Staying Fit
Thomas Fischer shakes the hand of Command Sgt. Maj. Andre Welch after touring the memorials at Fort Meade. Thomas reunited with former Army comrades Kenneth Huelsman (right) and Paul Lange (not pictured) to revisit the grounds where they trained.
Jenny Wagner/Wish of a Lifetime
In the spring of 1966, three young soldiers received their orders for Fort Meade, Maryland, and traveled together to join the Army’s 519th Transportation Battalion. Ken Huelsman and Paul Lange had been drafted and Tom Fischer had enlisted.
The Vietnam War was ramping up and the trio thought they’d be heading into combat. They didn’t know if they would survive the next year.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
Not only did they survive but 57 years later they reunited back at Fort Meade — now home of the National Security Agency—where their adult lives had begun.
After Fort Meade, the trio were surprised to find that they were being sent to Korat Air Base in Thailand. There, they lived in the same hooch for the 18 months they served overseas, and it’s there that Paul got his nickname, “Mother.”
You can subscribe here to AARP Veteran Report, a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here.
“I just straightened up, probably because the way I was raised and jobs I did,” Paul said. “They called me ‘Mother,' and I had an apron when I cleaned. ‘Mother' has been retired for a while, but she still operates.”
Ken, Paul and Tom returned to the U.S. from Thailand within days of each other, and then went their separate ways. In a time without email or social media, they kept in touch for a while but “lost contact as our families grew and life got busier,” Paul said.
Then, 10 years ago, Tom called Paul out of the blue.
“I knew it was his voice the minute I heard it,” Paul said. “It hadn’t changed at all. Getting back together has probably been the highlight of our lives.”
None had been back to Fort Meade. In May, Ken, Paul and Tom went back to the place where they first met nearly 57 years ago to the day. The trip was made possible by the AARP-affiliated charity Wish of a Lifetime.
They dug out old photos from 1966 to refresh their memories and share with base officials.
More From AARP Veteran Report
10 Things You Never Knew About Veterans Day
A chance to celebrate and honor all those who served our nation in uniformA Warrior’s Journey Toward Peace and Purpose
After this veteran lost both legs in Iraq, he turned tragedy into inspirationComplete Guide to AARP Veteran Benefits and Resources
Supporting America's veterans is a top priority at AARPHow a Korean War Veteran's Hate Transformed Into Love
This 90-year-old veteran has returned to visit South Korea nine times