Emma M. Pratt

is honored with a Brick from Emma M. Pratt.

I was born May 28, 1919, in Douglass, KS, in the house my grandfather built. He was one of the early founders of the town, having come from the State of New York in the first wagon train. A recent veteran of the Civil War, he, like other young families, decided to set out to conquer the wilderness, and that they did.

I am also a direct descendent of an ancestor who served under General George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Yes, I am proud of my patriot heritage!

I graduated from Rose Hill High School in Rose Hill, KS, American Business College in Wichita, KS and later attended Wichita State University. Although I am not an alumna, I have very fond memories of the time I spent there.

During World War II, I joined the Women's Army Air Force (WAAF), took my basic training at Fort Des Moines in Iowa and served in La Junta, Colorado and at WSAF Headquarters at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C. I was later sent overseas to serve in the Army Headquarters of the European Theater (ETO) in Frankfurt, Germany.

At that time, Germany lay in ruins with all of its major cities totally destroyed. A sobering sight and a sobering experience, I might add. In my free time, however, I found solace and delight in visiting surrounding villages and castles. I especially liked looking down from the turret of a castle in the evening and watching the lights go on in the village below. It reminded me of a storybook tale of olden times.

When my tour of duty was up, I returned home. I wanted to see my brother, my only sibling, who served as a combat medic in the ETO through six major campaigns, was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, and later helped to liberate the concentration camps. In my eyes, he was a real hero.
I entered the Civil Service, but it wasn't long before that spirit of adventure overtook me and I found myself heading for Tokyo, Japan, to accept a civilian position with HQ US Air Forces, Far East Command. This was during the Korean War, and I was informed upon arrival that I must have a small bag packed with only essentials so I could be evacuated in 15 minutes in case the "Reds" decided to bomb Tokyo. Nevertheless, I found Japan to be a delight and veritable fairyland, so interesting and different, with a very complicated culture. I was enchanted with the country and its people.

After completing two contracts in Japan, I returned home and spent the last of my 30 years in the government with the Federal Aviation Administration here in Wichita. Since my retirement, I have become an avid supporter of animal causes (its their world, too) and preserving our environment. My motto is "Don't litter, don't pollute, don't kill and save our world."

I am hoping the day will come when all humankind will have compassion in their hearts and reverence for life in all its forms. Every day I thank God that I am privileged to live in this big beautiful world and I pray that in some small way I can do my part to make it just a little better.

Thanks for listening and let me say, I am indeed honored to be a part of the Plaza of Heroines.

Submitted by Emma M. Pratt

June 7, 1999