Honor. Thank. Inspire. An Honor Flight Chicago Podcast

About Honor. Thank. Inspire. An Honor Flight Chicago Podcast

Join us as long-time ABC 7 reporter Paul Meincke sits down with our senior war heroes from WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to explore their stories and memories of serving their nation.

Publisher

Honor Flight Chicago

Category

history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Aug 2020

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

104 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Episode 104: Ed Bales, Witness to Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis

   Ed Bales was a top-secret crypto officer aboard the USS Beale, patrolling the Caribbean in the early 1960s. Not only did his ship serve as an escort for the merchant freighter Houston during the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Beale also participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade. In one particular incident during that blockage, the Beale dropped a depth charge on a Russian submarine that brought the world as close to nuclear war as it has ever been. Bales tells the story in this must-listen episode!

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Episode 103: The Hines VA Music Man, Ray Ariaz

   Ray Ariaz served in Vietnam, as did his brother, Edward. When Edward was killed, it was Ray who accompanied his brother home to Chicago. In the aftermath of the war, Ray turned to music for healing, but not just for himself. For decades, he has traveled to Hines VA multiple times per week to play for his fellow Veterans, walking the halls with a song and a smile.

3. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Episode 102: Twin Brothers, One Gold Star Family

   Harry and Larry Hartigan were known to their family as simply "The Twins." Both joined the Navy during the Vietnam War. Harry was stationed in Pearl Harbor. Larry was a corpsman attached to a Marine unit in Vietnam, where he was killed in early 1969. The Twins returned home together, with Harry accompanying his brother's body back to the States. Harry has worked to keep Larry's memory alive ever since.

Who has been a guest on Honor. Thank. Inspire. An Honor Flight Chicago Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Tom Messenger
• Donald Beach
• Johnnie Williams

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.1 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

39

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

75

Contact Honor. Thank. Inspire. An Honor Flight Chicago Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.