Herington, Kan. — Herington, Kansas could soon be the home of the “Captain Emil J. Kapaun Post Office Building,” after US Rep. Tracey Mann’s bill passed through the senate on Tuesday night.
Rep. Mann spoke about Father Kapaun on the house floor.
Emil Kapaun was born and raised in Pilsen, Kansas on a family farm. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1940 and joined the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1944, where he served his country in World War II and the Korean War. He died in a prisoner of war camp on May 23, 1951, at only 35 years old.
Father Kapaun was awarded a Bronze Star.
He later received a distinguished Service cross but it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2013 for his valiant service in the Korean War.
The bill passed through the house last year. So it now heads to the presidents desk.