[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MOHAMMAD HOSSEIN MEHRMAND

  (Mr. OBERNOLTE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my constituent, Mr. 
Mohammad Hossein Mehrmand.
  Mr. Mehrmand was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Iranian Air 
Force.
  Prior to the revolution in 1979, Iran and the United States were 
close allies. U.S. fighter jets were based in Iran, and a number of 
U.S. military personnel were as well. When the revolution occurred, the 
U.S. Embassy recommended that all Americans immediately evacuate. Mr. 
Mehrmand was instrumental in negotiating the evacuation of American 
citizens from Iran, and ultimately, nearly 5,000 Americans were 
successfully evacuated from the country.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Mehrmand paid a very high price for that loyalty. 
He was accused as a traitor. He lost his property. Ultimately, he was 
forced to flee to the United States.
  Today, Mr. Mehrmand is 92. He lives in my district in California, and 
he is proud to be a United States citizen.
  I join my colleagues in thanking Mr. Mehrmand for his service to the 
people of the United States and his loyalty to the people with whom he 
served.

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