Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II Post Office Building
Floor Speech
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Mr. MILLS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill that honors the legacy of Colonel Joseph Kittinger, a former command pilot in the U.S. Air Force who lived in Altamonte Springs, Florida, in Florida's Seventh Congressional District.
From a young age, Colonel Kittinger was fascinated by planes. He ended up dedicating his life to pushing the boundaries of aviation and advancing the understandings of high altitude and space exploration, inspiring many generations to come.
He joined the Air Force in 1949, where he flew experimental jets and participated in aerospace medical research. He was part of Project Excelsior, which researched high-altitude pilot bailouts to learn if humans could sustain the extended travel at space-like altitudes.
On August 16, 1960, he set the record for the highest parachute jump, jumping out of a gondola at 102,800 feet, completing the longest free fall at 4 minutes and 36 second airborne.
During the free fall, he also reached a maximum speed of 614 miles per hour, the fastest speed reached by a human at that time before deploying his parachute.
He was called to further service during the Vietnam war and flew 483 fighter plane missions. On his third tour in 1972, his plane was shot down, and he spent close to a year as a prisoner of war in the famed Hanoi Hilton, enduring torture.
His fighting spirit never wavered, Mr. Speaker. In fact, he titled his autobiography ``Come Up and Get Me.'' Back home, he dreamed of returning to the air, but this time via long-distance balloon travel.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1978, that dream later became a reality when he completed the first solo balloon flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
About his travel, he would state: Life is an adventure, and I am an adventurer.
Seventy-five years ago, he answered the call to service. May Colonel Kittinger's courage, resilience, and service inspire aviators, servicemembers, veterans, and all Americans.
It is a great privilege to sponsor this legislation to rename the main post office at 109 Live Oaks Boulevard in Casselberry, Florida, in honor of Colonel Joseph Kittinger.
I thank my colleagues in the Florida delegation for supporting this bill and request that all Members join us in passing it in honor of an American hero.
From one combat soldier to another, I want to take a moment to salute him and his service. Life is an adventure, Mr. Speaker. May we all be adventurers like Colonel Kittinger.
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