[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9981-H9982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LILLIAN KINKELLA KEIL POST OFFICE

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4053) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 545 North Rimsdale Avenue in Covina, 
California, as the ``Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4053

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. LILLIAN KINKELLA KEIL POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 545 North Rimsdale Avenue in Covina, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Lillian 
     Kinkella Keil Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland).


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4053 offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis). This bill would designate this 
post office in Covina, California, as the Lillian Kinkella Keil Post 
Office.
  Lillian Kinkella Keil, a registered nurse, was one of the first 
airplane stewardesses hired by United Airways. Keil was happily 
attending to her passengers when the United States entered World War 
II. She decided to send a letter to the School of Evacuation in Bowman 
Fields, California, and within 2 weeks she was accepted. By the summer 
of 1943, she was in England pulling wounded and frost-bitten soldiers 
out of B17s returning from bombing raids over Europe.
  Keil made 250 evacuation flights, including one to collect the 
wounded after the invasion of Normandy. Twenty-three of these missions 
were transatlantic, moving from one man to another, stopping blood 
flow, bandaging wounds, and giving medicine and comfort.
  After World War II ended, Keil returned to the United Airways as an 
assistant chief stewardess, but her career was interrupted again by the 
dawn of the Korean War. In 1950, she returned to her duties as an Air 
Force flight nurse. During the next 16 months, Keil flew 175 air 
evacuations out of Korea, logging 1,400 hours of flight time.
  Her experiences as a flight nurse were used as the basis for the 1953 
Hollywood movie ``Flight Nurse'' starring Joan Leslie and Forrest 
Tucker. Her experiences in World War II and Korea ultimately resulted 
in her being one of the most decorated women in American military 
history. She was awarded 19 medals, including a European Theater medal 
with four battle stars, a Korean service medal with seven battle stars, 
four air medals and a Presidential Citation from the Republic of Korea. 
Lillian Kinkella Keil was a true American hero.
  I urge all members to come together to honor this brave and patriotic 
humanitarian by passing H.R. 4053.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I 
am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4053, 
legislation designating a Postal Service facility in Covina, 
California, after the late Lillian Kinkella Keil.
  This measure, which was introduced by the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Solis) on October 7, 2005, was unanimously passed by the 
Government Reform Committee on October 20, 2005. H.R. 4053 enjoys the 
support and co-sponsorship of the entire California delegation.
  Captain Lillian Kinkella Keil, a long-time resident of Covina, 
California, was a flight nurse for the United States Army Air Corps 
during World War II and the Korean War. Captain Keil flew over 400 
combat evacuation missions and was one of the most highly decorated 
women in military history.
  Lillian Kinkella Keil began her career as a stewardess with United 
Airlines. In 1943, she attended the Army Air Forces' Air Evacuation 
School near Louisville, Kentucky. She received training as a flight 
nurse and was involved with evacuating wounded in many missions, 
including operations in Normandy during D-Day invasions. She was also 
part of the team that followed General Patton's Army across France.

[[Page H9982]]

  One year after the war ended in 1946, Lillian returned to United 
Airlines as a stewardess. She left her job 4 years later, signing up 
for military flight duty in the Korean War. After Korea, she returned 
to California, got married, had two children and became a homemaker. In 
1954, the year she married Walter Keil, a Navy intelligence officer, 
Hollywood made a movie based on her life entitled ``Flight Nurse;'' and 
in 1961 her story was featured on ``This is Your Life.''
  Sadly, Lillian Kinkella Keil passed away of cancer at the age of 88 
on June 30, 2005. I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) 
for seeking to honor the tremendous legacy of the late Captain Lillian 
Kinkella Keil. She will forever be remembered as the ``Airborne 
Florence Nightingale'' and the most decorated female veteran. The Keil 
story is an inspiration to all, and I am proud and pleased that the 
postal facility in Covina, California, will be dedicated in her honor. 
I also note that the mayor and the City Council of Covina join in 
support of this measure and urge its swift passage.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4053, a bill 
designating a post office located at 545 North Rimsdale, Covina, 
California, in honor of Lillian Kinkella Keil, the most decorated 
female veteran in U.S. military history.
  The story of Lillian Keil is one of remarkable courage. Born in 
Arcata in Northern California, she studied to be a nurse before 
becoming an airline stewardess for United Airlines. In 1943, she joined 
the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force) as a flight nurse, 
where she rose to the rank of Captain. Captain Keil flew on 425 combat 
air evacuation missions in World War II and the Korean War. She helped 
load wounded soldiers onto airplanes and took part in 11 major 
campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge in Normandy during World 
War II and the Inchon Invasion in Korea. She tended to about 10,000 
soldiers while they were being flown to military hospitals. She endured 
hazardous conditions, sometimes sleeping on a keg of gunpowder or among 
medical supplies the planes were delivering to battlefields.
  To a wounded soldier, Captain Keil represented hope and home. She won 
the hearts and touched the lives of countless service members and their 
families. Her life and service to our country serves as an inspiration 
to all Americans, particularly women serving in the U.S. military. 
Captain Keil was awarded 19 medals and ribbons, including: 4 Air 
Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 1 World War II Victory Medal, 4 
battle stars in World War II, and 1 Korean Service Medal with seven 
battle stars. In 1954, the Hollywood movie ``Flight Nurse,'' starring 
Joan Leslie and Forrest Tucker, was based, in part, on her experiences. 
She was the honorary grand marshal of the National World War II 
Memorial Dedication parade in Washington, DC.
  Keil was honorably discharged from the military in 1955. Her family 
moved to Covina in 1958, and she continued working as a nurse in 
emergency rooms and hospitals. After serving her country, she became an 
active member of the Veterans of War 8620, the American Legion Post 
790, and the Chosen Few Veterans Military Organization. Captain Keil 
died of cancer at the age of 88 in June of this year. As a longtime 
resident of Covina, Captain Keil was not just a brave and self-
sacrificing veteran, but she was a loving wife, a mother and a friend 
to many who live in the 32nd Congressional District.
  I urge all my colleagues to join me in recognizing this beloved 
military hero. This bill is a tribute to all those who have died for 
our country and their families. The bill symbolizes the gratitude and 
admiration we have for our Nation's soldiers, who risk their lives to 
uphold our way of life and the American ideals of liberty, justice, and 
equality.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 4053, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4053.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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