Operation Hero Miles helping troops fly home

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 | 9:24 a.m.

A Maryland congressman has launched a unique effort to support the troops fighting the war on terrorism and successfully challenged the airline industry to make it a success.

Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppers- berger, whose district includes the Baltimore airport, launched the "Hero Miles" website. The site lists airlines that cooperate with passengers wishing to donate their frequent-flier miles so soldiers can receive complimentary tickets.

Delta, Southwest and Alaska Airlines/Horizon Airlines have joined the operation.

"I am getting a phenomenal response to Operation Hero Miles," said the congressman in a press release. "So many Americans want to donate their frequent-flier miles to help our men and women in uniform in Iraq so they can spend quality time with their family and friends here at home. I am confident that other airlines will want to join this effort to help our soldiers risking their lives for our country."

Travelers can donate frequent-flier miles to help troops on leave from Iraq reach their destinations. Service members participating in the two-week rest and recuperation leave program are flown free to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, or Baltimore-Washington International Airport by the Defense Department, but must pay for connecting flights from and back to those ports.

The Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth airports were scheduled to be added to the program Nov. 1, said Rhonda Paige, chief of strategic communications, G-1, Army Well-Being Division. More than 200 soldiers arrive at BWI daily as part of the R&R program, said Lt. Col. Robert Hagen, Army spokesman.

"I think Operation Hero Miles is a fantastic program," said Hagen, who has been the on-site public affairs officer at BWI since the R&R program began Sept. 26. He said he's even donated his miles to the cause. Several airlines are donating additional miles to those donated by their customers.

More information about Operation Hero Miles and the most current list of participating airlines can be found at the program's official website, heromiles.org/donate.