Anonymous Seventh-Grader's Note Makes Honor Flight Veteran's Day

PALOS HILLS, IL — A Palos Hills Vietnam combat veteran was astonished to find a note from an anonymous seventh-grader in his mailbox the day after Veterans Day.

Chuck McCloud, 70, with whom Patch visited over the summer, was stricken with COVID-19 in April. While recovering, he received a surprise visit in August when Honor Flight Chicago volunteers knocked on his door and told him to step outside. On his front lawn was a sign which read: "HONOR FLIGHT CHICAGO SALUTES THIS VIETNAM WAR VETERAN."

>>> Palos Hills Veteran Who Survived COVID-19 Chosen For Honor Flight

Last Thursday, the day after Veterans Day, McCloud opened his mailbox and found a bag or treats along with this note penned by a seventh-grade student from St. Linus School in Oak Lawn:

“Dear Veteran,

For my seventh-grade social studies project, I chose to learn about the history of Honor Flight Chicago. I noticed your Honor Flight sign and I want to wish you a Happy Veteran’s Day. I hope you are able to enjoy your Day of Honor next year. I will be thinking about you while I do my research. Happy Veteran’s Day!

With love and prayers,

A St. Linus Student

“The mail came late,” McCloud said. “There was no mail delivery on [Veterans Day]. I saw the plastic bag and thought it was my medicine. There was a plastic bag with a stars-and-stripes ribbon. There was candy, a package of Oreos and Rice Krispies snacks. There was no name, no nothing.”

McCloud was drafted into the army in 1969. After completing basic training at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, he had 21 days' leave at home before shipping off to Vietnam. He spent the next two years loading 100-pound rounds into a Howitzer. He served two years of active duty in Vietnam, two years of active duty in the reserves and two years of inactive reserve duty.

“It made my day,” McCloud said of the note. “I’m still thinking about it.”

He doesn’t know the name of the boy or girl who left him the note.

“I hope I don’t find out, keep the mystery going,” McCloud said. “I don’t know who raised this kid up, so bravo to them. They’re doing a great job.”

Like many people living through 2020, McCloud has had a yin-and-yang kind of year. He spent four days in Hines VA Hospital wearing an oxygen mask and attached to IV when he was stricken by COVID-19. He and his wife, Nedra, who also survived the virus, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August.

“You better pray you don’t get it because that was the worse illness I ever had,” said McCloud, who once believed the pandemic was a hoax.

While Honor Flight Chicago grounded its 2020 flights to Washington, DC, because of pandemic, McCloud hopes he’ll get to join other veterans on a flight in 2021.

Meanwhile, McCloud is doing his part to help the war on coronavirus by donating his plasma so that it might help other COVID-19 patients. As for the mysterious St. Linus student, his or her act of kindness for a veteran who’s had a tough year — you made his day and ours.

“That note is what keeps me going,” McCloud said. “Whenever I think the world is going to pot, something like this happens.”