CNN just showed the OSS and first CIA HQ on Navy Hill in Washington, DC. The OSS Society had this site added to the National Register of Historic Places.

OTD in 1945, FDR met with King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia aboard the USS Quincy in Great Bitter Lake, Egypt. The man kneeling, who served as FDR's translator and arranged the meeting, was the OSS’ legendary Col. William Eddy, USMC, the "Lawrence of America.”

Happy Valentine's Day from OSS veterans Julia & Paul Child

Amb. David Bruce, who served as head of OSS Operations in Europe, was born OTD 1898. He is the only person to have served as US ambassador to the UK, France, and Germany. He is shown here with Hemingway before liberating the bar at the Hotel Ritz in Paris on 8/25/44.

Our award-winning short documentary, "Filming Under Fire: John Ford's OSS Field Photo Branch," is an official selection of the Yountville International Short Film Festival. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society for "preserving this history and keeping it in our conversations 80 years later."

A memorial to the OSS Dawes Mission was placed at Mauthausen Concentration Camp in honor of its 13 personnel and @apnews.com correspondent Joseph Morton who were executed there on January 24, 1945.

Will Burtin, a graphic designer and a refugee from Nazi Germany, was born on this date in 1908. He served in the OSS Presentation Branch. His influence on graphic design was said to equal Albert Einstein’s influence on physics.

Our short documentary, "Filming Under Fire: John Ford's OSS Field Photo Branch," will be shown at the Yountville International Short Film Festival on January 31, 2026. Steven Spielberg thanked us for "preserving this history and keeping it in our conversations 80 years later." filmingunderfire.org

Today’s @nytimes.com crossword puzzle (8D)

OSS founder Gen. William “Wild Bill” Donovan was born OTD 1883. He is the only person in our nation’s history to receive its four highest decorations, including the Medal of Honor. He is the founding father of the US Intelligence and Special Operations communities.

Marlene Dietrich was born OTD 124 years ago. During WW2, she recorded songs in German for the OSS Morale Operations that were broadcast to demoralize German soldiers. When she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she said it was the proudest moment of her life.

This new book is about the “Carpetbaggers” - the 801st/492nd Bombardment Group - the air arm of OSS and the predecessor to the USAF Special Operations Command. We inscribed “Carpetbagger” on the OSS Congressional Gold Medal to honor them. www.simonandschuster.com/books/Midnig...

OTD 2021, the OSS Memorial was installed at Arlington National Cemetery.

The OSS Congressional Gold Medal Act was signed into law by President @barackobama.bsky.social OTD 2016.

Paula Doyle, who serves as a Director of The OSS Society, laid a wreath at the OSS Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery today as part of Wreaths Across America.

Dulles International Airport was designed by the legendary architect and OSS veteran Eero Saarinen. Dan Kiley, a Harvard-trained architect who served alongside Saarinen in the OSS Presentation Branch, designed its landscaping. Kiley also designed the courtroom for the Nuremberg Trials.

OTD 2016 the House of Representatives passed the OSS Congressional Gold Medal Act. latta.house.gov/news/documen...

The premiere of “Casablanca” was OTD in 1942 shortly after Casablanca was liberated as part of Operation TORCH. OSS and its “12 Apostles” gathered intelligence for TORCH. Alberto Morin played the French officer who punched the Nazi - good training for his future OSS service.

The Nuremberg Trials began OTD 1945. As early as October 1943, OSS founder Gen. William Donovan was urging FDR to plan for post-war prosecution of the Nazi High Command. The British government, US military, and the State Department were indifferent to the issue.

Washington Dulles International Airport opened 62 years ago yesterday. It was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and landscape architect Dan Kiley who both served in the OSS Presentation Branch.

Here’s a montage from this year’s William J. Donovan Award® Dinner, the preeminent annual gathering of the U.S. intelligence and special operations communities. vimeo.com/1137531655

Georg Olden - a pioneering graphic designer who served in the OSS Presentation Branch, was born OTD 1920. He was appointed as the head of graphic design for CBS Television at the age of 25. He pioneered the field of broadcast graphics. In 2007, he received the AIGA Medal posthumously.

Words to live by from the OSS's Special Operations Field Manual: "Be as irritable and quarrelsome as possible without getting yourself into trouble."

If you are attending today’s ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery commemorating Veterans Day, the OSS Memorial is at the intersection of Roosevelt and Grant Drives in Section 2 near General Donovan’s grave.

Happy 250th birthday to the US Marine Corps! To learn about the legendary Marines who served in OSS, watch our short documentary, “Call Sign CHAOS: Gen. Jim Mattis and the US Marine Corps.” youtu.be/KzvYCIUhAt0?...

As early as Oct. ‘43, OSS founder Gen. William Donovan was urging FDR to plan for post-war prosecution of the Nazi High Command. OSS gathered a vast amount of evidence. 200 OSS personnel served on the prosecution team. Donovan was an assistant to the chief prosecutor. OSS designed the courtroom.

Today’s NYT crossword puzzle

(L to R) Gen. Dan Caine, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Bryan Fenton, USA, the 13th Commander of the US Special Operations Command; and Charles Pinck, President of The OSS Society, at The OSS Society’s William J. Donovan Award Dinner in Washington, DC, on October 18, 2025.

The renowned cocktail historian, author, and The OSS Society’s bartender, Philip Greene, presented the Army Navy Cocktail to celebrate the 250th anniversary of their founding at last week’s William J. Donovan Award® Dinner, the preeminent annual gathering of the IC/SOF. vimeo.com/1129862189/0...

Our short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” received a Leo Award for Best Short Documentary from the DaVinci International Film Festival. #davincifilmfestival #davinciinternationalfilmfestival

Our short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s Field Photo Branch,” won Best Short Documentary - and a coveted Leo Award - at the DaVinci International Film Festival. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society “for preserving this history and keeping it in our conversations 80 years later.”

Our award-winning short documentary is being shown tomorrow at the DaVinci International Film Festival in Los Angeles. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society for “preserving this history and keeping it our conversations 80 years later.”

Our award-winning short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford's OSS Field Photo Branch,” was selected by the DaVinci International Film Festival. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society “for preserving this history and keeping it our conversations 80 years later.” vimeo.com/osssociety/f...

“The U.S. created its first spy agency, O.S.S. - a precursor to the CIA - with the help of Fleming, who impressed officials with his advice about espionage & his willingness to take chances.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/t...

The OSS’s Julia Child was born OTD 1912. Although her encounters with OSS founder Gen. William Donovan were minor, Child recalled that his aura always remained with her.

My July 26 book talk and signing at Barnes & Noble in Seven Corners is now a unique opportunity to meet LtCol/Rev Richard Kim and Arthur Kim, two of the four Kim brothers featured in Victory in Shanghai. @osssociety.bsky.social stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/978006...

Our award-winning short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” is an official selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival. www.filmingunderfire.org

OSS’s predecessor, the Office of the Coordinator of Information, was created OTD 1941. text-message.blogs.archives.gov/2021/07/08/w...

Join me at the Barnes & Noble in Seven Corners, VA on Saturday July 26 at noon for a meet-and-greet and book signing for my latest book, Victory in Shanghai: A Korean American Family's Journey to the CIA and the Army Special Forces. @osssociety.bsky.social stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/978006...

The OSS’s Virginia Hall, the only American civilian woman who received the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II, died OTD in 1982. General Donovan presented the decoration to her himself.

“The Great Escape” was released 64 years ago today. Steve McQueen’s character was based on the OSS’s legendary Jerry Sage.

Today is Indiana Jones Day. OSS recruited a number of archeologists who used their profession as cover. Indiana Jones was OSS, too, which he revealed in “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.”