Ola Mildred Rexroat

Ola Mildred Rexroat
Ola Mildred Rexroat
Nickname(s) Sexy Rexy, Millie
Born (1917-08-28)August 28, 1917
Ogden, Kansas, United States
Died June 28, 2017(2017-06-28) (aged 99)
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
Other work aviator, USAF Air Traffic controller

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

  1. ↑ Nick Penzenstadler Journal staff. "Last surrviving South Dakota WASP, 'Sexy Rexy', recalls World War II service". Rapid City Journal.
  2. 1 2 "WASP filled with colorful pilots". St. George News. June 11, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Warriors at Heart: Some of the Native Women Who Served in the Military". indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  4. ↑ William C. Sturtevant (1978). Handbook of North American Indians: Indians in contemporary society. Government Printing Office. pp. 13–. ISBN 978-0-16-080388-8.
  5. ↑ "WASP OLA REXROAT". wingsacrossamerica.us. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Women In Military Service For America Memorial". womensmemorial.org. Archived from the original on October 15, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  7. ↑ "NATIVE WOMEN VETERANS". lakotacountrytimes.com. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  8. ↑ Long, Steve. "WWII WASP with Pine Ridge roots: "A Long the Way"". blackhillsfox.com. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  9. ↑ Ola Rexroat-McDonald obituary, legacy.com; accessed July 3, 2017.
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