Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office
LILLIAN KINKELLA KEIL POST OFFICE -- (House of Representatives - November 08, 2005)
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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.
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.
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http://thomas.loc.gov