WASP's Have Their Day In The Sun

They flew planes with names like "Pistol Packin' Mama" and they trained in groups that called themselves "The Originals" and "The Guinea Pigs." Though they never saw combat, the over 1,000 women that made up the WASP's, or Women Airforce Service Pilots, were integral to the war effort in 1942, with each volunteer freeing up a male counterpart to fly combat missions. They always knew that they had the right stuff, it just took Congress over sixty years to recognize it.

On Wednesday, about 200 of the surviving members gathered on Capitol Hill to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by Congress. In her dedication speech, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi alluded to the fact that the WASP's contribution went far beyond their service to the military. "Women Airforce Service Pilots," she said, "we are all your daughters; you taught us how to fly."

When the group first formed their fleet, it was a hodgepodge of mercurial airplanes. They had no uniforms, no life insurance, no crash or fire truck, and relied on a borrowed ambulance for medical transport. Thirty-eight of their own lost their lives in service to their country, yet there were no flagged-draped coffins or letters of condolence to their families — in fact funeral expenses were often paid by their fellow female aviators. One can only imagine what kind of resolve and determination these pioneers of the air had to have to persevere as they labored in thankless obscurity, but it would be safe to say that little of this group's makeup has changed over the years.

"We did it because our country needed us." said WASP pilot Deanie Parrish, now 88-years-young.Ty Hughes Killen, 85, went further, pointing out that it was never a hope for glory that inspired this tight knit group, just a love for flying, and a dedication to a country at war.

"We're a bunch of tough old ladies." Killen told the Associated Press, before adding, "I really don't care for publicity, but what I really do care about is the 900 or more that are already dead and gone, and have not had the cognizance and recognition that I feel they should have for their families."

As a country embroiled in wars on two continents, it is this kind of reminder of the selfless devotion to duty that helps to open our eyes to the human sacrifice that so many of our servicemen and women endure. These incredibly intrepid women never saw a glass ceiling, they simply soared above it.

Photo by Wikipedia Commons.