During the early part of World War II, the US Army Air Forces had a pilot shortage.\u00a0 A relatively small group of women helped mitigate that shortage through various programs.\u00a0 The first two such programs were the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).\u00a0 In 1943, these two programs and organizations were merged to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs.<\/p>\n
The WASP program, like the US Merchant Marine, at the time was technically a form of civilian wartime service – a paramilitary organization vice uniformed military service.\u00a0 Congress did consider making the WASPs a formal part of the Army Air Forces, but ultimately declined to do so.\u00a0 Later in the war, sufficient USAF male pilots had been trained to eliminate the pilot shortfall.\u00a0 The WASP program was then terminated and its members were released.<\/p>\n
Both WASPs and US Merchant Marine personnel serving during World War II were later granted military veteran status by Congress with the passage of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 – though it took a Federal court decision in 1988 before US Merchant Mariners were recognized as veterans under that act.\u00a0 And since 2002 each group has been deemed eligible for inurnment (the placement of cremated remains in a cemetery storage area, often above ground) in Arlington National Cemetery as a military veteran.<\/p>\n
Until last year, that is.<\/p>\n
Sometime last year the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, determined that WASPs and World War II Merchant Mariners were no longer eligible for inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 Curiously enough, both groups apparently remain eligible for both inurnment and in-ground burial at National Cemeteries run by the VA.\u00a0 (The Army operates Arlington National Cemetery and the US Soldiers’ & Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in DC; the VA operates all other US National Cemeteries.)<\/p>\n You know, this seems just plain wrong to me.\u00a0 One can legitimately debate whether or not Congress should<\/span> have granted members of the WASPs or World War II US Merchant Mariners veteran status.\u00a0 However, the fact remains that Federal law did exactly that in 1977.\u00a0 Both groups performed hazardous duty in support of the national war effort under the direction and control of military officials.\u00a0 Both groups suffered a substantial rate (3.5+%) of fatalities.\u00a0 And for the last 38+ years, members of both groups have been, by law, World War II veterans.<\/p>\n Under Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations Part 553, section 15a, any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and whose last service terminated honorably is eligible for inurnment at Arlington<\/a><\/em>..\u00a0 It seems to me that people declared by Congress to be military veterans due to service as WASPs or Merchant Mariners during World War II who served honorably deserve the same.\u00a0 If all other<\/span> vets whose service ended honorably are eligible for inurnment in Arlington, I can\u2019t see any good reason why members of these two groups should be excluded.<\/p>\n But maybe that\u2019s just me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"