[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO EDWARD BEHNE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute 
to Major Edward Lee Behne, a decorated military veteran, entrepreneur, 
husband, and father who passed away on September 8. Major Behne served 
his country by flying UH-1 Hueys in Vietnam from 1967 to 1970. Major 
Behne is the Vietnam War's second-most decorated army pilot, having 
received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Legion of Merit, a VN 
Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and Palm, two Silver Stars, six 
Bronze Stars, VN Service Medal (9 campaigns), two Meritorious Unit 
Citations, and 80 Air Medals.
  In 1979, Edward Behne retired from the army to return to his home in 
Texas, in 1988, he founded Tex-Air Helicopters, Inc. Guided by his 
vision of a company that would provide customers an unprecedented level 
of quality, service, and performance in helicopter operations, Major 
Behne worked for over 20 years to build Tex-Air into one of the major 
providers of helicopter services in the Gulf Coast region. By 2000, the 
Tex-Air fleet had grown to thirty aircraft and was the most modern and 
sophisticated helicopter fleet in the United States. Operations ranged 
from Florida to Mexico with twelve helicopter bases, fifteen offshore 
refueling platforms, and two major maintenance facilities. Tex-Air 
established an extensive offshore radio network for operational control 
and flight following across the entire Gulf of Mexico using repeaters 
and a central communications base. In 2003, Major Behne retired from 
Tex-Air to return to his beloved Texas hill country ranch, where he 
entertained his best friends and family members, worked and hunted.
  War hero, entrepreneur, rancher, family man--Major Edward Behne made 
numerous contributions to the betterment of his country and set an 
example for us all. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Major Edward Lee Behne and extend our condolences to his wife, Mary 
Lynne; two sons, Mark Behne and Mike Behne; four step children, Jimmy 
Gonzalez, Mark Gonzalez, Tanya Roland and Robert Hughey; brother, 
Richard Behne; sister, Gwen Pascal; grandchild, Josephine Behne; and 14 
step grandchildren, as well as all of Major Behne's family and friends.

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