[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S3242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN DOROTHY C. STRATTON

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President I rise today to recognize the 
outstanding accomplishments and distinguished service of Captain 
Dorothy C. Stratton, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (Ret), on this her 100th 
birthday. She has served her country with honor as an educator, naval 
officer and public official.
  Born in Brookfield, Missouri, Captain Stratton earned a Bachelor of 
Arts from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas; a Master of Arts in 
Psychology from the University of Chicago; and a Doctorate of 
Philosophy in Student Personnel Administration from Columbia 
University. Captain Stratton joined Purdue University as the Dean of 
Women and Associate Professor of Psychology in 1933, becoming a full 
professor in 1940.
  In June, 1942, with our nation embroiled in war, Professor Stratton 
left Purdue to join the Women Appointed Volunteer Emergency Service 
(WAVES). She was assigned as the Assistant to the Commanding Officer of 
the U.S. Naval Training Station in Madison, Wisconsin. Due to the 
military's pressing need for personnel, Congress authorized the Women's 
Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Act creating the Women's Reserve 
was signed into law by President Roosevelt on November 23, 1942, and 
within hours, Stratton became the first director of the new 
organization. She was the first female officer accepted for service in 
the history of the U.S. Coast Guard. She rose from Lieutenant Commander 
to the rank of Commander on January 1, 1944 and to the rank of Captain 
one month later.
  One of Captain Stratton's first acts as Director of the U.S. Coast 
Guard Women's Reserve was to coin the famous name that would 
distinguish them from the Navy WAVES and the Army WACS. In a memo to 
the Commandant ADM Russell R. Waesche, Stratton explained: ``The motto 
of the Coast Guard is `Semper Paratus--Always Ready.' The initials of 
this motto are of course, SPAR. Why not call the members of the Women's 
Reserve SPARS? . . . As I understand it, a spar is often a supporting 
beam and that is what we hope each member of the Women's Reserve will 
be.'' Admiral Waesche agreed, and the rest, as they say, is history.
  Captain Stratton led over 10,000 volunteers who responded to their 
nation's call for help between 1942 and 1946. She completed her service 
as Director of the SPARS in January, 1946 and was awarded the Legion of 
Merit. She then served as Director of Personnel for the International 
Monetary Fund from 1946 to 1950, and as the National Executive Director 
of the Girl Scouts of America from 1950 to 1960.
  Mr. President, I wish to congratulate Captain Dorothy Stratton and to 
thank her for all she has done for this great country of ours. She is a 
shining example to us all, and it is truly a pleasure to wish her a 
happy birthday today.

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