Page 9 - February 2015 Volume 9, Number 2

through, it’s just a very humbling experience. We are happy to assist the VAC on these special opportunities to reunite veterans with their families,” Harris said.
“Ninety percent of the veterans I have flown have lost at least one limb,” he said. “We are talking about 19, 20, 21-year-old kids. If they have a break between medical procedures and want to visit friends and family back home, some don’t have the money, and for many, traveling commercially is nearly impossible.”
Harris has flown wounded warriors and their families to medical treatments, homecomings, funerals, weddings, and he even transported to a reenactment – a then 88-year-old World War II veteran who had received the Medal of Honor for his combat service in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
“War is truly hell,” Harris said. “This is our way to help our vets through some difficult times, and CHI Aviation is absolutely honored to do it.”
CEMCO Inc.’s King Air C90SE
From his first VAC flight in 2008, Neil Hise knew these missions would have an impact on the lives of the veterans as well as his own.
“It was an eye-opening experience to be close to people who need help and have issues they are dealing
Jennifer Hise, Army Sgt. Matthew Melancon and Neil Hise at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport. Melancon lost both his feet when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle in 2011 in Afghanistan. Neil volunteers his time and his 1996 King Air C90SE with Veterans Airlift Command; his daughter Jennifer sometimes flies with him.
FEBRUARY 2015
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 7