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Lillian Kinkela Keil was
the
most decorated U.S. Military woman of WWII
United Airlines Hosts Reception for
Lillian Kinkela Keil Celebrating her Brave Service to the Nation and as
a Flight Attendant
Capt. Keil began her career as a
student nurse in San Francisco and shortly thereafter became a flight
attendant for United Airlines. To combine two of her passions -- flying
and caring for people -- Capt. Keil joined the Army Air Corps as a
flight nurse to serve in World War II.
During that time, she flew 250 air
evacuation missions and 25 transatlantic flights -- compared to most
pilots who are relieved after 50 -- many in extraordinarily dangerous
conditions, including to Normandy during the D-Day invasions, where she
helped evacuate wounded soldiers from the front lines. She was also part
of a team that followed General Patton's Army across France with a cargo
of crucial supplies like gasoline, ammunition and weapons. After the
war, Capt. Keil returned to her previous job as a flight attendant for
United Airlines.
In 1950, she returned to active duty
for the Korean war as one of only 30 flight nurses, and clocked another
175 missions. She flew with the First Marine Air Wing and the Kyushi
Gypsies to the Chosin Reservoir, tending to Marines who had been trapped
there, severely wounded, cold and horribly frostbitten, some with only
blackened bone stubs for fingers and toes.
Through it all, Lillian won the hearts
and touched the lives of countless service men. A mother of two
daughters and a grandmother of four, Capt. Keil resides just outside of
Los Angeles.
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