26-05-2025
Mitchell veterans share honor flight experience as a couple
May 25—MITCHELL — Less than a week ago, on Tuesday, May 20, a journey came full circle for Marty and Cindy Christensen of Mitchell. They had just returned from Midwest Honor Flight's Seed for Success Foundation Mission 25 — a one-day tour to the nation's capital that honors America's war veterans with "One Final Tour with Honor."
The Christensens are no strangers to service. Both are veterans with more than five decades of combined military experience. They not only served during the Vietnam War era but also stood side by side during a yearlong deployment to Iraq in 2005. Their participation in the Honor Flight together — accompanied by their sons David and Robert Studsdahl, who served as guardians providing assistance and support throughout the trip — made the experience especially meaningful.
"It was really an honor to share this with them," Marty said. "They get to hear our war stories, they might as well get to experience this with us."
Marty Christensen served in the U.S. Army for 33 years, rising through the ranks to become a colonel and eventually commanding a reserve hospital in Omaha. A medical doctor by training, he completed his residency at Fort Bragg and was later deployed during both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Among his lasting impacts was helping implement and refine the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) used by soldiers during the Iraq War — a game-changer in battlefield medicine according to him.
Cindy Christensen's military journey began in the U.S. Air Force, originally motivated by her desire to become a nurse with the help of the GI Bill. But her career took an unexpected turn.
"I told the recruiter I just wanted to work in a hospital," Cindy recalled. "Then I found out I was the first female air-to-air missile tech. I didn't know a thing about missiles, but figured I'd give it a shot."
Later, she transitioned to the Army Reserves, where she fulfilled her original goal of becoming a nurse. It was at a reserve unit in Omaha where she met Marty.
Their relationship developed amid military briefings, hospital wards and training missions. Marty completed three overseas deployments during his military career, earning a Bronze Star for voluntarily extending his second tour in Iraq beyond the usual 90 days. Cindy's only solo deployment was to Saudi Arabia in 1997. In 2005, the couple served together in Iraq for a year, sharing a deployment while married.
They decided to retire from military service following that deployment, choosing to close their military chapter together. But retirement didn't slow them down. Cindy went on to teach nursing clinicals at Dakota Wesleyan University and volunteered at the Mitchell Clinic on Saturdays. Marty remained active in veterans' organizations and continued practicing medicine in Mitchell. He retired in 2019.
Last year, Marty participated in a Midwest Honor Flight as a guardian for fellow veteran Lyle Sunderland. This year, it was his turn to be honored — and both he and Cindy were selected to participate as veterans.
"We decided to apply at the same time and hoped we'd get chosen together," Cindy said. "And we did."
Midwest Honor Flight covers all expenses — approximately $853 per veteran — for the one-day journey to Washington, D.C., including flights, meals, transportation and a banquet dinner the night before. Veterans are selected on a "First to Apply, First to Fly" basis, with a current focus on those who served during the Vietnam era.
Founded in 2017, Midwest Honor Flight is part of the national Honor Flight Network, which has flown more than 250,000 veterans to Washington, D.C., since its inception in 2005. These flights are designed to recognize veterans — particularly those who never received a proper welcome home — and provide a moment of reflection and honor among peers.
Mission 25 included 85 veterans. During the whirlwind trip, the Christensens visited Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial and other iconic sites, with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial serving as the final stop on the tour.
"It's a fast day," Marty said. "We left early in the morning and got back late at night, but it's so worth it."
This flight marked the 25th mission organized by Midwest Honor Flight, which currently schedules about four trips annually. Mission 26 is set to depart on June 3.
For the Christensens, the journey was more than a sightseeing tour — it was a meaningful tribute to a life of service, shared sacrifice, and family legacy.
"It was a memorable long day," Cindy said. "I really do feel honored to serve our country."
