Will this WASP eventually 'sting' Army regs to be finally inurned in Arlington National Cemetery?

2016-01-01T23:22:06-05:00

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.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 1 at 2016 11:32 PM

2016-01-01T23:32:52-05:00

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!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 2 at 2016 12:15 AM

2016-01-02T00:15:28-05:00

I'll take the other side but for different reasons. Internment at Arlington isn't an inherent right for any SM. Criteria has been tightened because real estate is limited. News Flash! Everybody can't go there. So currently there is a pretty black/white line drawn which everyone will have an opinion on. My opinion is I'm glad it's mostly black/white. Political types keep pressing for exceptions to appease constituents. It's not a matter of "I see a space today". It's a matter of more demand, even ashes, in the future under the current "rules". So who do they ditch? There seems to be more frequent cases of AES (Arlington Entitlement Syndrome) that, like cancer, sets in hard because to let go for any other National cemetery is somehow second class. Bet that makes the families of those buried everywhere else feel better. If I were an MD, I'd prescribe a huge chill pill. BTW, although MoH and others have an automatic "in", I'm glad I don't have to make the long trek to pay respects to our highest heroes. CM-2 Marvin Shields is buried in Gardiner, WA, just off HWY-101 on the Olympic Peninsula. His family wanted him home and home is where he is. I'll be glad to be buried anywhere so long as it's near heroes who have gone before...

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 2 at 2016 6:56 AM

2016-01-02T06:56:08-05:00

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.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jan 7 at 2016 12:01 PM

2016-01-07T12:01:41-05:00

After reading the comedy of errors, bureaucratic snafus and distorted decision making which went into this situation, they can have my space(s) at Arlington to inter any of the WASPs (whether it be ashes or whole bodies) for their service to our country in WWII.

Response by Maj James Tippins made May 13 at 2016 10:25 AM

2016-05-13T10:25:27-04:00

Well the news is in: "Congress Approves Arlington Cemetery Burials For Female WWII Pilots" see http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/11/477716378/congress-approves-arlington-cemetery-burials-for-female-wwii-pilots

My take is this: I'll be glad to give my spot to any WASP that wants to be interned there. Or any Merchant Marine, or CAP WWII veteran.

But do I think they deserve it? No. Here's why I think this way.

They were a volunteer group. They were no different than the CAP. Should they be interned there? How about the Merchant Marines? They too supported the war but they cannot be interned there...some ~250,000 of them. How about the test pilots at the aircraft facilities? The commercial airline pilots transporting military missions during the war? Where do you draw the line?

But the most important reason for me is that they could quit any time. The military troops weren't so choosy...they were stuck in it for the duration.

I also think there is plenty of room in Arlington if you cremate everyone and put them in a big urn. That should satisfy all the entitlement folks out there.

Congress Approves Arlington Cemetery Burials For Female WWII Pilots

The legislation would allow the remains of women who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, in the 1940s to be buried in the veterans cemetery.