Congratulations to Doris Tanner, who just so happens to be Rep. John Tanner’s aunt but sort of leaves everyone, including him, in the dust for amazing accomplishment throughout her life. Dru’s Vues has the story from yesterday.
Doris, now age 90, her husband, and daughter, Debbie, along with her nephew Congressman John Tanner are in D.C. today for the ceremonies.
When the Army scrapped the program, which was based in Sweetwater, Texas, Doris became a fashion model for Neiman Marcus (think I’m right) until husband Bill returned from overseas, a decorated hero. After raising two children and playing tennis during the 50s and 60s, she liberated herself and earned a Ph.D. in history from Vanderbilt-Peabody…became a college professor.
Doris, however, is most renowned for using the word “penis” in an interview published in The Commercial Appealnever forgave her for that, my mother being at the top of the heap. (early 70s). Most of the ladies in Union City
Doris received the Congressional Medal of Honor yesterday. She was a Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) in WWII. Women were not given veteran status until 1977.
That’s pretty cool.
Tennessee Blogger Trivia: Squirrel Queen had her as a history prof at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Doris would tell the class stories about her days as a pilot. Stephanie Sturgis says she gave an amazing lecture every day in class.
UPDATED: Betsy Phillips writes about the WASPs as well.