Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-05-19

HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF ERWIN J. KORCZYNSKI

EnvironmentDefenseVeterans

Context

On 2026-05-19, Representative Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL-9) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF ERWIN J. KORCZYNSKI" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF ERWIN J. KORCZYNSKI

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E464-E465] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF ERWIN J. KORCZYNSKI ______ HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY of illinois in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Erwin J. Korczynski of Chicago, Illinois. Erwin was a United States Marine Corps veteran, commercial airline captain, and Civil Reserve Air Fleet pilot who passed away on January 5, 2011, after a battle with prostate cancer. Erwin Korczynski was born on March 30, 1942, and raised in Chicago, where he attended Lane Technical High School and later Northern Illinois University. During the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps alongside his identical twin brother, Edwin. After their discharge, both brothers were hired by Eastern Air Lines, beginning careers that would eventually draw them into support roles during two American wars. Through his work with Evergreen Airlines, Erwin became part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, a partnership between the Department of Defense and the commercial aviation industry that augmented Military Airlift Command [[Page E465]] capacity during wartime. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, CRAF pilots moved 400,000 troops and 335,000 tons of cargo over 165 days, what has been called the greatest airlift in history. Erwin flew 35 sorties in support of those operations, the same number, by extraordinary coincidence, as his twin brother Edwin. On behalf of the residents of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, I want to share our gratitude for Erwin's service to this country, in uniform as a Marine and in the cockpit as a civilian pilot who kept flying into harm's way long after his discharge. ____________________

View original source →

HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF ERWIN J. KORCZYNSKI Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E464-E465] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF ERWIN J. KORCZYNSKI ______ HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY of illinois in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Erwin J. Korczynski of Chicago, Illinois. Erwin was a United States Marine Corps veteran, commercial airline captain, and Civil Reserve Air Fleet pilot who passed away on January 5, 2011, after a battle with prostate cancer. Erwin Korczynski was born on March 30, 1942, and raised in Chicago, where he attended Lane Technical High School and later Northern Illinois University. During the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps alongside his identical twin brother, Edwin. After their discharge, both brothers were hired by Eastern Air Lines, beginning careers that would eventually draw them into support roles during two American wars. Through his work with Evergreen Airlines, Erwin became part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, a partnership between the Department of Defense and the commercial aviation industry that augmented Military Airlift Command [[Page E465]] capacity during wartime. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, CRAF pilots moved 400,000 troops and 335,000 tons of cargo over 165 days, what has been called the greatest airlift in history. Erwin flew 35 sorties in support of those operations, the same number, by extraordinary coincidence, as his twin brother Edwin. On behalf of the residents of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, I want to share our gratitude for Erwin's service to this country, in uniform as a Marine and in the cockpit as a civilian pilot who kept flying into harm's way long after his discharge. ____________________