Reaching 10,000 - Emeline Golden, Vietnam Era

Honor Flight Columbus is proud to be flying our 10,000th Veteran to Washington D.C. on October 10, 2024. To commemorate this significant milestone, we will be sharing the inspiring stories of 10 Veterans. Each story we share will represent 1,000 of the 10,000 Veterans we have had the honor of flying. Follow along as we honor, share, and celebrate the heroes of our country.

Emeline Golden was born the middle child of her family on August 7, 1945. She had 10 brothers and 2 sisters, most of whom served in the military. Golden enlisted herself after having been out of school for about a year working in Hancock, MD at London Fog, a raincoat company. With so many of her siblings having served in the military, she was familiar with the idea and spoke with a recruiter to enlist in the army.

Golden was sent to complete her basic training in Fort McClellan, Alabama in September of 1964. She remembers basic fondly sharing that if people were to thank her for being there, she would have responded, “thank you for having me.” The organization and regimental activities appealed to her, and she appreciated the routine. After completing basic and service school at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas as a medical corpsman, she was assigned to Fort Mead, MD. She was sent to work at the OB ward at Kimbrough Army Hospital. This was a new experience for her, and it was especially difficult at times when families did not have a healthy birth to celebrate.

Eventually, she asked to be reassigned to the ER. Golden enjoyed the work in the ER and took a lot of pride in being able to help the community in this way. She met several people in the medical corps while working in the ER who were shipped off to Vietnam. She was informed that they never made it, as their helicopter had been shot down before it could land. Though this certainly was a challenging blow to her experience, her work as a medic there was fulfilling. At this time, medics in the ER were able to do a lot of the same work that nurses did. Golden’s assignment at Kimbrough not only gave her interesting work, but it was there she met her husband, Ray, who also served in the army.

After three years of service, Golden was discharged on September 28, 1967. She was also four months pregnant. Ray was still in the army and the couple moved to Laurel, MD to be close to where he was stationed. While Golden was no longer in the military herself, her service to the country continued. Ray served in the military for 22 years. The family was stationed in Japan for a time at Camp Oji, Camp Zama, and Tachikawa where her son was born. Though they were moved from place to place, she had friends who seemed to always follow. Jim and Janet were similarly stationed alongside the Goldens. Golden commented that her life in the military was good. She moved to Ohio just three years ago, and has joined us in calling this great state home.

When asked about what Golden would share with the next generation she said,

“I was raised in Hancock, Maryland, and I wasn't exposed to a lot of different people. [But] in the Army.  You learn to depend on each other…  You learn to love each other, back each other up, keep care of each other, and you learn that camaraderie.”

She believes that every child should see the war memorials in Washington DC to understand what our Veterans have done for this country.

Golden has not yet taken her Honor Flight but is scheduled to be on the October 10th flight where we will celebrate flying our 10,000th Veteran. She said she is excited most about the people she will meet and was “tickled pink” about being booked on the flight. In addition to the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial has a special place in her heart as she lost a cousin during the conflict.

She shared with us that if she could, she would still fight for our country today. Her bravery and valor represent so many Veterans who would say the very same thing. Honor Flight Columbus is eager to honor Golden with her flight—a well deserved experience.