Students reject honor to WWII hero (Political Corruption)

Students reject honor to WWII hero Member of Marines not 'sort of person UW wanted to produce' Posted: February 14, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern

Lt. Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington during World War II (Photo: National Archives) The University of Washington's student senate rejected a memorial for alumnus Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of "Black Sheep Squadron" fame amid concerns a military hero who shot down enemy planes was not the right kind of person to represent the school.

Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government's meeting last week, said she "didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce."

Ashley Miller, another senator, argued "many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men."

Senate member Karl Smith amended the resolution to eliminate a clause that said Boyington "was credited with destroying 26 enemy aircraft, tying the record for most aircraft destroyed by a pilot in American Uniform," for which he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Smith, according to the minutes, said "the resolution should commend Colonel Boyington's service, not his killing of others."

The senate's decision was reported first by Seattle radio talk-host Kirby Wilbur of KVI, whose listeners were "absolutely incensed," according to producer Matt Haver.

Brent Ludeman, president of the university's College Republicans, told WND in an e-mail the decision "reflects poorly on the university."

"Pappy Boyington went beyond the call of duty to serve and protect this country – he simply deserves better," Ludeman said. "Just last year, the university erected a memorial to diversity. Why can't we do the same for Pappy Boyington and others who have defended our country?"

The resolution points out Boyington, a student at the UW from 1930-34, served as a combat pilot in the 1st Squadron, American Volunteer Group – the "Flying Tigers of China" – and later as a Marine Corps combat pilot in charge of Marine Fighting Squadron 214, "The Black Sheep Squadron."

Along with the Navy Cross, Boyington was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his heroism. He was shot down and spent 20 months in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.

The resolution says, "Be it resolved … [t]hat we consider Col. Gregory Boyington, United States Marine Corps, to be a prime example of the excellence that this university represents and strives to impart upon its students, and, That we desire for a memorial for Col. Boyington be commenced by the University of Washington by 11 January 2008, the twentieth anniversary of his death, which will be publicly displayed, so that all who come here in future years will know that the University of Washington produced one of this country's bravest men, and that we as a community hold this fact in the highest esteem."

Commenting on the decision, a blogger who says he met Boyington on numerous occasions at a museum and air show over the years noted the famous flyer "was no rich boy," having grown up in a struggling family in which he was forced to work hard to make it through school. The blogger, who hosts the website Paradosis, also pointed out Boyington was part Sioux.

Boyington was open about his marital problems and alcohol abuse, saying notably, "Just name a hero and I'll prove he's a bum."

The blogger wondered, "have our Washington youth revised history so much as this? To compare Boyington – or for that matter any of our WW2 vets – to murderers? What are these kids being taught today? They don't deserve those 20 months Pappy spent being tortured and beaten in a Japanese prison camp ... they don't deserve any of what our grandfathers and grandmothers sacrificed to free Europe and the Pacific."

Boyington wrote a book in 1958 that reached the best-seller list, "Baa Baa, Black Sheep." In 1976, he sold rights to Universal, which aired a TV series for two seasons of the same name.

Source: http://senate.asuw.org/secretary/minutes/senate/12/01-03-2006.pdf

R-12-18 A Resolution to Calling for a Tribute for Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, USMC

Andrew Everett, sponsor of the legislation, summarized the resolution. He said he wasn’t interested in a large statue, but rather something on a small scale.

Jill Edwards moved to table the resolution until next meeting. Seconded.

Objection.

Jill Edwards said other legislation needed to be considered as other resolutions have been on the docket longer.

Mikhail Smirnoff said he didn’t see the issue as controversial and that because Senate had voted it to the top of the agenda it should be considered immediately.

The motion failed.

Travis McCoy asked how the construction of the memorial would be funded.

Andrew Everett said he had drawn up funding proposals for the UWAA, several UW departments, and other private sources of funding.

A senator asked why Andrew Everett was interested in honoring this particular alumnus.

Andrew Everett said he had read about Colonel Boyington and thought his achievements warranted recognition.

Tyler Dockins asked why the monument shouldn’t commemorate all the alumni who fought in the war.

Andrew Everett noted that several statues around campus already serve such a purpose and that Colonel Boyington had many of the qualities the University of Washington hoped to produce in its students.

Jill Edwards said she didn’t’ believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce.

Ashley Miller commented that many monuments at UW already
commemorate rich white men.

Karl Smith amended the first ‘whereas’ clause to strike the section “he was credited with destroying 26 enemy aircraft, tying the record for most aircraft destroyed by a pilot in American Uniform for which he was” and
leaving the reference to the Navy Cross. Seconded.

Objection.

He said the resolution should commend Colonel Boyington’s service, not his killing of others.

Andrew Everett said a destroyed aircraft was not necessarily indicative that a pilot had died. He said the statistic on aircraft downed explained Colonel Boyington’s achievements and why his performance was noteworthy.

Deidre Lockman said she was in favor of the resolution and approved of Karl Smith’s amendment.

Sam Al-Khoury moved to close debate on the amendment. Seconded.

Passed without objection.

The amendment passed.

Erin Shields asked what the process is for erecting a memorial on campus.

Andrew Everett said it was a process he would push through personally. He said it would go to the university administration, then to the Capital Projects Committee for placement consideration, and back to the administration for a final discussion on the monument.

Niki Iglesias moved to close debate. Seconded.

Objection. The motion failed.

Shawn Fisher moved to amend the second ‘that’ clause and strike the deadline of 11 January 2008. He said he was against the resolution, but that if it did pass, he wanted the statue to be of a high quality and said the project shouldn’t be rushed.

Mikhail Smirnoff noted the resolution didn’t require the statue to be finished, but merely have the process started by that time.

Melissa Aar said she was against the amendment because of the significance of the date.

Shawn Fisher moved to close debate. Seconded.

Passed without objection.

Debate was closed. The amendment failed.

A Senator said he feared Senate was rubber stamping a project that it didn’t know enough about. He noted that Senate didn’t have any specification for the statue’s appearance or details on its placement.

Jon Lee said he didn’t want to see a campus inundated with memorials. He said he feared this would open the invitation to multiple other memorials.

Andrew Everett said he envisioned a monument similar to the Lincoln Brigade outside of the HUB. He said he respected the history of the UW institution and the people it has produced and that the UW owes it to students to honors those from the past.

Deidre Lockman moved to strike the quote from President Roosevelt. Seconded.

Objection.

She said the resolution focused more heavily on the negative aspects of war and should instead focus on more positive aspects such as the awarding of the Medal of Honor.

Travis Grandy moved to amend the amendment to restore “whose citation was signed by pres. Franklin D Roosevelt in March 1944”. Seconded.

Passed without objection.

Shawn Fisher said he thought the quote was unnecessary and reflected badly on the resolution.

Alex Kerchner said the issue was clear cut and that it didn’t make any sense to commend Colonel Boyington for his Medal of Honor, and yet remove the reason it was awarded.

Mikhail Smirnoff said it was important to note what the Colonel actually achieved. He said it didn’t make sense to not acknowledge why he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Jon Evans moved to close debate on the amendment. Seconded.

Objection. The motion passed. Debate was closed on the amendment.

The amendment failed.

Mikhail Smirnoff said he supported the resolution. He said the resolution does not support a final product, but that it only supports the concept of the monument. He said he understood the sentiment of not wanting to reward those who fought in the war, but that he thought those who fought
in WWII were heros and that it was a much different war than the controversial war in Iraq.

Evan Roberts moved to close debate. Seconded.

Objection. The motion failed.

Division was called. The motion passed.

Debate was closed on the resolution.

Division was called on the resolution. The vote was tied.

Alex Kim noted that in the case of a tie, the Senate Chair cast the tiebreaking vote.

Alex Kim voted nay. The resolution failed.

Zachary Tobin called for a roll call vote.

Alex Kim called the motion out of order as the results of the vote had already been announced.

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