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Boyington Memorial Nixed at U. of Wash.
In a move that has ignited a firestorm of protest, students at the University of Washington have turned down a memorial to a famous alumnus who was awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" in World War II. Major Gregory "Pappy” Boyington was a U.S. Marine pilot who commanded the famed Black Sheep Squadron. He shot down 28 Japanese planes, making him a five-time Ace, and spent years in a Japanese hellhole prison camp. But a proposal to erect a memorial in his honor was voted down by the Student Senate. Some students questioned why the university should honor a person who killed others or even honor a Marine.
Story Continues Below According to KOMO-4 News, student Andrew Everett wanted to honor all four U. of Washington graduates who won the Medal of Honor, along with a fifth student who did not graduate. "Pappy Boyington was the most famous,” Everett said. "He wrote a book. There was a TV show about him. He was a legend, a media celebrity of his day." His Black Sheep squadron is featured in the Personal Courage Wing of the Museum of Flight. Kevin Cuba, the military curator at the museum, told KOMO-4 News that it's sad students know so little about Boyington's fight to save their lifestyle. "He didn't just volunteer to go into combat,” said Cuba. "He begged to go into combat. He wanted to serve his country and he did." The refusal to honor Boyington brought a torrent of protest, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Some students reported receiving scores of e-mails and phone calls from people angered by comments from students – including one student leader who questioned why another rich white man should be honored on campus. Few students had any idea who Boyington was even though he was a U of W grad and one of the university’s most illustrious alumni. Wrote one furious blogger: "I'm angry about this … How dare these snot-nose, hemp-wearing, pot-smoking, drum-beating, 'gee when is the financial aid check going to arrive' brat kids diss Pappy Boyington?" The student government now plans to consider supporting the creation of a memorial that would honor all the university's Medal of Honor winners.
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