[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JEAN SPRINGER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JEAN SCHMIDT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 2010

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an American 
heroine and one of my constituents, Jean Springer. Jean was a twenty-
two year old student at Adelphi University, who instead of thinking 
about studying and exams, began thinking about how she could help her 
country in the War effort.
  In 1943, Jean joined the newly formed Women Air Force Service Pilots 
or WASP Corps and began flying non-combat missions in support of the 
United States Army Air Forces.
  Jean grew up in Long Island, New York. She learned to fly on Long 
Island and began a lifelong love of flying.
  Jean and more than one-thousand other female pilots joined the Army 
Air Forces WASP Corps in an effort to free up their male counterparts 
to fly combat missions in the war effort. At that time women pilots 
were prohibited from flying combat missions. Instead they flew missions 
to ferry military personnel, equipment and delivered new aircraft.
  Yesterday, the United States Congress honored these women by awarding 
them the Congressional Gold Medal, a recognition that was long overdue. 
It wasn't until 1977 that our nation recognized these women for their 
military service. The WASP Corps was disbanded in 1944.
  Jean relocated to Cincinnati over sixty years ago and is the retired 
Director of the Men's Mercantile Library Association. She is a mother 
of three and grandmother to four wonderful grandchildren, her family 
was present today to see her honored.
  Jean and the women of the Women Air Force Service Pilots Corp are 
true American Heros. I am extremely happy that today they were given 
the recognition they have long deserved.

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