The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING EDWARD LONGENECKER ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY
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HON. MICHAEL CLOUD
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, November 5, 2021
Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Edward Longenecker and wish him a happy 100th birthday. Mr. Longenecker is a WWII veteran that has a steadfast love and devotion to God, his family, and country. He is from my hometown of Victoria, Texas. I want to thank him for his service in the United States Army Air Corps as a Radio Operator and Nose Gunner on the B-24 bomber in the 451st Bomb Group, 726th Squadron.
During WWII on July 14, 1944, he and his fellow airman traveled to Petfurdo, Hungary for their 29th combat mission. They expected it to be an easy mission but began receiving anti-aircraft fire that took out two of the aircraft's engines. From the nose gunner position, he received word that they were dropping elevation very quickly. The pilot made the call, urging everyone to jump. Mr. Longenecker headed to the flight deck to retrieve his parachute. On the flight deck, he saw his ball gunner about to jump and gave him a ``good luck'' salute. Then Mr. Longenecker jumped.
Everyone who jumped before him was captured but he landed on top of a hill and began taking on heavy fire from Yugoslav soldiers that were sympathetic to the Germans. He made his way to a nearby forest line, crawled under a briar bush, and stayed under the bush until nightfall. The first night he slept near a lake. The second night he stayed in a pile of loose hay, where he could hear a group of people playing the guitar and singing. To him, this was one of the most beautiful sounds he had heard simply because there wasn't a sign of war anywhere. On the third day, he ran out of the wood cover and met a young boy. This boy took him to a nearby village where he ate, bathed, and rested. Later, Mr. Longenecker was taken to a house where an American Lieutenant was waiting. Upon his safe arrival, he was informed that he had walked through an active minefield, unscathed.
It is incredible to think of how a life that could have been cut short has lasted 100 years. After serving in the military, Ed Longenecker became an electrical engineer and lived a long full life, married to his wife Marie for 59 years until she passed away in 2006. He has 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
Edward Longenecker is a true American hero, and we are indebted to him for his great service to our Nation. I am proud to honor him today, and I hope he has a wonderful 100th birthday.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 195
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