[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      DORIS VIRGINIA TRACY TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2011

  Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Doris Virginia 
Tracy, a longtime resident of La Veta, Colorado. Mrs. Tracy was a 
distinguished World War Two-era pilot and loving wife and mother.
  From the earliest days of her childhood in Missouri, Doris dreamed of 
learning to fly. She took her first ride in a bi-plane at the age of 
nine, and decided to become an ``aviatrix,'' as female pilots were then 
known. After entering college with her sister Bernice, Doris was only 
the second girl to sign up for Civilian Pilot Training. After a long 
wait, as only one woman was allowed in the program for every nine men, 
she earned her license.
  In order to continue flying and serve her country during World War 
Two, she applied with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), who 
flew military aircraft in support of the Army Air Forces. After seven 
months of training, she flew engineering flight tests, co-piloted B-
24s, and flew administrative flights in C-45s at bases in Texas, Ohio, 
Mississippi, and Wyoming.
  After the WASP program disbanded, Doris moved to La Veta with her 
family to start a store. It was there she met Julian Tracy at a local 
dance. They were married in 1946 and raised two daughters together, 
Glenna Lee and Julie. In addition to running the store, she was active 
with the PTA, the Francisco Fort Museum, and the Eastern Star, and 
enjoyed searching the Colorado hills for artifacts.
  In March 2010, Doris was in attendance here in Washington as the WASP 
were presented with the Congressional Gold Medal for their service to 
the nation. She passed away at the age of ninety on July 29, 2010, and 
was survived by her daughters, five grandchildren, and three great-
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Doris Tracy. I rise today to 
salute this one-of-a-kind woman who is remembered for her smile, 
warmth, and patriotism.

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