The Ohio History Connection recently acquired several items relating to the military service of Kathleen Donahue (née Ruff) who served with the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (known as “SPARs”) from 1944 to 1946.  Created in 1942 during World War II, the SPARs (derived from the Coast Guard’s motto “Semper Paratus, Always Ready”) program was implemented to allow women to replace domestically stationed male Coast Guard members who were needed at sea or abroad.  From 1942 to 1946, over 10,000 women served as SPARs at Coast Guard stations throughout the country, taking on crucial roles such as radio operators, air traffic controllers, logistic specialists, photographers, and clerical workers.

Claflin, Tina M., "United States Coast Guard Women’s Reserve Spars," Donna Vojvodich, and Kathleen M Donahue. Kathleen M. Donahue Collection. 1944. Personal Narrative.

"Facts about SPARS: Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS) during World War II.” Illinois State Library: World War II – Documents. 1943.

Lyne, Mary C. and Kay Arthur, "Three Years Behind the Mast," US Coast Guard (1946), p. 70.

MacGregor, Morris J., "Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965," Defense Studies Series, U.S. Army Center of Military History (1981), p. 98.

Sperk, Thyrie Bland. “Coast Guard Honors Passing of Trailblazer Dorothy Kurtz.” The News-Press, September 22, 2016.

Thomson, Robin J., "The Coast Guard & The Women's Reserve in World War II" (1992), p. 5.

Willoughby, Malcom F., "The U.S. Coast Guard in World War II" (1957), p. 32-33.