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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to honor and recognize Mildred 
4McDowell for being the oldest living female Air Force veteran 
5of World War II; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Mildred McDowell was born on February 17, 1908, 
7near Brownstown; she currently lives at the Altamont Lutheran 
8Care Center; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Mildred McDowell served as a teacher for 14 years 
10before changing careers once she learned the military began 
11accepting women during World War II; after enlisting in the 
12Women's Army Corps (WAC), she was assigned to the Roswell Army 
13Airfield in New Mexico, where she packed parachutes; she later 
14worked in supply, issuing airplane parts; after her honorable 
15discharge in December of 1945, she re-enlisted on March 18, 
161946; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Following her service in WAC, Mildred McDowell 
18transferred into the United States Air Force and was assigned 
19to Germany, where she worked in the technical order library; 
20she received a second honorable discharge in 1949; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, After an unsuccessful third enlistment attempt, 
 
 
HR1065- 2 -LRB097 21549 GRL 69693 r

1Mildred McDowell returned to civilian life; after briefly 
2returning to teaching, she changed careers again and worked as 
3a civil servant until her retirement in 1970; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Mildred McDowell's great dedication and 
5willingness to serve her country make her a model for the 
6people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
8NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
9we honor and recognize Mildred McDowell for being the oldest 
10living female Air Force veteran of World War II and wish her 
11many happy and healthy years to come; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13presented to Mildred McDowell as a symbol of our esteem and 
14respect.