105th Birthday of Capt Dorothy Stratton, Uscgr

105th Birthday of Capt Dorothy Stratton, Uscgr -- (Extensions of Remarks - March 24, 2004)

SPEECH OF

HON. STEVE BUYER

OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2004

Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to send best wishes to CAPT Dorothy Stratton today on her 105th birthday. CAPT Stratton is a visionary leader and patriot whose service to the United States cannot be measured.

CAPT Dorothy Stratton, USCG Reserve, Retired, was born on March 24th, 1899 in Brookfield, MO. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Ottawa University in 1924 and continued her education at the University of Chicago and at Columbia University, where, in 1932, she earned her PhD. In 1933 she was appointed Dean of Women and associate professor of psychology at Purdue University. Dr. Stratton remained at Purdue until June 1942, when she decided to join the global war effort and took a leave of absence to join the Naval Women's Reserve.

On November 23, 1942, when President Roosevelt established the Coast Guard's Women's Reserve, LT Stratton transferred from the Navy and was sworn in as its first director. She became the first woman accepted for service as a commissioned officer in the history of the Coast Guard.

Almost immediately after being sworn in, LT Stratton set about the task of finding an appropriate name for the Coast Guard Women's Reserve, and so the SPARs got their name. Not only an acronym of the Coast Guard's motto-Semper Paratus, Always Ready, the word spar is often used to describe support structures and, in LT Stratton's words to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, "that is what each member of the Women's Reserve will be."

LT Stratton quickly ascended the Coast Guard ranks and within 2 years was promoted to the rank of CAPT. During her 4 years as director of the SPARs, CAPT Stratton recruited and led 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 commissioned officers. She led the service throughout World War II, until the SPAR demobilization was complete on June 30th, 1946.

Following her service in the Coast Guard, CAPT Stratton continued to serve her country as Director of Personnel for the International Monetary Fund, and then as National Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of America.

On this, her 105th birthday, I honor CAPT Dorothy Stratton for her service to the United States, the Coast Guard and its Reserve, and for the inspiration and legacy she created, not only for the women of this great nation, but all our citizens.