On the recordJuly 22, 2021
This past December, America lost another hero from our Greatest Generation, Herb Heilbrun. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Herb enlisted in the Army Air Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He flew 35 missions during World War II, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving the lives of his crew after his plane was hit. Following the war, Herb returned to Cincinnati, where he worked in sales and real estate before being named president of the Cincinnati Board of Realtors in 1970. Herb's service did not stop after the war. Herb Heilbrun devoted the later years of his life to traveling our great United States of America with his best friend, a fellow Cincinnatian and Tuskegee airman named Johnny Leahr. They reached out to teach students the importance of respect, racial tolerance, and friendship. Herb was truly a beloved member of our community. Always appearing at veterans' events, proudly in his uniform, he passed away at the age of 100. It was a privilege for me to call Herb Heilbrun my friend. May we all honor him for his life of service and dedication to our country, to his community, and to his family. May he rest in peace. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill to rename a post office in Avondale after Herb and John, and I urge the House to pass it without delay. ____________________
