Captain Dorothy Stratton, Director of SPARS

Women served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II

Oct 29, 2009

A commissioned Lieutenant in the WAVES, Stratton led Women Reserves in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.

Dorothy Stratton was born March 24, 1899 in Brookfield, Missouri. Because her father was a Baptist minister, the family traveled throughout the Midwest.

Stratton earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ottaway University in Kansas in 1920. She taught at high schools while studying to earn a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago and a Doctor of Philosophy from Columbia University.

Dean of Women at Purdue

In 1933, Stratton became Dean of Women and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Perdue University, becoming the first full time Dean of Women at Purdue.

Stratton is credited with having improved enrollment and campus life for women at Purdue. She developed a curriculum more appealing to women’s studies, particularly to those women who wished to study something more than home economics. Stratton also managed the construction of three women’s residence halls on the West Lafayette campus, further encouraging women’s enrollment at Purdue. Because of Stratton’s contributions, women’s enrollment nearly tripled, going from a mere 500 women to over 1,400 women attending the university. For her efforts, Stratton was made a full Professor at Purdue in 1940.

Joining the WAVES

By June 1942, the United States was engaged in World War II. Stratton began right away doing her part. She served on the selection board for the Women’s Army Corps. But Stratton felt it her duty to do more than just be a Professor at Purdue or serve on a board and took a leave of absence from Purdue. She enlisted as a Senior Lieutenant in the Women’s Reserve of the U.S. Naval Reserve (WAVES). Once she completed training, Stratton became an Assistant to the Commanding Officer of the radio school for WAVES at Madison, Wisconsin.

Becoming Part of the Coast Guard

Not long afterward, President Roosevelt signed an amendment which created a women’s reserve program for the United States Coast Guard. In November of 1942, Stratton transferred to the Coast Guard as Director of the Women’s Reserve and promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Moving up the ranks fairly quickly, Stratton was promoted to Commander in December of 1943 and to Captain in February of 1944.

SPARS - Women in the Coast Guard Reserve

It was Stratton who suggested the name of SPARS for the Women’s Coast Guard Reserve. The Coast Guard motto is “Semper Paratus” which means “Always Ready.” Using the first letter of the first word and the first three letters of the second word in addition to the context of the word which represents a support beam for ships as well as airplanes, Stratton felt the word “spar” encompassed the support role in which the Women’s Reserves played.

SPARS served in the aspect of communications as radio operators, or in other areas such as parachute riggers, printers and any other position in which they were needed. Over 10,000 enlisted and 1,000 officers served in SPARS, freeing up that number of men for combat and/or naval duty in the war effort. The ratio of women-to-men - one out of every 15 or 16 persons was women, one out of every 12 or 13 officers were SPARS officers - was the best ratio of any military unit during World War II.

Stratton was pivotal in ensuring the success of the SPARS program. She had a keen understanding of the abilities of women and what they were capable of accomplishing. She was also incisive and tactful when it came to the incorporation of women into a military organization. Much like the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II directed by Jacqueline Cochran, the SPARS were also expected to undergo at least some aspects of military training such as drills and physical education.

After World War II

Once the war was over, it was back to civilian life for Stratton. She became the first Director of Personnel for the International Money Fund and served in that capacity until 1950. She then accepted a position as National Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of American and held that position until she retired in 1960.

Captain Dorothy Constance Stratton, Ph.D. died September 17, 2006 at the age of 107.

Honors

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