[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 84 (Thursday, June 17, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6994-S6995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MG EDWARD MECHENBIER

 Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I wish to share with my 
colleagues a story about a wonderful American who I have had the 
privilege of personally knowing for many years. I am talking about MG 
Ed Mechenbier. I have had the honor of knowing him as a friend and as a 
true patriot of the American spirit and soul. On June 30, 2004, MG Ed 
Mechenbier will celebrate his retirement from the United States Air 
Force Reserve following a brilliant military career that began in 1964 
when then Cadet Mechenbier entered the United States Air Force Academy.
  My friend Ed Mechenbier is a very humble man, not known for patting 
himself on the back or openly touting his many accomplishments. But, he 
is a hero in many respects. He is a man who is driven by a sense of 
duty, a sense of honor, and a sense of country.
  In June 1967, Ed Mechenbier found himself flying an F4C Phantom II 
fighter while assigned to the 390th Fighter Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, 
South Vietnam. On June 14, 1967, Ed was assigned a strike mission 
against the Vu Chu railroad near Kep, approximately 30 miles northeast 
of Hanoi. This flight was the 80th mission for then 1LT Ed Mechenbier. 
June 14, 1967, also marks the day that Ed became a Prisoner of War 
after his aircraft suffered a direct hit from a surface to air missile. 
Little did he know that when he began his 80th mission that he would 
not leave the Hoa Lo prison, which is also known as the ``Hanoi 
Hilton'' for the next five years, eight months and four days.
  The stories that our former POWs describe remind us of the tremendous 
fighting spirit and sense of survival that distinguish and define the 
modern day American warrior. February 12, 1973, became a day of freedom 
for Ed and many other POWs who were released to return with honor to 
the hallowed soil of the United States. Upon return home, Captain 
Mechenbier was awarded the Silver Star with the Oak Leaf Cluster for 
his resistance to demands by the North Vietnamese for information, 
confessions, and propaganda material. In addition, Captain Mechenbier 
was awarded the Bronze Star with distinction for his efforts to conduct 
himself strictly in accordance with the Code of Conduct during his 
capture and imprisonment. The POW credo ``Return with Honor'' is 
exactly what Ed Mechenbier did. Throughout his imprisonment, he did not 
lose his fighting spirit. He did not lose his sense of hope. And, he 
did not fail to remain anything, but a shining example of a warrior 
whose duty assignment had been temporarily changed.
  The irony of this story continues and on that day in February 1973, 
an Air Force C-141 Starlifter had been dispatched to the Gia Lam 
Airport in Hanoi, North Vietnam. To the casual observer, the tail 
number of that aircraft, 66-0177 is insignificant. Historically, 
however, that identification number is very important because it was 
the first U.S. aircraft to leave North Vietnam with former POWs as 
passengers. On board that aircraft, which was affectionately dubbed the 
``Hanoi Taxi,'' was former POW Captain Mechenbier. Throughout the 
process of returning former POWs to the United States, the ``Hanoi 
Taxi'' was a vital resource as were many other aircraft that were 
needed to accomplish such an honorable mission. In the years following 
February 1973, the Hanoi Taxi's history and legacy had been temporarily 
forgotten while the aircraft carried out a long and proud period of 
service within the Air Force fleet. Today, over 30 years later, the 
Hanoi Taxi is still flying airlift missions for the 445th Airlift Wing 
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.
  At the same time, the life of Ed Mechenbier has also moved forward. 
Following several assignments that include flying with the 4950th Test 
Wing and the 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, the young Air Force 
Academy cadet of 1964 is now leaving military service as a major 
general in the United States Air Force Reserve. Through the many 
promotions and the many assignments, Ed never forgot who he was and his 
keen sense of perspective tends to bring calmness in times of 
difficulty.
  Several years ago, as a member of the 445th Airlift Wing, Ed reunited 
with the Hanoi Taxi in his capacity as a member of the United States 
Air Force Reserve. The historic aircraft and the former POW, who was 
once a passenger on the aircraft, became one of its pilots. Recently, 
Ed Mechenbier made his final flight as a command pilot having 
accumulated more than 3,500 hours flight time in several military 
aircraft. The final flight was more than just a trip around the traffic 
pattern--the final mission was one that would take him half way around 
the world to land at the Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. The mission was to 
return to American soil the remains of American service members who had 
been missing in action during the Vietnam era and recently recovered 
from central Vietnam by U.S. military officials. On this mission, the 
Hanoi Taxi once again returned to Vietnam and the former passenger, Ed 
Mechenbier was at the controls of the aircraft. Once again, the Hanoi 
Taxi returned to freedom the remains of fallen comrades from a war that 
has not been forgotten.
  During a repatriation ceremony that was conducted prior to departure 
for return to the United States, Ed Mechenbier said this to those who 
gathered to honor the fallen comrades: ``For those of us who were 
fortunate enough to come home, I think we owe a little bit to all the 
families--to help them make the closure on that end.'' The last 
operational mission was carried out in the same manner that Ed 
Mechenbier has conducted himself since 1964--with honor, with pride, 
and with a tremendous sense of duty.
  On June 30, 2004, MG Ed Mechenbier and several hundred of his friends 
will gather to celebrate his retirement. Even though retirement 
signifies an ending of sorts, his legacy of excellence, commitment, 
patriotism, and

[[Page S6995]]

dedication to ``completing the mission'' will remain long after his 
retirement. The legacy that he leaves behind will inspire generations 
well into the future.
  I am proud of Ed Mechenbier. I am proud of his accomplishments, but 
perhaps more importantly, I appreciate his unwavering sense of duty, 
honor, and country for it is those values that define the warrior 
spirit. I thank him for the many sacrifices he has made for our great 
Nation, and I join with all Ohioans and the members of this Chamber in 
wishing MG Ed Mechenbier a happy and successful retirement. May God 
bless him and his family as they enter this new phase in their 
lives.

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