From October 20, 2021 post.
House unanimously passed a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressmen Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) to rename the North Avondale Post Office at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati the John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office, located in the neighborhood in which the two men went to school together. The bill has the full bipartisan support of Ohio’s congressional delegation.
John Leahr and Herbert “Herb” Heilbrun served as pilots in the Army Air Corps during World War II, where Mr. Leahr served as a Fighter Squadron P-51 Mustang pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen, and Mr. Heilbrun served as a B-17 bomber pilot.
Many decades after the war, Herb Heilbrun visited a Cincinnati meeting of the Tuskegee Airmen in 1997 where he met John Leahr. Mr. Heilbrun and Mr. Leahr learned that they unknowingly flew on some of the same missions in the War, were both from Cincinnati, and even attended the same elementary school at North Avondale Elementary School.
The pair dedicated their later years to promoting interracial understanding and unity, and they were subsequently honored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations for their work. Their work led to the book Black and White Airmen: Their True History about them, which chronicles their history, friendship, and efforts to bring others together to overcome racial divides. Mr. Leahr passed away in 2015 and Mr. Heilbrun passed away at the age of 100 in December of 2020.
The men were the subject of a 2019 Local 12 documentary titled “Side by Side."
Congressman Wenstrup delivered the following remarks on the House Floor:
I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 960, to rename the North Avondale Post Office in Ohio after Herb Heilbrun and Johnny Leahr, two American heroes whose legacies we should pass down 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 WWII and Johnny flew P-51 Mustangs with the Tuskegee Airmen. At the time they did not know each other.
Both men returned from the war and lived honorable and successful lives independent of each other.
Some fifty 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 had flown on some of the same missions during the war. Johnny had flown cover on two of Herb’s missions in France and Poland. And 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.
This 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 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 the book that they wrote together called Black and White Airmen: Their True History. It was written about them and chronicles their history, friendship, and efforts to bring others together to overcome their divides. Their book also contains a class photo with Johnny standing beside Herb. Even then, had his back!
To honor their legacy and 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 for us all. 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 quote “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 quote “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 quote “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. And I am incredibly grateful for their service and will never forget their dedication to our country and the American people. We are made better by the example they set for us — a legacy to be very proud of.
God Bless Herb 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.
Thank you, and I yield back.
Original source can be found here.
