Passion for Veterans Puts Luckinbill in the Spotlight

Ask Herschel Luckinbill what he thinks about being one of four finalists selected for this year’s final round of General Motors’ Our Town, Our Heroes program, and the Montgomery resident initially can’t say much at all.

“I’m speechless,” he said.

But then he is quick to note that while he is honored by the nomination, “I’m not a hero.”

“Heroes are the men and women that have lost their lives, and have come home maimed for life mentally and physically, the ones that are still fighting in harm’s way for our freedom,” he said.

According to a GM press release, Luckinbill was nominated by his friend Wayne Johnson for his inspirational work honoring Word War II veterans with Honor Fight Chicago, an organization that flies veterans to Washington DC to visit the war memorials and be recognized for their service.

“Not only has Herschel helped lead 25 flights of World War II veterans to Washington D.C., he also uses his resources to plan reunions and fundraisers to support local veterans. He is a true hero to the community,” Johnson said.

Luckinbill said he didn’t find out about the nomination until he opened his e-mail Tuesday.

“My heart is so full of joy from the remarks made about me but it also brings tears to my eyes,” he said. “I don’t know what to say.”

He comes from a family of serviceman, including his father who spent 23 years in the Army, his brother who was in the Air Force for 26 years, and himself, four years in the Navy.

Once he got out of the service, Luckinbill, 24 at the time, immediately joined up with the closest VFW to his home in Chicago.

“Those gentlemen in the post took me under their wing,” he said.

The next year, they made him post commander, and re-elected him again the next year.

After Luckinbill moved from Chicago to Fox Lake, he joined an American Legion. Then, in 1978, when he moved to Oswego, he transferred his membership to the Montgomery VFW  post.

He also found out about the reunions held for those who served on his ship, the USS O'Brien DD 725, and started attending.

It was there that he heard a presentation from Mary Pettinato, now CEO of Honor Flight Chicago, and decided to get involved.

And boy, did he, according to Pettinato. Luckinbill has been volunteering with Honor Flight since 2008, when the first flights were taken, and he tirelessly promotes the organization, and works to get veterans on board.

"He signs up veterans to fly with us," Pettinato said. "He drives them to and from their home to Midway Airport for their day of honor. He takes veterans to their doctors' appointments. He puts on fundraisers to help us raise funds to fly these heroes to D.C. Herschel never asks for a penny and goes out of pocket every day to honor America's heroes: all of our veterans." 

Of his time serving in the Navy, Luckinbill said he only had two bad days.

One was when he had to do a search and rescue mission after the Red Chinese sank a small destroyer escort.

The other was when two of his shipmates were killed, one who slept in the bunk right above him.

“It became very difficult sleeping so I got out and made my service helping others,” he said.

The community can vote for Luckinbill at http://drivingthemidwest.com/otohrd18/ until 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. (Scroll down past the finalist profiles to vote.) The wining hero will be announced Dec. 15.

According to the press release, General Motors launched the Our Town, Our Heroes program to support and reward local heroes who are inspiring and empowering others in their communities. Every two weeks, the program narrowed down the nominations, and enabled the public to choose the winner by voting for the featured finalists. The hero, and the person who nominated him or her, will receive a one-week loan of an all-new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle and a full tank of gas.

“Heroes come in many forms, and Herschel certainly embodies the selflessness and dedication that have made an impact in Montgomery,” said Brian Goebel, General Motors North Central Region communications manager. “We know Herschel’s friends, family and neighbors would agree, and we’re thrilled to share his story with the rest of Illinois.”