Justin Klumpe’s farewell gift to the community is one that area residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come.
Klumpe, a former Hartford resident who repainted the helicopter in All Veterans Memorial Park, has moved to take a job as chief mechanical engineer for a firm in Wynona, Minn. He finished the helicopter, with the exception of the stencils, on Friday, Aug. 15, and left for Minnesota the following Sunday.
Klumpe planned to return to Hartford this weekend to visit his wife, Selena, and children, Jazmine, 9, and Christian, 7, who will join him in Minnesota as soon as their house is ready.
Prospects for sprucing up the Huey had been dim until Klumpe came to its rescue. It was something he wanted to do in honor of people he looked on as comrades.
“It’s something that I wanted to do. People in the military, you know, we always take care of each other, whether you’re in the (active) military or not,” Klumpe said. “It’s hard to describe it. There’s a lot of camaraderie there.”
The helicopter, which had been used during the Vietnam War, badly needed some cosmetic work. It looked majestic from a distance, hovering over the memorial from its lofty perch above. But that was from a distance. Close up, its paint had deteriorated, numerals had chipped and faded, and birds had found a cozy place to nest, creating an unsightly drizzle down its side.
By painting the helicopter, KIumpe felt he had found a way to reinforce his appreciation for Vietnam veterans’ sacrifices during an unpopular war. The rude and disrespectful treatment those veterans received on their return embarrassed and disappointed Klumpe.
“The guys who came back from Vietnam didn’t get treated the best, so that’s my way of telling them ‘thank you’ for all the lives that were lost, unaccounted for,” he said. “That’s something I wanted to do to show my respect.”
The Huey gave him an opportunity to do that.
The helicopter’s crew — Ed Venable, Jim Williams and Gary Hennessey, who all live out-of-state — had initiated a project to have the craft repainted and the nesting area closed, and had sought federal and state funds to make it possible.
At first, it was believed a crane would be needed to remove the Huey from its pedestal, have it hauled by military transport to an Emporia airport hangar, then painted by a professional, who would be accustomed to applying the military-standards paint, which costs about $300 per gallon.
Students in Michelle Barnhart’s seventh- and eighth-grade classes held fundraising drives at numerous events to help in the effort, and an anonymous individual also donated to the project, which eventually raised about $1,000. Government funds never came through.
The goal of $50,000 seemed out of reach until Klumpe returned home after a weekend drill with his Naval Reserves unit. He stopped at Wal-Mart and saw a Gazette story about the helicopter.
“Well, me being a helicopter maintenance person, I picked up the paper,” said Klumpe, who is certified as a military aircraft painter. “There was a big concern about it having to be taken down to be painted, and I knew better.”
On active duty in the U.S. Navy, Klumpe had maintained all types of aircraft, and he was familiar with the one in Emporia.
“We had two of those exact kind in Corpus Christi for search and rescue,” Klumpe said. “That’s why I was very familiar with that helicopter because I’ve done everything maintenance-wise on that helicopter that can be done.”
Klumpe quickly called Ron Whitney with the local Vietnam veterans group and volunteered to donate his time.
“If they could get the paint, I’d paint it right there on the spot,” said Klumpe.
This time, Klumpe had the luxury of using a lift provided by Waters True Value to reach the high points about 40 feet above the ground. He’d worked on Boeing 707’s at heights of 60 to 70 feet; aerial work did not bother him.
“As long as I’m in the bucket, it doesn’t bother me ’cause I know I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “When I was on active duty, we’d climb right up the side of them. It was just second nature.”
And he enjoyed the task, despite working 17 hours a day for four days, then finishing up with a few hours on the fifth day.
“It was just like being back on active duty,” he said.
outdoorguy (anonymous) says...
Thank you very much Justin, it looks GREAT! Perfect way to show everyone you don't always have to spend alot to look like it. Good Job!
August 30, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Yes, a terrific job, Justin. What you did represents the power of how individuals can move mountains. Coupled with what those kids in Michelle Barnhart's class in Olpe did, your efforts make this a true success story of grassroots action. Thank you, Justin.
August 30, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
You know this whole story shows the best of small town middle America. This is why I love it here. Great job Justin, and everyone else who helped out.
August 30, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zippy (anonymous) says...
Thank you Justin for your service in the military and the community!
August 30, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Amen, create.
August 31, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Love of country and pride in community is still alive and well in rural America. Enormous thanks to Justin and all involved in this important and worthwhile project.
September 2, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
user4137aolcom (anonymous) says...
There cannot be enough good said, about the integrity, honor, and dignity that Mr. Klumpe, his family, and those who supported this effort, displayed in the completion of this task. That determination for those things, is not seen often anymore, except by those who are serving today. God Bless Justin and his family, the City Management structure, the Veteran's Committee, and the good Citizens of Emporia. Our Sister, has come home. For many of us who served in Vietnam, coming Home and coming back were two disparate,things. It took awhile for the two of those to come into harmony.
From all of us who flew her, she is now home,
Ghostrider 22, et al.
September 7, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Eagle88 (anonymous) says...
On behalf of the junior high students at Olpe, I want to express their great joy in witnessing the completion of this project. We have admired "before" and "after" photos in our classroom, and appreciate the irony that it was Justin, an Olpe graduate, that helped this project come full circle. Although he has no idea that our classroom discussions sometimes turn to him, we want him to know how proud we are of him, both for his service to our country and for volunteering his time and expertise to restore this monument. On a personal note, I am proud of my students for understanding the importance and value of this helicopter to the veterans who flew in it and were served by it. The students' efforts may have had a minimal impact on the completion of the project, but at least their hearts and spirit were in the right place. Thanks again to all veterans: past, present, and future!
October 13, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )