DAYTON, Ohio — The last Vietnam POW flying for the U.S. military called it a career Wednesday, reluctantly folding up his wings after 44 years in uniform.
Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier, who reached the Air Force's mandatory retirement age for his rank at 62, was honored in a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
"If we didn't have an age-limit law, General Mechenbier would not step down," said Gregory Martin, commander of Air Force Materiel Command.
Mechenbier agreed and drew laughs from the several hundred people at the ceremony when he poked fun at his predicament.
"When you're getting run out of town on a rail, get in front and make it look like a parade," he said. "Welcome to my parade."
Mechenbier's fighter jet was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured and sent to Hoa Lo prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton."
For part of his six years in captivity, Mechenbier was in a cell 15 feet from now-Sen. John McCain. The two communicated with each other by writing on the bottoms of plates with lead spoons.
Mechenbier was released in 1973 and resumed his duties with the Air Force.
During Wednesday's ceremony, congratulatory letters from President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were read during the ceremony. Mechenbier's voice broke with emotion as he ended his speech with a reference to the Star-Spangled Banner.
"Flying will be the greatest void to fill," he said.
Mechenbier made his final military flight three weeks ago when he returned to Hanoi to fly home remains thought to be those of two fallen comrades, occupants of an Army helicopter and Air Force plane lost in 1968.
Piloting the same plane that took him out of Vietnam three decades earlier, Mechenbier flew the remains to Hawaii to be identified. Also on board were the remains of 19 others believed to be soldiers who died in the Korean War.
Mechenbier called it the high point of his career: "That is probably the single most emotional, memorable thing I've done in 44 years."
On the Net: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base: www.wpafb.af.mil/