World War II Honoree

Barbara Jean Bordewich Witt

Hometown

Olivia, Minnesota

Honored By

Col. Thomas B. Witt

Relationship

Son

CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ON THE WAR FRONT. TESTED, SECURITY CLEARED AND HIRED BY STATE DEPARTMENT, THEN TRAINED IN WHAT IS NOW THE OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING ATTIC TO OPERATE THE TOP SECRET CRYPTOGRAPH. SENIOR OPERATOR IN LONDON EMBASSY CAUGHT AS SPY SO SHE WAS GIVEN ONE WEEK TO GET CLOTHES FROM HOME, THEN FLOWN IN A SIKORSKY CLIPPER AIRPLANE TO ENGLAND WHERE SHE SPENT OVER 2 YEARS AS THE SENIOR CODE OPERATOR IN THE LONDON EMBASSY. A V-2 ROCKET DESTROYED HALF HER APARTMENT BUILDING WHILE LIVING IN LONDON. THERE SHE MET AND MARRIED HER HUSBAND AND ACCOMPANIED HIM FOR THE REST OF HIS 20-YEAR AIR FORCE CAREER, RAISING 3 SONS, ALL OF WHOM SERVED IN THE MILITARY.