Lt. Gen. Honor looks back - Edward Honor - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Nov-Dec, 2001

As the Deployment Support Command flag was cased for the last time, a proud figure stood silently on the sidelines.

Retired Lt. Gen. Edward Honor, former MTMC commander, saw it all. The flag casing and the military and civilian workers and leaders of the command. But he also mused on other images of people, places and transportation actions of the command from decades earlier.

If there is a Commanding General Emeritus at MTMC, it is Honor.

He served five separate tours at the Military Traffic Management Command, in ranks from captain to commanding general.

Following the ceremony, Honor got his own recognition.

One of the first actions of the new MTMC Operations Center at Fort Eustis was the unveiling of a plaque that dedicated the center's conference room in his name.

"I am humbled by this recognition," said Honor. "In recognizing me, you all recognize hundreds of men and women I have worked with."

The dedication had added significance to Honor as well.

The conference room is in a building named for another former MTMC commander, Maj. Gen. Del Mar.

"Major General Del Mar was my mentor," said Honor, with a voice tight with emotion.

"I met him in 1962 in France. I was the stray cat he felt sorry for. He was a tough task master, but his heart and soul was with this command."

Like his mentor, Honor too has remained close to the command. In his position as President of the National Defense Transportation Association, he continues to provide strong professional development for transporters.

The Alexandria, Va., association is a non-profit, educational organization with a military, government, and private industry membership dedicated to a strong working transportation partnership.

Honor's first tour at MTMC began in 1970. He served as Passenger Movements Officer and, later, as Chief, Passenger Services Division. In 1973, he returned to work as Director, Personal Property. Three years later, in 1976, he assumed command of MTMC Transportation Terminal Group Europe, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

He returned to MTMC in 1983 as Commander, MTMC Eastern Area, Bayonne, N.J. In October 1986, Honor reached MTMC's top rung -- he was named Commander, Military Traffic Management Command.