Posted on 08/14/2008 2:49:52 AM PDT by Daffynition
One was a historian and assistant to John Kennedy, another was the chef who first introduced French cuisine to American households, and a third was the father of Stewart Copeland, drummer for the band The Police.
In their every day lives they had nothing in common but Arthur Schlesinger Jr, Julia Childs and Miles Copeland shared a secret life - serving in an international spy ring at a time when Hitler was threatening the world.
Their work and that of thousands of other members of the Office of Strategic Services, an early version of the CIA, will be revealed today when previously classified files are opened by the National Archives in the USA. For the first time, the files identifiying nearly 24,000 spies who formed the first centralised intelligence agency will be released and the vast spy network of military and civilian operatives exposed.
Members of the OSS, which was created by President Franklin Roosevelt in World War II to help fight Nazism, included historians, actors, lawyers and athletes. They created propoganda, infiltrated enemy ranks and encouraged resistance amongst foreign troops.
In the service of the OSS, Julia Childs helped develop a shark repellent to ensure that sharks would not explode ordnance that was targeting U-boats, while Kermit Roosevelt, the son of President Thedodore Roosevelt, set up a militia of Inuit.
Others members of the service include Ernest Hemingway's son John, Arthur Goldberg, who went on to become a Supreme Court judge and President Roosevelt's other son, Quentin.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
During his service with Colby, it was Colby's habit to always have a back-up piece in addition to what ever sidearm he carried. Most of the other troops considered that a little too gung-ho and gave Colby the nickname of ‘Two-Gun Bill.’ Back in the 1980’s, this fellow went to a unit reunion and saw Colby there. Talking to Colby, he asked him if he still carried two weapons . . .
Colby opened his jacket and showed his service piece - then rolled up his pants cuff and showed him his back-up. By that time, Colby was well into official retirement. FWIW, I think the ‘circumstances’ surrounding Colby's ‘accidental’ death were highly, highly suspect. This guy never did anything rashly or without an alternate plan. I suspect he was professionally murdered.
“I seem to have cut the dickens out of my finger.”
“Oh the phone is just a stage prop.”
This has been known for years, decades even.
Her OSS kit has been on display at the Smithsonian since they relocated her kitchen there.
You betcha. I think it is remarkable that some 24K operatives were working pre-CIA. That’s quite a network. Heroes all.
My uncle who was US Army, CIA, DIA must be on the list. I’m anxious to see if his name is on it... he was extremely tight-lipped about his service.
Fascinating story. So many things, we’ll never know.
Most young people today know absolutely nothing about history. I would guess that the writer is maybe in her early 20s and doesn’t know bean dip about researching a story. She probably didn’t even know who Julia Child was until someone else told her.
Same with Moe Berg about whom there was a book written some years ago.
OMG! My grandfather spied for the OSS...
Was he a gourmet cook, like Julia Childs? ;)
No, but he made a mean planter’s punch!
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