World War II Honoree

Virginia Hall

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland

Honored By

Grateful American

SHE WANTED TO BECOME A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULDN'T HIRE HER BECAUSE SHE WAS AN AMPUTEE. SHE WAS LIVING IN PARIS WHEN THE GERMANS INVADED IN 1940. SHE LEFT FOR LONDON WHERE SHE WAS RECRUITED BY THE SECRET BRITISH PARAMILITARY SERVICE AND BECAUSE SHE SPOKE FLUENT FRENCH, WAS SENT TO LYON, TO WORK IN THE FRENCH RESISTANCE. IN 1942 THE GESTAPO CIRCULATED POSTERS OFFERING A REWARD FOR THE CAPTURE OF 'THE WOMAN WITH A LIMP. SHE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS OF ALL ALLIED SPIES AND WE MUST FIND AND DESTROY HER.' SHE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL PRESENTED BY OFFICE OF STRATEGIC STRATEGIES (OSS) CHIEF WILLIAM DONOVAN. SHE WAS THE ONLY CIVILIAN WOMAN TO WIN THE MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN WWII.