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Dying Vietnam War veteran from Maryland gets longtime wish to take tour of Pearl Harbor

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Joseph Hooker, a terminally ill Vietnam veteran, sits in a wheelchair and looks at the spot on the battleship USS Missouri where Japan surrendered in 1945 during a tour with his brother Lester Hooker, center standing, and sister-in-law Rennie Hooker in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Joseph Hooker's longtime dream to visit Pearl Harbor has come true. The Dream Foundation arranged for the 63-year-old to travel from his home in Essex, Maryland, to Hawaii. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) (The Associated Press)

Joseph Hooker, a terminally ill Vietnam veteran, bottom right, poses for a souvenir photo in front of the battleship USS Missouri with his brother Lester Hooker, top right, and sister-in-law Rennie Hooker while visiting Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Joseph Hooker's longtime dream to visit Pearl Harbor has come true. The Dream Foundation arranged for the 63-year-old to travel from his home in Essex, Maryland, to Hawaii. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) (The Associated Press)

Joseph Hooker, a terminally ill Vietnam veteran, sits in a wheelchair as his brother Lester Hooker stands behind him as they listen as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam volunteer historian Jessie Higa, bottom center, describes the USS Arizona memorial with tour guides Cathy Gabriel, left, and Frank Clay and the battleship USS Missouri in the background in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Joseph Hooker's longtime dream to visit Pearl Harbor has come true. The Dream Foundation arranged for the 63-year-old to travel from his home in Essex, Maryland, to Hawaii. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) (The Associated Press)

A dying Vietnam War veteran is realizing a longtime dream to visit Pearl Harbor.

Marine Corps veteran Joseph Hooker says he has less than two months to live because of heart disease and cancer. The Dream Foundation arranged for the 63-year-old to travel from his home in Essex, Maryland, to Hawaii.

Hooker plans to visit Pearl Harbor on Wednesday with his brother and sister-in-law. They're getting a private tour of the battleship USS Missouri.

Hooker says his dream stems from a 20-minute stop in Hawaii in 1971 on his way home from war. He was let off the ship just long enough to make a phone call and eat some ice cream.

He vowed to return "to honor the men and women that gave their life at Pearl Harbor."