Last-minute snags overcome so 94-year-old Nebraska vet is able to revisit WWII battlegrounds in Fran

http://www.omaha.com/news/military/last-minute-snags-overcome-so--year-old-nebraska-vet/article_5c4a0163-8aeb-53c3-a186-0fd0af5760df.html




When his granddaughter joked that Doncheski was going to France for free, he said: “Well, I went for free the first time.”


POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014 1:00 AM

By Hunter Woodall / World-Herald staff writer

TEKAMAH, Neb. — These days, Henry Doncheski rarely asks for anything.

He takes pride in being a man who relies on himself. He cooks his own meals and keeps a clean house with a picturesque lawn in his Tekamah neighborhood.

But when the 94-year-old World War II veteran realized he wanted to return to Normandy for the first time since his days as a soldier, he spoke up about his wish.

This week, Doncheski traveled across the battlefield of his youth as part of a special veterans tour of Normandy. The trip included a visit back to Omaha Beach on Friday, the 70th anniversary of D-Day, as well as other stops in France that celebrated the veterans for their service.

“I was very surprised,” Doncheski said before leaving for the tour, organized by a group called Forever Young Senior Veteran Wish. “I’m looking forward to taking a trip, and I’m honored very much.”

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