[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 140 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MILDRED JANZEN

 Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I want to congratulate and pay 
tribute to Mildred Schindler Janzen, a World War II survivor and author 
of the memoir, ``Surviving Hitler, Evading Stalin.''
  Mildred was born in Great Bend, KS, in 1929 to German parents. 
Shortly after her birth, her family returned to Germany to take care of 
the family farm. Growing up in Nazi Germany, World War II completely 
disrupted Mildred's childhood and her family's life. Mildred and her 
family were driven away from their home, separated from each other, and 
forced to become refugees in their own country. As a teenager, Mildred 
and her family were captured by Russian soldiers, and eventually, her 
father was led away to never be seen again. After returning to their 
family farm, she and her mother and brother were displaced once again 
by Polish soldiers.
  Mildred experienced the horrors of World War II and her courage in 
sharing her story should be commended. After the war and with the help 
of her American birth certificate, Mildred was able to return to the 
United States to live with relatives. Back in the United States, 
Mildred came back to Kansas, to her birthplace. She settled in 
Ellsworth, KS, where she attended high school, learned English, and 
worked at a local bank. During her time in high school, Mildred met and 
married Leon Janzen, and they had four children together: Karen, 
Kenton, Susan, and Galen.
  After sharing her story with many others, Mildred decided to write a 
memoir. It is her hope that releasing this memoir will help prevent 
history from repeating itself. Mildred's bravery and resilience is a 
testament to her strong character. Her choice to rise above past 
hardships and instead focus on a life filled with happiness, 
persistence, and love is a prime example of the enduring survivor that 
Mildred is.
  Today, Mildred spends her time gardening, baking, being active within 
her church and being with family. She embodies a true Kansan: 
determined, hard-working, and committed to her community.
  Mildred, I congratulate you on the release of your memoir and thank 
you for demonstrating to Kansans and the world your outstanding courage 
and character. Thank you for telling your story.

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