Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
July 02, 2004
A Legend Retires (Last Vietnam POW Set To Retire)
U.S. Air Force Reserve Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, 62 is scheduled to retire. He has reached the mandatory retirement age for his rank.
His career spanned 44 years and included nearly 6 years of captivity in the Hoa Lo prison in North Vietnam also known as the "Hanoi Hilton". Gen. Mechenbier was taken captive when his fighter jet was shot down over North Vietnam in June 1967 during his 80th mission.
To mark the end of this great mans career one of his co-workers suggested that he pilot the "Hanoi Taxi" for his last mission. The "taxi" is a C-141 cargo plane. It is also the very same plane that brought General Mechenbier home on February 12, 1973.
U.S. Air Force Reserve Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, 61, points to an emblem on the side of the Hanoi Taxi, a military C-141 cargo plane, prior to a formal handover ceremony of remains of American servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War, at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport, on Friday.
After more than four decades of service this great man will surely be missed. General Mechenbier is the last Vietnam era P.O.W. still in the service. He also says he is the oldest active pilot in the military.
U.S. Air Force Reserve Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, 61, right, watches as the remains of an American serviceman are loaded onto a C-141 cargo plane during a formal handover ceremony at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport on Friday.
To read the full story on this great man, and the remains he retrieved from North Vietnam check out MSNBC.com
Also take a look at what Greyhawk at the Mudville Gazette had to say about this great man.
Major General Edward Mechenbier I salute you! Enjoy your retirement Sir you have clearly earned it.
SlagleRock Out!
This great warrior should be an inpiration to all service members past and present. He should instill a fraternal pride in all members of the Air Force family.
I salute you ,Sir.I wish only the best for you and your loved ones in your retirement
Forever U.S. Air Force,
PappaSlagle signing off
I wish to add my heartfelt wishes for a happy retirement to a man who has truly earned the respect of his fellow men at arms.
Posted by: delftsman3 at July 2, 2004 02:39 PMLike all good military men who've given a lifetime of service to this country he'll get scarcely mentioned by the media because he's too american. Major General enjoy the retirement you richly deserve and may you live a long and healthy life.
Posted by: Jack at July 2, 2004 03:55 PMCongrats General enjoy retirement. One of the things John Kerry needed is to try being a real Vietnam vet like you. I SALUTE you , Sir
Lance
Vietnam (Combat Medic) 1965-1967 (Eat your heart out John Kerry my Purple Hearts were earned really saving lives).
Vietnam Vets against Kerry
Posted by: Lance at July 10, 2004 11:30 PMVery nice comments you guys have here, congratulations and thanks to allowing my post...
Posted by: Phendimetrazine at April 15, 2005 01:29 PM