Ocala’s Howard Mautner takes Honor Flight trip to DC

WWII veteran Howard Mautner, with escort Todd Belknap, executive director of Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA, visited several memorials in Washington, D.C., on April 25, through First Coast Honor Flight. [Photo courtesy Todd Belknap]

World War II veteran Howard Mautner of Ocala recently made a whirlwind six-stop First Coast Honor Flight trip to the Washington, D.C., area. The trip included Mautner laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. 

“It was a wonderful, tremendous experience,” said the 102-year-old Mautner in a phone interview days after the trip on April 25.

Todd Belknap, executive director of Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA, served as escort or guardian for Mautner.

“He was unbelievable,” Belknap said of Mautner’s participation and stamina during the trip.

Belknap said groups of well-wishers gathered at both Jacksonville International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and at each memorial visited, to cheer for the veterans.

Mautner was a “star” with some supporters acknowledging his 102nd birthday on April 28, three days after the Honor Flight, Belknap said.  

“People waited in line to have their picture taken with Howard,” he said.

Belknap said the Honor Flight aircraft pilot also recognized Mautner’s upcoming birthday. 

Belknap said the plan was to have Mautner remain in his wheelchair during the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier but Mautner “did not stay in his wheelchair.”

“Howard mustered up all his strength and walked the wreath forward,” Belknap said.

Belknap said Mautner also stood and saluted through a rendition of taps.

Congresswoman Kat Cammack and her infant daughter, Augusta Dair, met with Mautner during his Honor Flight trip, Belknap said. 

Cammack promotes Honor Flights on her website, which included information about First Coast Honor Flight. A message to her Washington, D.C., office about the flights was not immediately returned. 

First Coast Honor Flight of Saint Johns, Florida, serves veterans in nine northeast Florida counties and “catastrophically ill and injured veterans from all service eras” with the “one in a lifetime” trips, according to firstcoasthonorflight.org 

The Honor Flight, with 22 veterans and about 40 guardians and support personnel, left Jacksonville at 7 a.m. and returned at 8 p.m.

Belknap confirmed the veterans itinerary:

In Arlington, Virginia:

* U.S. Air Force Memorial,.
* Iwo Jimo Memorial (U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial).
* Arlington National Cemetery,

In Washington, D.C.:

* Vietnam Veterans Memorial
* World War II Memorial
* Lincoln Memorial

Belknap said when he and Mautner returned home after the fast paced trip, Mautner said, “I’m not tired.”

On April 28, Mautner celebrated his 102nd birthday with family members and friends at two separate parties in Ocala.

Mautner served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 and his service included working aircraft control in a tower in Italy.