Dorothy C. Stratton
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Constance Stratton (March 24, 1899 - September 17, 2006) was the director of the SPARS
, the United States Coast Guard
Women's Reserve during World War II
. She is the namesake of the Coast Guard's third National Security Cutter
, the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
.
. She graduated from Ottawa University
in 1920 and received her Master's degree from the University of Chicago
. She received a Ph.D. from Columbia University
. She taught at public high schools in Brookfield, Missouri, Renton, Washington
and San Bernardino, California
(she was dean of girls at San Bernardino High School) before joining the faculty at Purdue University
as dean of women and assistant professor of psychology.
She served on the selection board for the Women's Army Corps
V Corps Area. In 1942, she took a leave of absence from Purdue and joined the WAVES
, and was commissioned a lieutenant.
In late 1942, she was ordered to Washington, DC to the office of the Commandant of the Coast Guard
to organize the Coast Guard Women's Reserve, and was transferred from the Navy to the Coast Guard. She developed the name SPARS using a contraction of the Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus and its English translation Always Ready. She was appointed its first director with a rank of lieutenant commander.
Stratton continued in the post until 1946 and rose to the rank of captain. As director, she oversaw over 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 commissioned officers.
She left the Coast Guard in 1946 shortly before the SPARS were demobilized. For her service she was awarded the Legion of Merit
.
(1947–1950). In 1950, she became national executive director of the Girl Scouts of the USA
, a post she held until 1960. In 1958, she appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show "To Tell The Truth". Stratton died in West Lafayette, Indiana
at the age of 107. She was interred at Grandview Cemetery next to her parents.
The Women Officers Professional Association (now the Sea Services Leadership Association) named its Captain Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award in her honor. Created in 2001, the award is presented to a female officer (W-2 to O-4) of the Coast Guard who shows leadership and mentorship and who shares the Coast Guard's core values. In 2005, the Ottawa University Alumni Association awarded its Outstanding Achievement Award to Stratton.
In 2008, the Coast Guard named its third National Security Cutter
the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
in her honor.
SPARS
SPARS was the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve, created 23 November 1942 with the signing of Public Law 773 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The name is a contraction of the Coast Guard motto: Semper Paratus and its English translation Always Ready...
, the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Women's Reserve during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She is the namesake of the Coast Guard's third National Security Cutter
National Security Cutter
The United States Coast Guard National Security Cutter , also known as the Legend class and Maritime Security Cutter, Large, is one design among several new cutter designs developed as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program....
, the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
USCGC Stratton is the name of the third Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. It is the first "white hull" cutter named after a woman since the 1980s . Stratton is named for Coast Guard Captain Dorothy C. Stratton...
.
Early life and Coast Guard career
Stratton was born in 1899 in Brookfield, MissouriBrookfield, Missouri
Brookfield is a city in Linn County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,542 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Brookfield is located at ....
. She graduated from Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
in 1920 and received her Master's degree from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. She received a Ph.D. from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. She taught at public high schools in Brookfield, Missouri, Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
and San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
(she was dean of girls at San Bernardino High School) before joining the faculty at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
as dean of women and assistant professor of psychology.
She served on the selection board for the Women's Army Corps
Women's Army Corps
The Women's Army Corps was the women's branch of the US Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943...
V Corps Area. In 1942, she took a leave of absence from Purdue and joined the WAVES
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
, and was commissioned a lieutenant.
In late 1942, she was ordered to Washington, DC to the office of the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
to organize the Coast Guard Women's Reserve, and was transferred from the Navy to the Coast Guard. She developed the name SPARS using a contraction of the Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus and its English translation Always Ready. She was appointed its first director with a rank of lieutenant commander.
Stratton continued in the post until 1946 and rose to the rank of captain. As director, she oversaw over 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 commissioned officers.
She left the Coast Guard in 1946 shortly before the SPARS were demobilized. For her service she was awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
Post World War II
After the war, Stratton served as director of personnel for the International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
(1947–1950). In 1950, she became national executive director of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
, a post she held until 1960. In 1958, she appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show "To Tell The Truth". Stratton died in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
at the age of 107. She was interred at Grandview Cemetery next to her parents.
The Women Officers Professional Association (now the Sea Services Leadership Association) named its Captain Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award in her honor. Created in 2001, the award is presented to a female officer (W-2 to O-4) of the Coast Guard who shows leadership and mentorship and who shares the Coast Guard's core values. In 2005, the Ottawa University Alumni Association awarded its Outstanding Achievement Award to Stratton.
In 2008, the Coast Guard named its third National Security Cutter
National Security Cutter
The United States Coast Guard National Security Cutter , also known as the Legend class and Maritime Security Cutter, Large, is one design among several new cutter designs developed as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program....
the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
USCGC Stratton is the name of the third Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. It is the first "white hull" cutter named after a woman since the 1980s . Stratton is named for Coast Guard Captain Dorothy C. Stratton...
in her honor.