WWII Veteran lived long enough to see memorials in Washington, but not home again

95-year-old WWII vet dies returning from Honor Flight to Washington

FOX 5 News
BY BOB PONTING AND JEFF MCADAM
MAY 6, 2019

SAN DIEGO – A local World War II veteran who flew to Washington as part of an Honor Flight collapsed and died during the return trip to San Diego, the organization that organized the flight said.

"The fella who caught my dad came up to me and said, 'listen, your dad, within 5 seconds of having him in my arms was gone,'” said Bruce Manchel, the veteran's son.

Frank Manchel, 95, was accompanied by his son, Bruce, on the trip organized by Honor Flight San Diego. On Sunday, he boarded the flight home from Baltimore Washington International Airport to San Diego after spending the weekend in Washington, D.C. During the flight, Manchel collapsed. Others on the flight tried to resuscitate Manchel, but he was pronounced dead.

Before the plane landed, Bruce tells FOX5 that his father was placed next to him on the flight. Before the other veterans on board deplaned, each one of them stopped in front of his dad.
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