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Having a Ball: Retired major general keeps mood light; speaks of teamwork, changing times during Tinker’s Air Force Ball

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  More than 700 Tinker Airmen, state and local community officials, and guests celebrated 65 years of Air Force history and heritage on Sept. 15.

Held at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel and Convention Center, attendees were treated to an evening of tradition, elegance and an uplifting and comedic speech by retired Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier. General Mechenbier, a prisoner of war for nearly six years during the Vietnam War, most recently served as the mobilization assistant to the Air Force Materiel Command commander prior to his retirement in 2004. During his speech, he commended the Airmen of today and evolution of the Air Force, but said it's important to embrace the history and future.

"The speed at which our world is changing is not evolutionary, but revolutionary; it's not physical, it's electrifying," General Mechenbier said. "Our world has changed. The commander has a BlackBerry on his hip, an executive officer who knows his private and personal cell phone number; and, of course the commander doesn't take time off and that has trickled down to the rest of you. Our world is truly a 7/24/365 force and it becomes more difficult to keep our individual and personal priorities in order."

General Mechenbier commissioned into the Air Force from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964. In his 40-year career, he piloted an F-4C Phantom II in Europe and Southeast Asia for a year following pilot training. In 1967 as a captain, his plane was shot down and he was held prisoner in Hanoi, North Vietnam. After almost six years, he was released and returned to flying.


In 1975, two years after his release, General Mechenbier, then a captain, resigned from his regular commission, but continued to fly for the Ohio National Guard. For 16 years, he flew an

F-100 Super Sabre and an A-7 Corsair II. In 1991, as a colonel, he transferred to the Air Force Reserve, worked in the Joint Systems Center and Air Force Materiel Command and had been appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve on the Reserve Forces Board. The general has more than 3,500 flying hours.

General Mechenbier said everyone plays an important role in the Air Force and the proof is all around.

"This base is what it is because of community support. Air Force-association members, who don't work on Tinker Air Force Base, but are part of the community, your role is not only understood, but it is greatly appreciated and more than that, it is absolutely essential," the general said. "As we go into new financial restrictions within our Air Force, the community-based relationship is going to get closer and closer. We need to have that support there and that's how we're going to survive, folks."

General Mechenbier said the United States has spent more than 3,491 days in continuous combat in the Global War on Terrorism, which is six years and two months longer than World War II, "the war to end all wars."

But, today's war isn't like the Second World War. Today's fight uses evolutionary technology and a different way of thinking. Today's war needs everyone, their contributions and positive attitudes.

"Life is short, make it fun. Don't take yourself too seriously, or make what you do too important. The world's greatest fighter pilot," the general said pointing to himself, "went away for five years, eight months and four days and the darn world kept going on without him."

On a serious note, he continued, "None of us is that important. The world will keep going. We have individual, valuable and precious contributions to make, but don't think you don't have time to go out and have a little fun -- personally or with your family."

General Mechenbier said he appreciates service members from all branches, spouses, families, civil service personnel and contractors. Though our jobs may differ from one another, we all play an important part.

"From those of us who represent the legacy of the Air Force, we salute those of you who are still lucky enough to be wearing the uniform and to the community and contractors who support us, we say 'thank you. Keep up the partnership, keep up the friendship and keep up the association,'" he said. "As we go forward, it's only by holding hands together that we're going to get the job done."