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Stories of trailblazing military women shared BY TODD LUCK IHI ( IIKOMC I I The New Winston Museum capped off Women's History Month last Thursday by focusing on military trailblazers. The noontime program featured retired Capt. Linda Bray, who during the 1989 invasion of Panama became the first woman to lead U.S. troops in combat, and Ann Zuhr. who discussed her mother's service in the Women's Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) program dur ing World War II. Sanford native Bray was the commander of the 988th Military Police Company in Fort Benning, Ga. when the unit was sent on what at first was described as a "routine security deployment to Panama," but when she arrived and was told that she should keep her head down, she knew she was being deployed into what would become a war zone. "1 never thought I'd be in that position in my life," said Bray. "I thought I'd just skate through, just being a normal military person." Her unit, which relieved an 82nd Airborne unit, ended up in a firelight with Panamanian defense forces at a dog kennel that was used to conceal a cache of weapons. Her unit sup pressed the enemy without casualties. When word got out that a woman had led the victorious unit. Bray found herself a sudden celebrity. "The media went to my hometown; they went to my high school; they were talk ing to my high school friends," said Bray, whose husband also served in the military. "They were trying to find out who my high school boyfriend was, what did I do in high school. Not only did they go to my high school, they went to my par ent's house, my husband's house or our house. It was like my whole life just got put out there on paper. There was nothing private about me anymore." The notoriety also sparked controversy, as the public and members of Congress debated about whether or not women belonged in combat. She compared the scrutiny to being in a tornado. "I went through a cate gory five media frenzy," she said. "Your entire life is dis rupted. I was sent letter bombs. I was sent unmen tionable things." She said all the attention and controversy prompted her to request a discharge from the Army in 1991. She looks back on her service fondly and is pleased that she helped pave the way for gender equality in the mili tary. Last year, the ban on women in combat was lift ed. "Whether you were civilian or military, (there are) gaps between the men and the female; hopefully we're heading in the right direction," she said. Zuhr told the story of her mother, Margery Moore Holben, and other pilots in the WWII WASP program, as she wore a version of Holben's uniform. The idea of women mil itary pilots started with a let ter between a famous avia tor and the first lady. "Jaqueline Cochran, a pilot since the early 1930s and an air race competitor wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt in September 1940 about . forming a women's auxil iary to the Army Air Force," said Zuhr, describing the genesis of the WASP. "Her idea was that women could do domestic non-combat aviation and thus release male pilots for combat duty." In 1942, the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron was organized, allowing highly-qualified pilots to deliver newly-built planes from the factory to military bases. Also in 1942, training began for the Women's Flying Training Detachment under Cochran, whose duties included everything from delivering repaired planes to bases to performing flight checks. The two programs were merged into WASP in 1943. During its 16-month exis tence, 25,000 women applied for WASP training. Only 1,879 were accepted and 1,074 completed the program - better than the 50 percent "washout" rate of male pilot cadets. Holben piloted a plane that towed moving targets to allow artillery gunners to practice shooting down air craft. Zuhr said aside from the obvious danger of the guns hitting the plane, mechanical failure could also prove fatal. During one run, her mother's hydraulics went out, causing the plane's bomb bay doors and landing gear to open. If she had not landed the plane flawlessly, the bomb bay door would have dug into the ground and destroyed the plane. Holden landed without so much as a scratch. As the war flagged, the need for pilots diminished. In 1944, the WASPs were disbanded without the women being recognized as having served in the mili tary. "It wa$ very hurtful for these women who were serving their country to be told, 'You're no longer needed; go home,' even though the war was not yet over," said Zuhr. "Their service was not recognized for another 33 years." Holden was still alive in 1977, when the WASPs and other women were finally recognized as military vet erans, but it wasn't until 13 years after her death in 2000 that WASPs received the Congressional Gold Medal. The New Winston Museum, which uses pho tos, videos and guest speak ers to tell the story of Winston-Salem from 1849 - when Forsyth County was incorporated - until today, was an appropriate place for the women's stories to be shared, according to Museum Executive Director Katherine Foster. "We collect stories, and our speakers today are going to help build ... that," she said. Katherine Foster Photos by Todd Luck Above: Ann Zuhr talks about her mother, Margery Moore Holben. Right: Some of Margery Moore Holben WASP momentos on display for the presentation. Capt. Linda Bray The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price is $30.72. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636 City turns blue for autism SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE ABC of NC Child Development Center (ABC of NC). in partnership with Autism Speaks, corporate partners Reynolds American and Krispy Kreme and the Office of Mayor Allen Joines, will "Light It Up Blue" this week in commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day, which was yesterday (April 2). Light It Up Blue is a unique global initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders. In honor of this his toric day, many iconic landmarks and buildings, along with hundreds of thou sands of homes and communities take part in this very visible commitment to shine a light on autism. This year. Winston-Salem, and some of the city's most iconic build ings, joins cities across the globe that have made the very visible commitment to Light It Up Blue. Participating buildings and landmarks include: ABC of NC Child Development Center (3904 Oid Vineyard Road. Winston-Salem); Krispy Kreme Headquarters (370 Knollwood Street. Winston-Salem); R.J. Reynolds Building (51 West Fourth Street. Winston-Salem); The Millennium Center (101 West Fifth Street. Winston Salem); City Hall (101 North Main Street. Winston-Salem); and Corpening Plaza (231 First Street W.. Winston-Salem). On March 27. the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new autism prevalence numbers that revealed that one in 68 American children, and one in 42 boys, are diag nosed with an autism spectrum disorder, a 33 percent increase over 2012. "As the prevalence of autism increases so must our commitment to raising the public consciousness." said Felice Brenner, ABC of NC board chair. "As staggering as these most recent figures are, we must look beyond the numbers to the children and families that are living with autism each and every day." 3 ? BLUE ""5T" i Saturday, April 12 ? Noon-3 p.m. I FREE ? All Families Welcome! Art, music, and dance on the Reynolda lawn. I Featuring the Matt Kendrick Jazz Unit, the Winston-Salem Festival Ballet, henna tattoo artists, and food vendors! I Your chance to see the exhibition of the season, American Modems, 1910-1960: From O'Keeffe to Rockwell. H #americanmoderns Habran Interpretes en Espanola traves del museo. I REYNOLDA HOUSE MUSEUM of AMERICAN ART 2250 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem | reynoldahouse.org Supportod by tt? Ait? Council ot Winston Sctbrn & Fonytti County
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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