Capt. John Clyde Ensch graduated from Illinois State University in 1964 and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy the following year, upon completion of Aviation Officer Candidate training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.
After receiving his wings and designation as a Naval Flight Officer in January, 1966, Capt. Ensch was assigned to fighter Squadrons 121 and 120, where he completed two combat deployments to Southeast Asia in USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) and in USS Ranger (CVA-6 I). He then served as aide to commander, Naval Air Test Center, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md.
Following F-4 Phantom aircraft refresher training in January, 1971, Capt. Ensch was assigned to fighter Squadron 161, making two more combat deployments to Southeast Asia on USS Midway (CVA-41).
After completing more than 280 combat missions and being credited with two confirmed MiG-17 kills, Capt. Ensch was shot down over North Vietnam by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) on Aug. 25, 1972. He was held a prisoner of war in Hanoi until he returned with the last group of repatriated prisoners on March 29, 1973. During his time as a POW, Capt. Ensch was tortured and his left thumb was amputated by the Vietnamese.
Following convalescence at Balboa Naval Hospital, Capt. Ensch was assigned as executive officer of Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) at Naval Air Station, Miramar, Calif.
In April, 1976, he reported to Fighter Squadron 124 for F-14 Tomcat transition training and later that year was assigned to fighter Squadron One, where he completed two Western Pacific deployments on USS Enterprise (CVN-65).
In January, 1978, he received a master’s degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.
From 1979 to 1982, Capt. Ensch served as executive officer of fighter Squadrons 124 and 114, and then as commanding officer of the latter, with which he deployed on USS America (CV-66).
Upon graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., Capt. Ensch served two years on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In August, 1985, he was assigned to Carrier Group Six as assistant chief of staff for operations and completed Mediterranean deployments on USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and on USS Forrestal (CV-59).
Capt. Ensch also served on the staff of commander, Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, Pacific and then as commanding officer, Naval Air Station, Key West. In July, 1991, he transferred to the Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola as the Inspector General.
He became center commander on June 8, 1993 and retired from the Navy on Junc 2, 1995, During his career, Capt. Ensch accumulate more than 3,000 flight hours and more than 800 carrier landings in F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat fighters. His decorations include the Navy Cross; the Legion of Merit (two awards); Bronze Star with combat V’ (two awards); Purple Heart (two awards); Meritorious Service Medal (three awards); Air Medal (18 awards); Nayy Commendation Medal with Combat “V’ (three awards); Prisoner of War Medal; Combat Action Ribbon and various other individual, unit and service awards.
Capt. Ensch is married to the former Kathryn Ubben Of Peken, Ill. They have three daughters--Elizabeth, Rebecca and Christine.
