It’s not often people pause and gaze back through the haze of time to right wrongs and honor forgotten heroes. On Saturday it happened twice.
After six decades, Colorado politicians and military personnel presented Josephine “Jo” Kater Robinson, 91, with the Congressional Gold Medal for her service as a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) during World War II.
In a separate ceremony in Thornton, Leo Slade, 80, received a Bronze Star and other medals for Korean War service.
The WASP program, started in 1942, allowed women to fly military aircraft on domestic missions, delivering equipment and supplies, thus freeing men for combat missions. Robinson and 25,000 other women applied. Only 5 percent made the cut.
“I loved every minute of it,” Robinson said Saturday in Broomfield.
As civilians, the women paid for their own training and received $250 a month but no benefits. They wore used flight jump suits discarded by the male pilots.
In addition to transporting equipment, WASPs towed barrels that served as target practice, something Robinson trained to do.
“I wasn’t sure I’d like that in case some of the boys were poor shooters,” Robinson said.
When a WASP died during duty — 38 of them did — her family and friends paid for the return of her remains, typically sent in a simple pine box. Since they were civilians, no flag was permitted on the coffin. When the men returned from war, the WASP pilots were quietly sent home.
“We had to pay for our own way back,” Robinson said. Until the 1970s these pioneering aviators never received military recognition, their records sealed. In March, the 1,100 WASPs received the Congressional Gold Medal in a Washington, D.C., ceremony. Robinson couldn’t attend for health reasons, so her friends arranged Saturday’s event at the Stratford at Flatirons Senior Community, where Robinson lives.
“This is clearing the conscience of our country,” said Capt. Darin Overstreet, Colorado National Guard deputy public affairs officer.
Lucile Doll Wise, also a WASP and Congressional Gold Medal winner, traveled to the D.C. ceremony and to Robinson’s event.
“It’s wonderful,” Wise said. “I’m just sorry it didn’t happen sooner because there are so many of us who are gone.”
Across town at Thornton’s VFW Post 7945, Slade received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and other medals as nearly 200 friends, family and fellow servicemen watched and cheered.
In the 1950s, Slade left the Navy to join the Army.
“He wanted to go to the front lines. That’s where he felt he could make the most difference,” said Terry Slade, Leo’s daughter.
Slade saw 11 months of action in Korea. He earned the Bronze Star for transporting numerous wounded soldiers down a mountainside and through an enemy-laden valley to medical help.
“I just did what I signed up to do,” Slade said.
Heather McWilliams: 303-954-1698 or hmcwilliams@denverpost.com
