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MEMORY for CAPT. DOROTHY C. STRATTON USCGR(W)

 

James Forrestal the Secretary of Defense said of CAPT. Stratton, Dorothy was a brilliant organizer and administrator (who) demonstrated a keen understanding of the abilities of women...

 

Captain Stratton understood much, much more and did much, much more than that would indicate.

 

As the Dean of Women and Assistant Professor of Psychology and first full-time Dean Women at Purdue University she had tripled the female enrollment and opened all professional studies to women at the university. She also managed the construction of three new women's residence halls at one campus. As a full professor, she took a leave of absence in 1942 and entered the Navy in the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Naval Reserve (WAVES).

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt amended Public Law 773, thus creating a women's reserve program for the USCG, She transferred to the USCG. When offered in 1942, she accepted an appointment as first Director of Women's Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. By late 1944 the USCG had more reserve officer and enlisted on active duty, by ratio of total force, than any other U.S. Armed Service. The huge recruitment, education and assignment of this volume of personnel surge allowed the USCG to man ships, crafts, rescue services and landing craft in every theater of operation during World War II.

When Congress further authorized service of women service members outside the United States, the USCG and Captain Stratton were up to the task: many women in the Coast Guard served overseas in many capacities, including yeomen, storekeepers, divers, parachute riggers, pharmacist's mates, printers, and a host of other specialties. Captain Stratton also invented the term SPAR for the Women's Reserve by suggesting a compression of the USCG motto SEMPER PARATUS. Captain Stratton also noted that a SPAR is also a supporting beam, and we hope each member of the Women's Reserve will be. The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Russell Randolph Waesche, agreed.

 

When the war ended, Captain Stratton became the first Director of Personnel, International Monetary Fund and then National Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of America. The USCG honors the Captain with The Coast Guard Women's Leadership Association Captain Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award. The Ottawa University Alumni Association awarded its Outstanding Achievement Award to Stratton and the Coast Guard named its third National Security Cutter (WMSL-752) in her honor.

Captain Stratton died September 17 2006 at age 107.

 

Doug Bewall, RMCM USN Ret

 

 

 

 

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Copelon Armstrong served in the United States Navy for 20 years. He joined the Navy in December of 1940 and was sent to Norfolk, Virginia for boot camp. His first ship was the USS Ranger CV 4 and after four months was transfered to the USS Hornet CV 8 and was a plankowner. He survived the sinking of the Hornet after the ship was lost at the battle of Santa Cruz.