| Ola Mildred Rexroat | |
|---|---|
 Ola Mildred Rexroat | |
| Nickname | Sexy Rexy, Millie |
| Born | August 28, 1917 |
| Died | June 28, 2017 (aged 99) |
| Place of birth | Ogden, Kansas, United States |
| Place of death | Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States |
| Service/branch |
Women Airforce Service Pilots United States Air Force Air Force Reserve Command |
| Years of service | 1942– |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal |
Ola Mildred Rexroat (August 28, 1917 – June 28, 2017) was the only Native American woman to serve in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).[1][2] She joined after high school and had the dangerous job of towing targets for aerial gunnery students.[3] After that she joined the Air Force, where she served for ten years as an air traffic controller.[2][3][4] In 2007 she was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.[5] She was an Oglala Sioux from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.[6] She earned a bachelor's degree in art from the University of New Mexico in 1939.[7][8] Rexroat died in June 2017 at the age of 99.[9]
References[]
- ↑ Nick Penzenstadler Journal staff. "Last surrviving South Dakota WASP, 'Sexy Rexy', recalls World War II service". Rapid City Journal. http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/last-surviving-south-dakota-wasp-sexy-rexy-recalls-world-war/article_a61be93c-ed44-11df-8e3e-001cc4c002e0.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "WASP filled with colorful pilots". St. George News. June 11, 2015. http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/mesquite/2015/06/11/wasp-filled-colorful-pilots/71073606. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Warriors at Heart: Some of the Native Women Who Served in the Military". indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/04/03/warriors-heart-some-native-women-who-served-military-154298. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ William C. Sturtevant (1978). Handbook of North American Indians: Indians in contemporary society. Government Printing Office. pp. 13–. ISBN 978-0-16-080388-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1IwUbZqjTUC&pg=PA13.
- ↑ "WASP OLA REXROAT". wingsacrossamerica.us. http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/news/rexroat.html. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ "Women In Military Service For America Memorial". womensmemorial.org. http://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/NAHM.html. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ "NATIVE WOMEN VETERANS". lakotacountrytimes.com. http://www.lakotacountrytimes.com/news/2014-11-13/Headlines/NATIVE_WOMEN_VETERANS.html. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ Long, Steve. "WWII WASP with Pine Ridge roots: "A Long the Way"". blackhillsfox.com. http://www.blackhillsfox.com/home/headlines/WWII-WASP-with-Pine-Ridge-roots--A-Long-the-Way-370746721.html. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ Ola Rexroat-McDonald obituary, legacy.com; accessed July 3, 2017.
The original article can be found at Ola Mildred Rexroat and the edit history here.