[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12545]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL DR. FRANK RAILA, 
                             MD, USA, RET.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2012

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
accomplishments of a true American patriot: retired Lieutenant Colonel 
Frank Raila. Lieutenant Colonel Raila has lived a rich and full life: 
he is a veteran, a medical doctor, a father, and so much more. He is a 
fantastic example of those individuals who make up our ``greatest 
generation.''
  Living on the south side of Chicago, Frank Raila was called to serve 
his country shortly after his eighteenth birthday in 1943. He was sent 
to Europe as a Private in the 106th Infantry Division, where he served 
on a machine gun crew. He participated in an unsuccessful attempt to 
retake the city of Schonberg in late 1944. During this assault, then-
Private Raila was captured by German forces and sent to a mining labor 
camp as a prisoner of war. Before long, he used quick thinking and 
ingenuity to escape from captivity during a transfer to a new location, 
and worked to rejoin friendly forces.
  During the rest of the war and for several years after, Frank Raila 
continued to serve his country--remaining with the United States Army 
and eventually retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
  After the war, Frank Raila returned to civilian life and attended the 
Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University at Chicago. As a 
Neuroradiologist, he had a long and distinguished career--practicing in 
locations around the country and abroad over several decades.
  On behalf of myself and a grateful nation, I want to thank Lieutenant 
Colonel Raila for all he has done for our nation: for his service, his 
sacrifices, and his hard work. I want to welcome him, and all the other 
veterans participating in the ``Honor Flights'' to Washington D.C. in 
recognition of this year's ``Day of Honor'' program on August 1, 2012.

                          ____________________