[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5697-H5698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           JOHN H. LEAHR AND HERBERT M. HEILBRUN POST OFFICE

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 960) to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, as the ``John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post 
Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 960

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

     SECTION 1. JOHN H. LEAHR AND HERBERT M. HEILBRUN POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``John H. Leahr and 
     Herbert M. Heilbrun 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 ``John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun 
     Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
LaTurner) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this 
measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 960, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet 
Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the John H. Leahr and Herbert M. 
Heilbrun Post Office.
  World War II veterans John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun served as 
pilots in the Army Air Corps. Mr. Leahr served as a Mustang pilot with 
the Tuskegee Airmen, and Mr. Heilbrun served as a B-17 bomber pilot.
  Throughout World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were tasked with 
escorting American bomber groups flying over enemy territory. Mr. 
Heilbrun's group was one of the few who sustained no losses, due to the 
heroic efforts of the Tuskegee Airmen.
  Fifty years after the war, Herb Heilbrun met John Leahr when he 
attended an annual meeting of the Tuskegee Airmen to express his 
gratitude for their protection and service to his group during the war. 
At that meeting, they learned that they had flown some of the same 
missions in Europe and that they shared numerous other traits as well.
  Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun dedicated their later years to promoting 
interracial understanding and unity. They were honored for their book, 
``Black and White Airmen: Their True History,'' by the Harvard 
Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations. Their work chronicles 
their history, friendship, and efforts to bring others together to 
overcome racial differences.
  Mr. Leahr passed away on March 27, 2015, at the age of 94. And Mr. 
Heilbrun passed away at age 100 on December 18, 2020.
  Renaming a post office for both of these men jointly is a fitting 
remembrance of their work to create unity and understanding. I 
encourage all of my colleagues to support this important bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would name an Ohio 
post office for World War II veterans John Leahr and Herbert Heilbrun.
  The Tuskegee Airmen in World War II were tasked with escorting 
American bomber groups flying over enemy territory. I strongly support 
this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup).
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 
960, to rename the North Avondale Post Office in Ohio after Herbert 
Heilbrun and Johnny Leahr, two American heroes whose legacies we should 
pass down

[[Page H5698]]

from generation to generation and whose examples we should all follow.
  At a time when our military was segregated, Herb and Johnny 
independently joined our armed services as specialty pilots flying 
dangerous missions. Herb flew B-17 bombers in the Army Air Corps during 
World War II, and Johnny flew P-51 Mustangs with the Tuskegee Airmen.
  At that time, they did not know each other. Both men returned from 
the war and lived honorable and successful lives independent of each 
other.
  Some 50 years after the war, Herb attended a Tuskegee reunion because 
he wanted to go and thank the brave men who flew cover missions for him 
and quite literally had his back. It was there that he met Johnny, and 
the two started to realize just how much they had in common and how 
much racial segregation kept them from realizing it.
  Astonishingly, they discovered they had flown some of the same 
missions during the war. Johnny had flown cover on two of Herb's 
missions in France and Poland, yet they had never met. As they spoke, 
they realized that they were both from Cincinnati, Ohio, and even more 
amazingly, they had even been classmates at the same elementary school 
in North Avondale, Ohio. The reunion was the beginning of a beautiful 
friendship that would make our world a better place.
  As best friends, Herb and Johnny decided that younger generations 
should learn from their experiences and from their friendship. The two 
traveled the country, giving talks about racial tolerance, respect, and 
friendship. Over the years, they spoke to countless audiences and were 
honored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations 
for their efforts.
  Their work led to a book that they wrote together called ``Black and 
White Airmen: Their True History.'' It was written about them, and it 
chronicles their history, friendship, and efforts to bring others 
together to overcome their divides. Their book also contains a grade 
school class photo with Johnny standing right beside Herb. Even then, 
he had his back.
  To honor their legacy and to continue their mission, I have 
introduced this bill with Congressman   Steve Chabot to rename the post 
office at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati the John H. Leahr and 
Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office. The building is located in the 
neighborhood in which the two men went to school together.
  Johnny and Herb share an incredible history and should serve as 
models to all of us. They were dedicated to their country and fellow 
servicemen, no matter their race or background. Renaming this post 
office after them will honor their legacy and ensure that more 
Americans will learn of their story, learn of their sacrifice, 
and learn from their example.

  Herb passed away in December at the age of 100, joining Johnny, who 
passed in 2015 at the age of 94. They are now together in eternal 
glory.
  Herb's beloved wife, Carol, said it best when describing Herb and 
Johnny as ``incredible men who lived incredible lives not only in 
service to their country, but also in the lessons they taught us later 
in life about friendship, respect, and tolerance.''
  Johnny's son, John W. Leahr, poignantly noted that his father 
``decided early on that he wasn't going to live a life full of hate or 
bitterness, despite the many injustices he had to endure throughout his 
life'' and that his father's friendship and efforts with Herb should 
``serve as the gold standard of honor, respect, and kindness for us 
all.''
  I am so honored to have spent time and developed friendships with 
both of these great American heroes and their families. I am incredibly 
grateful for their service and will never forget their dedication to 
our country and to the American people. We are made better by the 
example they set for us, a legacy to be very proud of.
  God bless Herbert Heilbrun and Johnny Leahr, and may they rest in 
peace. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to honor two 
great human beings and true American heroes.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman 
from Kansas has no further speakers, then I am prepared to close. I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 960, and I want to compliment my colleague and friend, Mr. 
Wenstrup, on his bill. It is a very inspiring story. I intend to read 
their book, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 960.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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