William “Pete” Mackay said he did not get much of a welcome home from Korea in 1955. But that was not the case Wednesday night.

“I was overwhelmed,” said Mackay, 85. Hundreds of flag-waving supporters cheered and shouted as Korean War and World War II veterans returned to Columbia Metropolitan Airport from their Honor Flight to Washington DC.

“It was an honor to see the level of appreciation,” said Tony Taylor, Mackay’s guardian on the flight. Taylor, an attorney who lives in West Columbia, is also a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War as a Military Policeman. He said many of the guardians who traveled with the older veterans were Vietnam veterans, themselves.

There were close to 70 veterans, who were guided on tours to the memorials for soldiers of World War II, the Vietnam War and the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, among many other DC sites.

Mackay, who lives in a retirement center in Litchfield Beach, said he was also touched by elementary school children at Bridgewater Academy in Myrtle Beach, who wrote him personal notes, thanking him for his service to the country.

“It was kind of forgotten,” MacKay said of the Korean War. He served as a “Tanker” from 1953 until 1955. “We didn’t get this kind of reception when we came back then.”

Taylor said Vietnam veterans, him included, were advised to immediately change out of their Army uniforms when they reached Washington State, because of opponents of the war, and their reaction to soldiers.

But Wednesday night’s return of the Honor Flight was a bit of a redemption for all of the military personnel.

“It was such an honor,” Taylor said. He said he not only respected Mackay for what he did for his country, but he was so pleased to see how other people stopped and took time to thank the soldiers.

Taylor also said the Honor Flight was a very well-run operation.

“For them to enable these veterans to go to Washington, to see all the monuments, and enjoy it so much was very impressive,” said Taylor.

Mackay told Taylor he established a Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Club in Korea. He also played piano it the Officer’s Club.

It was a good chance for Mackay to talk about his life after the war, too. He was a stockbroker in Pittsburgh for 43 years. He retired at age 75.

“It was just such a good experience,” said Mackay. And Taylor agreed.