Augusta has two new members

NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in its 80-year history,Augusta National Golf Club has female members.

The home of the Masters, under increasing criticism the last decade because of its all-male membership, invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Mooreto become the first women in green jackets when the club opens for a new season in October.

Both women accepted.

"This is a joyous occasion," Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said Monday.

The move likely ends a debate that intensified in 2002 when Martha Burk of the National Council of Women's Organizations urged the club to include women among its members. Former club chairman Hootie Johnson stood his ground, even at the cost of losing Masters television sponsors for two years, when he famously said Augusta National might one day have a woman in a green jacket, "but not at the point of a bayonet."

The comment took on a life of its own, becoming either a slogan of the club's resolve not to give in to public pressure or a sign of its sexism, depending on which side of the debate was interpreting it.

The Army Nurse Corps in World War II

More than 59,000 American nurses served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. Nurses worked closer to the front lines than they ever had before. Within the "chain of evacuation" established by the Army Medical Department during the war, nurses served under fire in field hospitals and evacuation hospitals, on hospital trains and hospital ships, and as flight nurses on medical transport planes. 

The skill and dedication of these nurses contributed to the extremely low post-injury mortality rate among American military forces in every theater of the war. Overall, fewer than 4 percent of the American soldiers who received medical care in the field or underwent evacuation died from wounds or disease.

The tremendous manpower needs faced by the United States during World War II created numerous new social and economic opportunities for American women. Both society as a whole and the United States military found an increasing number of roles for women. As large numbers of women entered industry and many of the professions for the first time, the need for nurses clarified the status of the nursing profession. The Army reflected this changing attitude in June 1944 when it granted its nurses officers' commissions and full retirement privileges, dependents' allowances, and equal pay. Moreover, the government provided free education to nursing students between 1943 and 1948.

Military service took men and women from small towns and large cities across America and transported them around the world. Their wartime experiences broadened their lives as well as their expectations. After the war, many veterans, including nurses, took advantage of the increased educational opportunities provided for them by the government. World War II changed American society irrevocably and redefined the status and opportunities of the professional nurse.

HEY, let's not forget these Women who served!

Parade to honor women who flew planes in WWII

Carla Howard Horowitz joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots in 1944 because, as she says, "I wanted to be a hero." She was among hundreds of WASP's  who flew millions of miles during World War II in every type of military aircraft, forever changing the role of women in aviation.

On Monday, North Salem will dedicate its Memorial Day parade to Horowitz; another North Salem WASP, Louise Brand Hyde, who died in 1999; and all women who served or are serving in the military. 

Horowitz, who is in her late 80s and lives in Manhattan, won't be able to make it to the parade but said she is humbled that her former hometown is recognizing her and all women in the military. "I'm very honored," Horowitz said Thursday in a phone conversation in which she spoke about her time flying. "It was very gratifying to be part of a worthy cause. The issues in the war were clear, unlike the present conflicts. I had no question about the importance of what I was doing and the worth of what I was doing."

The women flew 78 types of aircraft, not in combat, but shuttling new or repaired planes, towing targets for anti-aircraft and gunnery training, searches and passenger transport, all for $250 a month, according to the Texas Woman's University library, which maintains an extensive WASP collection.

The WASPs were the first women in the nation's history to fly U.S. military aircraft. The unit was organized because there were not enough male pilots to test and deliver the aircraft needed in combat theaters. More than 25,000 women applied to join the WASPs in 1943, but only 1,830 were accepted. Of them, 1,074 passed the training; 38 were killed in accidents.

"The training was very challenging. Half of my class washed out," said Horowitz, an engineering test pilot at Blackland Army Airfield outside Waco, Texas. "The challenge of learning to fly was the issue of learning to deal with bigger and more powerful aircraft. We moved quickly through the training process. It was exciting. Flying itself was not as thrilling as learning to fly because flying is a routine job."

Her training began in March 1944. She had to have 35 hours of flying time and a private pilot's license before she could apply. There was no such requirement for men, she said. 

A GREAT Evening ...... Softball and Mathis

I hope some of you watched a GREAT game last night, I did, still have tears in my eyes. College Softball Women's Championship game, pure sports, pure emotions, dedication, athletic ability, and more emotions.

The winning pitcher's Dad came down out of the stands and hugged his victorious daugthter, tears, hugs and sobs, that brought tears to my eyes, then her Mom came down, it was great. Mom and Dad couldn't site together, too much for them.

Just think what the three of them had gone through, for all those years, all the practice, all the games, grade school, high school, college, probably traveling teams, all the hours, late meals, all leading up to this National Championship. All the emotion poured forth, from them all, and it was great to see.

Teary congratulations from the losing team, the Florida Gators, but congratulations, not storming off, like poor Labron did after the Cavalier loss. And he makes millions a year, win lose or draw, but he was hurt he lost. Not the Gators, they were sad, envious, but proud.

I've watched much of the tournament, lost some interest when Michigan lost, but, I love women's softball, sport in its purest form.

I had a major problem though, Johnny Mathis was on a PBS Special, so I had to swing back and forth. I missed some of John, but caught his medley of the ones from my days, back in the 50's, floods of memories came rushing back .... memories then softball.

A great evening, I hope some of you watched it with me .... if not, you REALLY missed out on some great STUFF .....