Ola Mildred Rexroat (b. 1917)
Ola Mildred Rexroat was the only Native American woman to serve as a WASP.
Recipient, Congressional Gold Medal
In 1942 when the United States faced a critical shortage of pilots during World II, U.S. war leaders instituted a program that was, at the time, quite radical. To free male pilots for overseas combat duty, they instituted the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Over 1,100 in total, all were civilian volunteers receiving no military benefits such as back pay or death insurance.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Ola Mildred Rexroat, an Oglala Sioux from the South Dakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, joined the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).
At the Texas Eagle Pass Army Air Base, she was given the fairly dangerous assignment of towing targets for aerial gunnery students. But intrigued by pilots flying airplanes, she, too, went on to earn her pilot's license. When the war ended, Rexroat remained in the Air Force reserve for nearly ten additional years, serving as an air traffic controller and Air Force reserve officer.
According to the WINGS WASP website, in a resolution passed by the US Senate, Rexroat and nearly one thousand other WWII WASP received the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation's highest civilians' awards. It is conferred "in honor of outstanding service to the United States," Senator John Thune, R-S.D. who co-sponsored the Senate resolution, stated.
At age 96, Rexroat is the last surviving South Dakota WASP and is believed to be the only Native American female to have served as a WASP.
"The WASP served our country with extraordinary bravery, even in the face of discrimination. Their service was essential to the war effort, and this recognition of their heroics is long overdue," Thune added.
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WASP non-combat missions included flying airplanes from aircraft factories to military training bases, and the relatively dangerous job of towing targets for live anti-aircraft artillery practice.
There was initial concern whether they could pilot heavy bombers such as the B-17-called the Flying Fortress-in bad weather; during graduation of the final WASP training class in 1944, however, Henry "Hap" Arnold, commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces, admitted, "Now . . . it is on the record that women can fly as well as men."
On June 21, 1944 however, the House bill to give the WASP military status was defeated, the program was abandoned, and the women's records classified and archived for over thirty years.
The WASP-the first women to fly American military aircraft-were left out of much of the documented history of World War II in which thirty-eight of them lost their lives.
It was not until 1977 during the Carter administration that legislation was enacted making the WASP part of the Air Force.
Furthermore, on July 1, 2009, President Barak Obama signed the bill which awarded the women pilots the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their courage, love of country, and pioneering spirit.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress. y
References:
Cassens, Anne, WASP Ola Mildred Rexroat Honored by South Dakota Aviation Association, Edgemont Herald Tribune, posted Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Journal staff, Ola Mildred Rexroat served as a WASP in World War II, Wings Wasp website, Thursday, May 21, 2009
Stamberg, Susan, Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls, March 9, 2010
The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, President Obama Signs Bill Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Women Airforce Service Pilots, July 1, 2009
Wikipedia, Ola Mildred Rexroat
World War II History Website
A version of this article appears in 100+ Native American Women Who Changed the World by KB Schaller, Winner, 2014 International Book Award, Women's Issues Category.
KB Schaller(Cherokee/Seminole heritage) is a journalist, researcher, novelist, and illustrator. Her books are available through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, and other bookstores. She lives in South Florida. Email: soaring-eagles@msn.com; http://www.KBSchaller.com
