Biography of Emma Marcella Pratt
I was born May 28, 1919 in Douglass, Kansas, in the house my grandfather built. My grandfather was one of the early founders of the town of Douglass, 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. He staked a claim and established a lumber mill. His lumber built most of the town of Douglass at that time. 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, Kansas, American Business College, in Wichita, Kansas, and later attended Wichita State University. Although I am not an alumna of WSU, I have very fond memories of the time I spent there.
During World War II, I joined the Women’s Army Air Force (WAAF) and took my basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.. I served in La Junta, Colorado, at a Fighter Pilot Training Base. I was then transferred to HQ United States Air Force, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. from where I was eventually sent overseas to serve in the Army of Occupation. I was assigned to HQ, United States Forces European Theater of Operation (ETO) in Frankfurt, Germany. At this time Germany lay in ruins with all of its major cities totally destroyed. The stench of death permeated the air. The dead were still in the basements where they fled when the bombings occurred. The sights of all the rubble and the smells were very depressing. Shortly after my arrival, I was sent to attend the war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany. Seeing these war criminals being tried for what they did to the Jewish people was an experience I’ll never forget. Also, I visited Dachau, one of the concentration camps, and I saw the gas chambers, where the Jews were gassed. And today, there are those who say “it never happened” but I can tell you it did. 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. Königstein Castle near Dresden overlooking the River Elbe was one I particularly enjoyed.
Then too, I thought of my little brother William “Jack” Pratt, my only sibling, who was in the invasion that crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy and Cherbourg, France. He served as a combat medic through six major campaigns and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge while getting some men into a tank to save their lives. After recouping from severe injuries, he was returned to the front and ministered to his fallen comrades, easing their pain and saving many lives. He was decorated for valor, receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and six battle stars for participating in six major campaigns. He helped liberate the concentration camps and sent me pictures of the piles of dead bodies, taken under fire. Oh yes, it happened all right.
When I returned home, after my tour of duty was up, 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 Headquarters U.S. 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. All too soon, (after four years and completing two contracts in Japan) I had to return home.
I spent the last 20 years of my 30 years with the U.S. Government here in Wichita, Kansas, with the Federal Aviation Administration. I love being retired and there are so many wonderful things one can do. I am a firm believer in preserving our environment and our natural resources. I’m an avid recycler, and I support all animal causes and am against cruelty to animals in any manner.
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.
I am proud to be a charter member of the Women’s Memorial which has been built at the entrance to Washington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. I am also indeed honored to have a brick in the Plaza of Heroines at Wichita State University.
Yes, I’ve lived a lot and done a lot. And I’m not ashamed to say somewhat crippled with arthritis, I now rest a lot. I shared my life with a Siamese cat named Simon for many years. He got me up in the morning, told me when it was time to go to bed at night, and came and got me when someone was at the door and I didn’t hear them. Who could ask for more?
Biography provided by Linda, FAG Member #48093613
I was born May 28, 1919 in Douglass, Kansas, in the house my grandfather built. My grandfather was one of the early founders of the town of Douglass, 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. He staked a claim and established a lumber mill. His lumber built most of the town of Douglass at that time. 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, Kansas, American Business College, in Wichita, Kansas, and later attended Wichita State University. Although I am not an alumna of WSU, I have very fond memories of the time I spent there.
During World War II, I joined the Women’s Army Air Force (WAAF) and took my basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.. I served in La Junta, Colorado, at a Fighter Pilot Training Base. I was then transferred to HQ United States Air Force, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. from where I was eventually sent overseas to serve in the Army of Occupation. I was assigned to HQ, United States Forces European Theater of Operation (ETO) in Frankfurt, Germany. At this time Germany lay in ruins with all of its major cities totally destroyed. The stench of death permeated the air. The dead were still in the basements where they fled when the bombings occurred. The sights of all the rubble and the smells were very depressing. Shortly after my arrival, I was sent to attend the war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany. Seeing these war criminals being tried for what they did to the Jewish people was an experience I’ll never forget. Also, I visited Dachau, one of the concentration camps, and I saw the gas chambers, where the Jews were gassed. And today, there are those who say “it never happened” but I can tell you it did. 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. Königstein Castle near Dresden overlooking the River Elbe was one I particularly enjoyed.
Then too, I thought of my little brother William “Jack” Pratt, my only sibling, who was in the invasion that crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy and Cherbourg, France. He served as a combat medic through six major campaigns and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge while getting some men into a tank to save their lives. After recouping from severe injuries, he was returned to the front and ministered to his fallen comrades, easing their pain and saving many lives. He was decorated for valor, receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and six battle stars for participating in six major campaigns. He helped liberate the concentration camps and sent me pictures of the piles of dead bodies, taken under fire. Oh yes, it happened all right.
When I returned home, after my tour of duty was up, 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 Headquarters U.S. 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. All too soon, (after four years and completing two contracts in Japan) I had to return home.
I spent the last 20 years of my 30 years with the U.S. Government here in Wichita, Kansas, with the Federal Aviation Administration. I love being retired and there are so many wonderful things one can do. I am a firm believer in preserving our environment and our natural resources. I’m an avid recycler, and I support all animal causes and am against cruelty to animals in any manner.
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.
I am proud to be a charter member of the Women’s Memorial which has been built at the entrance to Washington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. I am also indeed honored to have a brick in the Plaza of Heroines at Wichita State University.
Yes, I’ve lived a lot and done a lot. And I’m not ashamed to say somewhat crippled with arthritis, I now rest a lot. I shared my life with a Siamese cat named Simon for many years. He got me up in the morning, told me when it was time to go to bed at night, and came and got me when someone was at the door and I didn’t hear them. Who could ask for more?
Biography provided by Linda, FAG Member #48093613
Biography of Emma Marcella Pratt
I was born May 28, 1919 in Douglass, Kansas, in the house my grandfather built. My grandfather was one of the early founders of the town of Douglass, 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. He staked a claim and established a lumber mill. His lumber built most of the town of Douglass at that time. 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, Kansas, American Business College, in Wichita, Kansas, and later attended Wichita State University. Although I am not an alumna of WSU, I have very fond memories of the time I spent there.
During World War II, I joined the Women’s Army Air Force (WAAF) and took my basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.. I served in La Junta, Colorado, at a Fighter Pilot Training Base. I was then transferred to HQ United States Air Force, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. from where I was eventually sent overseas to serve in the Army of Occupation. I was assigned to HQ, United States Forces European Theater of Operation (ETO) in Frankfurt, Germany. At this time Germany lay in ruins with all of its major cities totally destroyed. The stench of death permeated the air. The dead were still in the basements where they fled when the bombings occurred. The sights of all the rubble and the smells were very depressing. Shortly after my arrival, I was sent to attend the war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany. Seeing these war criminals being tried for what they did to the Jewish people was an experience I’ll never forget. Also, I visited Dachau, one of the concentration camps, and I saw the gas chambers, where the Jews were gassed. And today, there are those who say “it never happened” but I can tell you it did. 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. Königstein Castle near Dresden overlooking the River Elbe was one I particularly enjoyed.
Then too, I thought of my little brother William “Jack” Pratt, my only sibling, who was in the invasion that crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy and Cherbourg, France. He served as a combat medic through six major campaigns and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge while getting some men into a tank to save their lives. After recouping from severe injuries, he was returned to the front and ministered to his fallen comrades, easing their pain and saving many lives. He was decorated for valor, receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and six battle stars for participating in six major campaigns. He helped liberate the concentration camps and sent me pictures of the piles of dead bodies, taken under fire. Oh yes, it happened all right.
When I returned home, after my tour of duty was up, 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 Headquarters U.S. 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. All too soon, (after four years and completing two contracts in Japan) I had to return home.
I spent the last 20 years of my 30 years with the U.S. Government here in Wichita, Kansas, with the Federal Aviation Administration. I love being retired and there are so many wonderful things one can do. I am a firm believer in preserving our environment and our natural resources. I’m an avid recycler, and I support all animal causes and am against cruelty to animals in any manner.
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.
I am proud to be a charter member of the Women’s Memorial which has been built at the entrance to Washington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. I am also indeed honored to have a brick in the Plaza of Heroines at Wichita State University.
Yes, I’ve lived a lot and done a lot. And I’m not ashamed to say somewhat crippled with arthritis, I now rest a lot. I shared my life with a Siamese cat named Simon for many years. He got me up in the morning, told me when it was time to go to bed at night, and came and got me when someone was at the door and I didn’t hear them. Who could ask for more?
Biography provided by Linda, FAG Member #48093613
I was born May 28, 1919 in Douglass, Kansas, in the house my grandfather built. My grandfather was one of the early founders of the town of Douglass, 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. He staked a claim and established a lumber mill. His lumber built most of the town of Douglass at that time. 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, Kansas, American Business College, in Wichita, Kansas, and later attended Wichita State University. Although I am not an alumna of WSU, I have very fond memories of the time I spent there.
During World War II, I joined the Women’s Army Air Force (WAAF) and took my basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.. I served in La Junta, Colorado, at a Fighter Pilot Training Base. I was then transferred to HQ United States Air Force, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. from where I was eventually sent overseas to serve in the Army of Occupation. I was assigned to HQ, United States Forces European Theater of Operation (ETO) in Frankfurt, Germany. At this time Germany lay in ruins with all of its major cities totally destroyed. The stench of death permeated the air. The dead were still in the basements where they fled when the bombings occurred. The sights of all the rubble and the smells were very depressing. Shortly after my arrival, I was sent to attend the war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany. Seeing these war criminals being tried for what they did to the Jewish people was an experience I’ll never forget. Also, I visited Dachau, one of the concentration camps, and I saw the gas chambers, where the Jews were gassed. And today, there are those who say “it never happened” but I can tell you it did. 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. Königstein Castle near Dresden overlooking the River Elbe was one I particularly enjoyed.
Then too, I thought of my little brother William “Jack” Pratt, my only sibling, who was in the invasion that crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy and Cherbourg, France. He served as a combat medic through six major campaigns and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge while getting some men into a tank to save their lives. After recouping from severe injuries, he was returned to the front and ministered to his fallen comrades, easing their pain and saving many lives. He was decorated for valor, receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and six battle stars for participating in six major campaigns. He helped liberate the concentration camps and sent me pictures of the piles of dead bodies, taken under fire. Oh yes, it happened all right.
When I returned home, after my tour of duty was up, 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 Headquarters U.S. 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. All too soon, (after four years and completing two contracts in Japan) I had to return home.
I spent the last 20 years of my 30 years with the U.S. Government here in Wichita, Kansas, with the Federal Aviation Administration. I love being retired and there are so many wonderful things one can do. I am a firm believer in preserving our environment and our natural resources. I’m an avid recycler, and I support all animal causes and am against cruelty to animals in any manner.
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.
I am proud to be a charter member of the Women’s Memorial which has been built at the entrance to Washington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. I am also indeed honored to have a brick in the Plaza of Heroines at Wichita State University.
Yes, I’ve lived a lot and done a lot. And I’m not ashamed to say somewhat crippled with arthritis, I now rest a lot. I shared my life with a Siamese cat named Simon for many years. He got me up in the morning, told me when it was time to go to bed at night, and came and got me when someone was at the door and I didn’t hear them. Who could ask for more?
Biography provided by Linda, FAG Member #48093613
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