West Chicago VFW to dedicate Korean War-era jet
Twenty years ago, Kenneth Richardt's desire to honor his fallen brother resulted in West Chicago VFW Post 6791 getting its signature M47 tank.
On Saturday morning, the post is going to dedicate Richardt's latest labor of love: A refurbished F-84 jet mounted on a pylon near the tank and cannons in front of the clubhouse along Route 59.
This time, Richardt and the long list of people who helped him with the project did it in memory of everyone who fought and died for their country.
"It's for the guys from 1776 until now that have given their lives for our freedom," Richardt said.
The lifelong West Chicago resident served in the Air Force during World War II. His older brother, Leon, was the first West Chicago resident to die in that war.
Leon Richardt, a Marine, was killed during the initial Allied landings in the Guadalcanal campaign. The 26-year-old fell on a hand grenade that a Japanese soldier threw into the tank he was commanding. His sacrifice allowed two of the tank crew members to escape and get rescued.
While the West Chicago VFW post is named in honor of his brother - the full name is Veterans of Foreign Wars Leon Richardt Post 6791 - Kenneth Richardt wanted to do something more. So he set out on a 40-year quest to get a tank. He eventually was able to get a M47 tank on loan from the Army that was dedicated at the post in 1989.
Then, when a friend suggested a plane would make a nice addition to the post's front lawn, Kenneth Richardt set out to get one.
Robert Richardt, Kenneth's son, says his 90-year-old father's commitment to get a tank and then a decommissioned plane from the Air Force is inspiring.
"I don't know if I would say he intentionally made it his life's work," said Robert Richardt of North Aurora. "It just turned out that way."
Robert Richardt says he's proud of his father for pursuing the task.
"He didn't do this for attention," he said. "He's just a very, very strong believer in America and what America stands for."
In fact, there was no fanfare when the F-84 was hoisted onto the pylon after more than two years of restoration work.
Kenneth Richardt says he wants to have the 11 a.m. Saturday dedication ceremony to thank the countless number of people who helped him acquire, repair and repaint the Korean War-era jet.
"I couldn't have done it by myself," he said. "Nothing is ever done by yourself."
And Kenneth admits he needed a lot of assistance, especially after he shipped the plane up from its previous home at a small municipal airport in Kansas.
"It was a pile of junk," he said, adding that it was missing one wing tip, two windows and part of the vertical stabilizer.
"There were even bullet holes in it," he said. "People drove by and just shot at it because it was junk."
Lately, the only thing people are pointing at the restored plane are their cameras. Restored and with a fresh coat of red, white and blue paint, Kenneth said he's proud the F-84 is finally on public display.
"It's an eye-stopper," Kenneth said.