[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 116 (Thursday, July 23, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING LOU LENART

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2015

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Lou 
Lenart, a hero to both the United States and Israel, who passed away 
July 20, 2015 at the age of 94. Today we remember Lou for his service 
in the Marines during World War II as well as in the Israel Air Force 
in 1948 when he was dubbed ``The Man Who Saved Tel Aviv.''
   Lou Lenart was born in 1921 to Jewish farmers in a small village in 
Hungary. When Lenart was 10, his family moved to the United States to 
escape widespread anti-Semitism. Sadly, he and his family were 
subjected to anti-Semitic taunting in his new home of Wilkes-Barre, 
Pennsylvania. At 17, Lenart enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he 
fought in World War II and won the Gold Star flying in Okinawa. In 1948 
Lenart became one of the first members of Israel's budding Air Force, 
which at that time had just four Czech-built German Messerschmitt 
fighter planes.
   On May 29, 1948, Egyptian forces of about 500 vehicles were closing 
in on Tel Aviv, threatening the very existence of the two-week old 
state of Israel. Israeli commanders decided to risk all four planes to 
attack the advance.
   As the most experienced pilot in the group (and in fact the only 
pilot with combat experience), Lenart led the attack, with future 
President Ezer Weizman as his wingman. Stunned by the sight of bona 
fide Israeli fighter planes, the Egyptians stopped their advance and 
were forced to retreat. Lenart's key role in this mission earned him 
the title, in many news reports, as ``The Man Who Saved Tel Aviv.'' 
Lenart later told the IAF journal, ``It was the most important event in 
my life . . . I survived World War II so I could lead this mission.''
   Following the war, Lenart helped in airlifting Iraqi Jews to Israel 
in Operation Ezra and Nehemiah. He also became a pilot for El Al 
Airlines and spent time living in Southern California, where he 
produced six feature films including Iron Eagle and Iron Eagle II.
   Lou Lenart's legacy will live on in both Israel and the United 
States. He fought in our armed services to protect our freedom, and 
then risked his life again for Israel in its vulnerable and early 
stages. His life and story are an inspiration for those seeking hope 
and strength in the face of persecution. I send my sincerest 
condolences to his family.

                          ____________________