Posted on Jan 1, 2016
Will this WASP eventually 'sting' Army regs to be finally inurned in Arlington National Cemetery?
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Harmon piloted aircraft in World War II under a special program, Women Airforce Service Pilots, that flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat. Granted veteran status in 1977, the WASPs have been eligible to have their ashes placed at Arlington with military honors since 2002.
But earlier this year, then-Secretary of the Army John McHugh reversed course and ruled WASPs ineligible. After Harmon died in April at age 95, her daughter, Terry Harmon, 69, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was dismayed to learn that the Army had moved to exclude WASPs. She said her mother had helped lead the effort to gain recognition for WASPs.
Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, who commanded the Army Air Forces in World War II, created the WASP unit in 1942 with the intention of granting it full military status, but Congress never approved it.
So the WASPs served as a paramilitary unit, subject to military discipline and staying in barracks, Landdeck said. They test-flew repaired military aircraft, trained combat pilots and towed airborne targets that other pilots fired at with live ammunition during training.
Arlington is running out of space and faces ongoing pressure over its eligibility requirements. Tight rules spell out whose ashes can be laid to rest there, and even tighter rules spell out who is eligible for in-ground burial, which place a greater strain on the cemetery's capacity. Harmon's family says the WASPs aren't asking for anything beyond what they earned: eligibility for placement of ashes. And they say the impact on cemetery capacity would be minimal, given that so few World War II veterans remain.
But earlier this year, then-Secretary of the Army John McHugh reversed course and ruled WASPs ineligible. After Harmon died in April at age 95, her daughter, Terry Harmon, 69, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was dismayed to learn that the Army had moved to exclude WASPs. She said her mother had helped lead the effort to gain recognition for WASPs.
Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, who commanded the Army Air Forces in World War II, created the WASP unit in 1942 with the intention of granting it full military status, but Congress never approved it.
So the WASPs served as a paramilitary unit, subject to military discipline and staying in barracks, Landdeck said. They test-flew repaired military aircraft, trained combat pilots and towed airborne targets that other pilots fired at with live ammunition during training.
Arlington is running out of space and faces ongoing pressure over its eligibility requirements. Tight rules spell out whose ashes can be laid to rest there, and even tighter rules spell out who is eligible for in-ground burial, which place a greater strain on the cemetery's capacity. Harmon's family says the WASPs aren't asking for anything beyond what they earned: eligibility for placement of ashes. And they say the impact on cemetery capacity would be minimal, given that so few World War II veterans remain.
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Army Regulations
Arlington Army Regulations
Posted >1 y ago
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Sounds like SoA John McHugh needs to pull his head out of his contact point and do the right thing. These women earned their right, so give it to them!
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We must face a few realities. These are strictly pragmatic, and outside of the individual issue.
First is that Arlington has limited space. Not all of our Fallen will be able to rest there. As space is used, it becomes perceptually more valuable, and in turn more protected, even if the impact is minimal. The requirements will eventually raise, and the National Cemetery will eventually be completely be filled.
Second is that the Prestige of being buried in Arlington is not for the person, but for their family. If we are fighting for the Prestige of getting into the national cemetery. We are fighting for the wrong reason.
Now as for our WASPs. If you fight (serve) for this country in a "sanctioned" capacity, as they did, you should be accorded honors as such. That doesn't necessarily mean Arlington (unless you meet the requirements as laid out by law), but a National Cemetery, yes. Getting wrapped up around Arlington distracts us from remembering they are now classified as veterans, and there is more than one National Cemetery.
First is that Arlington has limited space. Not all of our Fallen will be able to rest there. As space is used, it becomes perceptually more valuable, and in turn more protected, even if the impact is minimal. The requirements will eventually raise, and the National Cemetery will eventually be completely be filled.
Second is that the Prestige of being buried in Arlington is not for the person, but for their family. If we are fighting for the Prestige of getting into the national cemetery. We are fighting for the wrong reason.
Now as for our WASPs. If you fight (serve) for this country in a "sanctioned" capacity, as they did, you should be accorded honors as such. That doesn't necessarily mean Arlington (unless you meet the requirements as laid out by law), but a National Cemetery, yes. Getting wrapped up around Arlington distracts us from remembering they are now classified as veterans, and there is more than one National Cemetery.
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS good points all. I see where this would be different than accommodating USS Arizona survivors who request to be interred with their shipmates and then have their names engraved on a side memorial in the hall of rememberance.
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