Giving Thanks to the OSS

As today’s security depends increasingly on intelligence and special operators, Congress should act to honor those who paved their way.

What do attorney James Donovan (portrayed by Tom Hanks in “Bridge of Spies”), the “French Chef” Julia Child, Virginia Hall (the only American civilian woman to receive the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II), Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ralph Bunche, Pulitzer Prize recipient Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Hollywood director John Ford, and architect Eero Saarinen (who designed Dulles Airport) have in common? They all served in the Office of Strategic Services, or OSS, the World War II predecessor to the CIA and the U.S.Special Operations Command.

As we commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II this year – and increasingly rely on our intelligence and special operations communities to defend the United States – we should remember that they were born in the crucible of World War II.

Read the Remainder at Defense One