we Americans are like. Hopefully the New Year will be a better year for all.