“The OSS Was an Organization Designed to Do Great Things.” – Adm

“The OSS was an organization designed to do great things.” – Adm. Eric T. Olson, USN (Ret.), former commander, U.S. Special Operations Command

An artist’s rendition of the exterior of the future National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations (NMISO). OSS SOCIETY PHOTO

80 Special Operations Outlook THE OSS SOCIETY Honoring the Legacy and Educating for the Future

BY DWIGHT JON ZIMMERMAN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

81 When the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was terminated “I think our greatest achievement will y following President Harry S Truman’s executive order in 1947 that abolished it, the organization´s founder and only leader, Maj. be when we open the National Museum Gen. William J. Donovan, was determined that the nation´s first intel- of Intelligence and Special Operations ligence and counter-espionage agency would not become forgotten history. Soon after its official demise, in a room in Rockefeller Center [NMISO]. We just signed a lease for in Manhattan, Donovan founded the Veterans of OSS. In the 1990s, an 80-acre site in Loudon County, surviving OSS members were aging and their ranks were rapidly shrinking. Wanting the organization to outlast them, in 1997, Veterans Virginia, on which to build it.” of OSS was reconstituted into the OSS Society in order to carry on the legacy of the OSS, honor those who make noteworthy contributions through their service in the intelligence and special operations communities, and to educate and inspire future generations. In its mission statement, the society states that it honors “the historic accomplishments of the Office of Strategic Services during World War The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress’ highest civilian II – the first organized effort by the United States to implement a central- honor. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, House sponsor of the bill, said ized system of strategic intelligence and the predecessor to the Central the medal will ensure OSS veterans’ “heroic actions during one Intelligence Agency [CIA] and U.S. Special Operations Command” and of our country´s most trying times will not be forgotten.” Sen. the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. “It educates Mark Warner, D-Va., co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said that the American public regarding the continuing importance of strategic with the awarding of the medal, “Congress has ensured that their intelligence and special operations to the preservation of freedom.” courage of spirit and their love of country will long live on in our Charles T. Pinck became president of the OSS Society in 2002 and nation’s memory.” has presided over a number of important achievements. “I think the In a special ceremony at the Capitol on March 21, 2018, Speaker of proudest thing was the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal the House the Honorable Paul Ryan presented the Congressional Gold to the OSS,” he said. “It was a long-fought effort and our proudest Medal. The medal is now on permanent display in the Smithsonian OSS SOCIETY PHOTO PHOTO CREDIT accomplishment so far.” Institution.

82 Special Operations Outlook Opposite: In a ceremony on March 21, 2018, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the OSS. Left: The Congressional Gold Medal that was presented to the OSS. Below: An artist’s rendition of the interior of the future National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations (NMISO).

When the State Department began a redevelopment project on Navy Hill, across the street from the State Department building, Pinck learned that part of that redevelopment included the leveling of the three buildings on Observatory Hill that were the original headquarters of the OSS as well as the first headquarters of its successor, the CIA. “So obviously, the buildings had an important historical connection and we wanted them saved,” Pinck said. On Jan. 12, 2017, after years of hard work, Pinck said, “We had the buildings added to the National Register of Historic Places.” Looking forward, Pinck said, “I think our greatest achievement will be when we open the National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations [NMISO]. We just signed a lease for an 80-acre site in Loudon County, Virginia, on which to build it.” The project began about eight years ago. The society commissioned Lord Cultural Resources to develop a master plan for the complex that included concept, visitor experience, operational, staffing, and facility plans, as well as capital cost estimates and projections of attendance (approximately 100,000 per year for the first five years), operating revenue, and operating expenses. Honorary chairmen and members of the steering committee are former secretaries of defense Robert M. Gates and Leon E. Panetta and Adm. William H. McRaven, USN (Ret.) former commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). “Its purpose is threefold,” Pinck said. “First, to honor Americans serving at the tip of the spear; second, to educate the American public on the role intelligence and special operations have in the preservation of freedom; and finally, inspire future generations of Americans to serve their country. It´s a pretty high calling, but I think it´s something that’s achievable, and I think it is something people will want to support.” Curt Fentress of Fentress Architects was commissioned to design

OSS SOCIETY IMAGES the museum and grounds. Fentress used as his inspiration for the

83 OSS SOCIETY PHOTO

Above: Adm. Eric Olson presenting The OSS Society’s Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Christian Lambertsen at the 2009 William J. Donovan Award Dinner. Right: Air Force Lt. Gen. Scott Howell, vice commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (left) and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shane Gandy, 2017 Peter Ortiz- OSS Award recipient and operations officer for Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), at the William J. Donovan Award Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 21, 2017. veterans, of which there are increasingly fewer, though we had about 20 show up at the latest awards ceremony. Another category landscape the OSS speartip, calling it “A dramatic and iconic architec- is descendants of OSS veterans, and I am in that category. The bulk tural gesture is a befitting salute to Gen. Donovan’s ’glorious amateurs.’” of our membership consists of people who served in intelligence or The 67,000-square-foot museum building features an escalating ribbed special operations, or in some component of our national security. design that reflects the shape and beauty of the wing of the American For anyone else wishing to become a member, we have associate bald eagle. It will contain a 4,000-square-foot lobby and flexible event memberships available. Information for membership can be found space, 19,000 square feet of permanent exhibition space, an educa- on our website.” tional center equipped with flexible learning spaces, and a 200-seat The OSS Society gives out a number of awards recognizing indi- multifunctional space suitable for a wide range of events. viduals who have made important contributions to the intelligence Just as the exterior is an homage to the OSS, so too is the interior and special operations community. Awards are presented at a special design. It is inspired by the Paris Ritz Hotel’s Bar Hemingway. black tie William J. Donovan Award ceremony held each year in Hemingway’s son, John (known as “Jack”) was a member of Washington, D.C. the OSS, working with the resistance in the South of France. The awards include the William J. Donovan Award®, presented “to Hemingway himself briefly served as well, thanks to a “battlefield” an individual who has rendered distinguished service to the United appointment through a handwritten note in a village not far from States of America” and has “exemplified the distinguishing features Paris by OSS commander Col. David Bruce. In an escapade straight that characterized General Donovan’s lifetime of public service.” out of Hollywood, Bruce, Hemingway, and their motley group of The Hugh Montgomery Award ®, in honor of the late Hugh resistance fighters dashed into the city along with the French Montgomery, past chairman of the OSS Society, is ¨given to retired Second Armored Division and American units, winding up at the officers from the CIA in recognition for outstanding service.¨ Ritz Hotel, where they celebrated the liberation of Paris at the bar, The Peter Ortiz Award®, named after Marine Col. Peter Ortiz, the drinking martinis. most decorated member of the OSS, is given to an outstanding active- Displays will feature a wide range of interactive technologies, duty member of SOCOM. re-created “escape rooms,” and mission profiles that allow visitors The Virginia Hall Award®, named after OSS operator Virginia Hall, to go “undercover” on a mission and experience, minus the danger, the only woman to receive the Distinguished Service Cross in World what it must have been like. And the displays will reveal that, as War II, honors women who have performed outstanding service in fascinating as the technology seen in James Bond films was, it is the intelligence or special operations communities. nothing compared to what was used in real life. The John Waller Award®, named in honor of OSS historian John The NMISO will be more than a traditional museum. Officials and Waller, recognizes achievement in intelligence and SOCOM commu- educators from private industry, surrounding school districts, and nity scholarship. Georgetown University are in the process of creating a STEM (science, The Distinguished Service Award® is presented to OSS veterans technology, engineering and math) syllabus that uses the museum´s and other individuals who have made significant contributions to resources and archives as case studies. In addition, it will offer educa- operations or the OSS legacy. tional programs and seminars tailored to the ever-changing needs of The OSS Society provides speakers to a wide variety of groups, is intelligence and special operations personnel as well as contractors the publisher of The OSS Society Journal, and has established OSS that support those communities. memorials in the United States and Europe. It is a 501(c)(3) public Originally, only people who served in the OSS could be members charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. of the OSS Society. Over time that changed. Pinck said that today More information about the OSS Society is available on its website

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA LACEY membership is divided into several categories, beginning with “OSS www.osssociety.org.

85 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2009 2005 2004 1995 1993 1991 1986 1983 1983 1982 1981 1979 1977 1974 1971 1970 1969 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1961 of themilitaryservicesandcombatantcommands. Office, DefenseSecurityService,andtheintelligencecomponents National Geospatial-IntelligenceAgency,Reconnaissance over theNationalSecurityAgency,DefenseIntelligence Defense forIntelligence,exercisingauthority, direction, and control great powerwar. generation long-rangestriketounderseawarfaredeterfuture several othermajorcapabilityinvestmentsrangingfromnext- of special operations forces in America´s history and oversaw operational capabilities.Heconceivedandledthelargestexpansion forces andhadpolicyoversightofalltheDefenseDepartment´s Capabilities, hewasthe¨service¨ secretary forallspecialoperations Special Operations,Low-IntensityConflictandInterdependent and thecovertefforttodriveRedArmyoutofAfghanistan. U.S. government´soperationalresponsetotheBeirutbombings, CIA operationsofficer,participatingintheinvasionofGrenada, a sergeantintheSpecialForces(GreenBerets).Helaterbecame began hislonganddistinguishedcareerintheArmy,servingas ¨distinguished servicetotheUnitedStatesofAmerica.”He D 2017 2016 AWARD RECIPIENTS J. DONOVANWILLIAM From 2011to2015,VickersservedastheUnderSecretaryof From 2007to2011,asAssistantSecretaryofDefensefor the WilliamJ.DonovanAward r. MichaelG.Vickersisthelatestindividualtoreceive Ambassador HughMontgomery The HonorableLeonE.Panetta Adm. WilliamH.McRaven,USN The HonorableRobertM.Gates Adm. EricT.Olson,USN(Ret.) Gen. DavidH.Petraeus,USA Judge WilliamH.Webster The HonorableRalphJ.Bunche The HonorableWilliamE.Colby Dr. CarlF.Eifler President GeorgeH.W.Bush President RonaldW.Reagan Sir WilliamStephenson The HonorableRichardHelms The HonorableJohnA.McCone The RightHonorableMargaretThatcher His ExcellencyJacquesChaban-Delmas The HonorableRobertD.Murphy The HonorableWilliamJ.Casey The HonorableDavidK.E.Bruce Michael Collins,BuzzAldrin The AstronautsofApollo11:NeilArmstrong, J. RussellForgan The HonorableEverettMcKinleyDirksen The EarlMountbattenofBurma President DwightD.Eisenhower Lt. Gen.WilliamW.Quinn The HonorableJohnJ.McCloy The HonorableAllenW.Dulles Dr. MichaelG.Vickers Gen. NortonA.Schwartz,USAF (Ret.) ® inrecognitionofhis 2017 2016 2016 2016 2015 2015 2013 2012 2012 2011 DISTINGUISHED SERVICEAWARD 2017 2016 2015 2014 Presented toretiredCIAoperationsofficers HUGH MONTGOMERYAWARD 2017 2016 2015 Presented toactive-dutymembersofSOCOM PETER ORTIZAWARD Group LOUISE) Clement D.Dowler(foughtwith OSSOperational Bombardment Group,theairarm oftheOSS) Bill Becker(“Carpetbagger,801st/492nd (Heavy) (Special) John Billings,885thBombardmentGroup Italian OperationalGroups:“Donovan’sDevils”) Caesar Daraio&ThomasRossi(foughtwiththeOSS Col. FrankA.Gleason,USA(Ret.) Helias Doundoulakis Col. WilliamH.PietschJr.,USA(Ret.):Jedburgh Operation GREENUP Frederick Mayer,thereal“ingloriousbastard”ofOSS on D-Day Counterintelligence Branch(X-2)andwentashore Ambassador CharlesHostler,whoservedintheOSS’ Gen. WilliamDonovan Fisher Howe,specialassistantto Joseph Wippl David Cohen John D.Bennett Jack Devine CW4 DavidS.Gandy,USA CW4 RobertJ.Hunt,USA CW5 StephenCombs,USA recipient Dr. Michael G. Vickers. G. Dr. Michael recipient J. Donovan William 2017 ®

® ®

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA LACEY