The United States Army Special Operations Command has received the Congressional Medal awarded to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The special operations forces and intelligence community organizations that trace their roots to the OSS are receiving an honorary replica.
The award will be on display in the USASOC headquarters building at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 2016 Congress made the award to the OSS in recognition of their superior service and significant contributions during the second World War. [1]
The medal acknowledges the contributions made by OSS members to the war effort during World War II. One of the lasting effects of the OSS was the establishment of intelligence and special operations forces during the post-WWII period and the beginning of the Cold War. In particular, the OSS was the precursor to the U.S. Army Special Forces and the Central Intelligence Agency. In June 2017 the 75th OSS anniversary was celebrated.
LTG Francis Beaudette received the coveted Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of USASOC. LTG (Ret) Charles Cleveland, former USASOC commander and a member of the OSS Society, presented the medal to USASOC.
The OSS was established in June 1941. William Dovovan was appointed as director of the OSS. The purpose of the organization was to perform a variety of intelligence and special operations missions around the world – to include Europe, Asia, and other locations. At the end of World War II the Office of Strategic Services was disestablished; however, some OSS members remained in the military – later joining U.S. Army Special Forces (established in 1952). Others found themselves as early members of the Central Intelligence Agency.
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References:
[1] See Public Law 114-269 published on December 14, 2016.
[2] Some content for this article came from USASOC receives Congressional Medal, U.S. Army, August 21, 2019.
https://www.army.mil/article/226073/usasoc_receives_congressional_medal
Photo: USASOC Commanding General, LTG Francis Beaudette poses for a photo with retired LTC Charles Cleveland at a ceremony August 16, 2019, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Between them is a painting of Maj. Gen. William Donovan, who led the Office of Strategic Services.
(Photo by: U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Allums, U.S. Army)
