Oroville woman, 90, among wartime pilots to receive congression...

This should make all women proud!

and I don't use the word 'should' very often.

Right on.... way to go !!!! Great story.

Well done Ms. Sproat. What a wonderful story of a committed american citizen! Thank you Chico ER for telling us the story.

Sweetwater Texas on IH-20 has a museum just off the interstate dedicated to these wonderful, daring ladies. Make it a point to stop on your next trip. Way To Go. You deserve the medal and much more, thank you......

This is a really great article. Thanks ChicoER for an interesting, human interest story!
These women are amazing, I'm glad they are getting the recognition they deserve!

Just like the government. They announce they are going to do something really nice for some WWII vets (90 years old and older) and then say they will do it sometime this fall or later.

Duh! Some of these wonderful people may not make it that long at the rate they are dying (2,00 a day). You would thing our government could cut the burocracy and honor these vets in amore timely fashion.

" You would thing our government could cut the burocracy and honor these vets in amore timely fashion."

Yes, like perhaps 30 years ago when more of these heroic women would have been around to enjoy the honor.

WASPFAN wrote:

Sweetwater Texas on IH-20 has a museum just off the interstate dedicated to these wonderful, daring ladies. Make it a point to stop on your next trip. Way To Go. You deserve the medal and much more, thank you......

Congratulations Ms. Henrietta Sproat, and I hope/pray the rest of the Women still living get their Congressional Medal of Honor medals soon. Being a Baby-Boomer born/raised in Sweetwater,I've loved 'all' of these women, carried them in my heart/soul 'all' of my life, and have never met a one of them. But after 60 plus years they definately need to be finally recoznized, those living and deceased. And the DAW's(daughter of Wasps), are trying to carry on their Mother's Fame and Glory, and get each one recognized. And the WASP Museum is located at Texas State Technical College at Avenger Field a short distance off of I-20, just west of Sweetwater,Texas, as mentioned. If any of you from anywhere are ever going by, it's a very interesting Museum to Visit, and I'd highly recommend it!!!

Great story. You are an inspiration Ms. Sproat. :0)

Ron-Texas wrote:

<quoted text>Congratulations Ms. Henrietta Sproat, and I hope/pray the rest of the Women still living get their Congressional Medal of Honor medals soon. Being a Baby-Boomer born/raised in Sweetwater,I've loved 'all' of these women, carried them in my heart/soul 'all' of my life, and have never met a one of them. But after 60 plus years they definately need to be finally recoznized, those living and deceased. And the DAW's(daughter of Wasps), are trying to carry on their Mother's Fame and Glory, and get each one recognized. And the WASP Museum is located at Texas State Technical College at Avenger Field a short distance off of I-20, just west of Sweetwater,Texas, as mentioned. If any of you from anywhere are ever going by, it's a very interesting Museum to Visit, and I'd highly recommend it!!!

They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award. Although the Medal of Honor is sometimes referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor the correct title is Medal of Honor. It is the highest military award.

WASPFAN wrote:

<quoted text>They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award. Although the Medal of Honor is sometimes referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor the correct title is Medal of Honor. It is the highest military award.

Thanks for the correction, but you know how the News media is!! Another question/statement; The original WASPS stood for womens army support personel(as I've heard all of my life), and there was a French(?) designer brought into the United States to design the wasps uniform. Then Neiman Marcus-Dallas furnished the Air-Force blue material for the dress uniforms, to replace the kakhai pants/white 't' shirts they wore. And since the wasps were 'not recognized as Air Force, and 'not' actually even in the military(no women allowed to ever see front-line action). Your info. would be appreciated. Thanks.

Dagator wrote:

Just like the government. They announce they are going to do something really nice for some WWII vets (90 years old and older) and then say they will do it sometime this fall or later.
Duh! Some of these wonderful people may not make it that long at the rate they are dying (2,00 a day). You would thing our government could cut the burocracy and honor these vets in amore timely fashion.

You are correct Dagator, but if you have time to study/read up on these women, they were not recognized as veterans for about 40 years, then 'finally' given the Gold Medal(60 years later,after a lot of them had died, recently one in California, and one in Decatur, Texas). This is a very interesting subject to study/read about if you have the time, and can find the info.

Excellent Report:

As a small boy living 8 miles South of Weetwater where the Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railroad ran through the Property , I can still remember watching the Women pilots practicing by guiding their Airplanes along the Railroad using it as a straight line Guide.

God Bless them All!!

Skeeter Bob wrote:

Excellent Report:
As a small boy living 8 miles South of Weetwater where the Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railroad ran through the Property , I can still remember watching the Women pilots practicing by guiding their Airplanes along the Railroad using it as a straight line Guide.
God Bless them All!!

Bob, you have a few years on me, I wasn't born until '44, but I still love each and every one of them alive, and deceased(never met one yet). I have a list of the original enlistees. do a search on http://home.att.net/~sallyann5/b29/fly-girls6... These women really have impressed me all my life!!

Ron-Texas:
The Women Pilots flying overhead enspired me to become a Pilot, later I ended up as a Aviation Accident Investigator and Member of the Air Safety Investigators.
My brother also became a Pilot.

They were Great!!!

Skeeter Bob wrote:

Ron-Texas:
The Women Pilots flying overhead enspired me to become a Pilot, later I ended up as a Aviation Accident Investigator and Member of the Air Safety Investigators.
My brother also became a Pilot.
They were Great!!!

Bob, I had my heart set on Naval Aviation, but both times I tried to volunteer('63-'64), the Navy Recruiter turned me down(they had not escalated Viet Nam at the time). So I got married, moved to Dallas-Ft.Worth area and worked at five different Government contract Businesses(Recip./Jet engine overhauls,landing gear, shock strut manufacturing, rotor assemblies for Bell Helicopter, fuselage/wing components. And never got to live my dreams/desires.

Ron:
Don"t give up! You are just 60 years old. Go out and get you Pilots Certificate!

I will be 79 in May, just took a two hour trip in a 172 with a Lyc. 180 Engine.

I was just in Sweetwater checking out my Dads Grave. I went to Ada School house which is gone.

Keep up the dreams,
Bob

Skeeter Bob wrote:

Ron:
Don"t give up! You are just 60 years old. Go out and get you Pilots Certificate!
I will be 79 in May, just took a two hour trip in a 172 with a Lyc. 180 Engine.
I was just in Sweetwater checking out my Dads Grave. I went to Ada School house which is gone.
Keep up the dreams,
Bob

Thanks Bob, but my health problems(light stroke 5 years ago, seizures 4 years ago, now medicated) won't allow it. Glad you got to fly some, and the trip to the area. My Family(except my Mother, still living), is buried in the Sweetwater Cemetary and the Roscoe Cemetary, Grand Parents on Dad's side at Winters. I've not made very many rounds for the last 5 years, but haven't given up yet. Still going/getting around fairly well. Hang in there Bob, the best is yet to come!!

Ron;
My Mother was a Lewellen. My Grandfather is buried at Shep. My Mother was a 78 year member of the Eastern Star. She went in at the hylton Masonic Lodge which is still there and activity.
My Uncle Vernon sold a lot of his Ranch for the Resevior south of Blackwell.
Charlie Cave and Ray Alderman were old time friends, Ray is still alive and well living in Winters.

Keep on Truckin.

Skeeter Bob wrote:

Ron;
My Mother was a Lewellen. My Grandfather is buried at Shep. My Mother was a 78 year member of the Eastern Star. She went in at the hylton Masonic Lodge which is still there and activity.
My Uncle Vernon sold a lot of his Ranch for the Resevior south of Blackwell.
Charlie Cave and Ray Alderman were old time friends, Ray is still alive and well living in Winters.
Keep on Truckin.

If you keep on, we may find we are kin-folks. My Aunt/Uncle Jim/Beulah Magness lived in Hylton, My uncle belonged to the Masonic Lodge. My cousin Billy Joe(was married to Gwen McLaughlin(passed away with cancer years ago)[Lumber Yard Family in Bronte] He still lives in the old home place, my cousin Jesse Magness lives in Blackwell. I used to know the Cave Family fairly well, and Ray Alderman some what. Oak Creek Lake was built on some of his Ranch land. Small world!! I used to go to Uncle Jim/Aunt Beulah's Farm evert summer to help drench/doctor all of the sheep. All of my Grand-Parents lived in Bradshaw(30's-40's). My great Grand-Pa donated the land for the first and second Lutheran Church buildingsin Winters. Original Family Farm in Winters is still in/belongs to my Family(received the 100 year Plaque from the Farm Bureau, several years ago). Small World