Mary Babnik Brown

Mary Babnik Brown
BornNovember 22, 1907
Pueblo, Colorado
DiedApril 14, 1991(1991-04-14) (aged 83)
Pueblo, Colorado
Occupation(s)Laborer, labor leader
Parent(s)Frank Wolf Babnik[1] and Mary Babnik[2]
Washington Institute of Technology letter 26 Nov 1943 inviting Brown to submit her hair for the government war effort

Mary Babnik Brown (November 22, 1907 – April 14, 1991) was an American who became known for having donated her hair to the United States military during World War II. Thirty-four inches (86 cm) long, her blonde hair had never been chemically treated or heated with curling irons.[3]

Brown declined compensation for her donation, believing what she had done was her patriotic duty.[2] President Ronald Reagan wrote to her on her 80th birthday in 1987 to thank her, and in 1990 she received a special achievement award from the Colorado Aviation Historical Society during a ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.[3]

  1. ^ Pitts, Gail (April 16, 1991). "Pueblo's Mary Babnik Brown dies at 83 in her family home". The Pueblo Chieftain. Pueblo, Colorado.
  2. ^ a b Gibney, Jim (July 5, 1987). "Pueblo woman's hair went to war – a blond bomber". The Denver Post. Denver, Colorado.
  3. ^ a b "Her hair helped aim WWII bombs". Tampa Tribune. November 19, 1990. p. 5-A.