World War II Honoree
Civilian on the Home Front
Mary Forni
Hometown
Hancock, Maine
Honored By
Joe Feaster
Relationship
Veteran
SHE HAD A KEY ROLE IN A LITTLE-KNOWN INCIDENT IN WWII IN WHICH SHE SPOTTED 2 GERMAN SPIES WHO ARRIVED BY U-BOAT ALONG THE MAINE COAST. THE TWO MEN HAD LEFT THE U-BOAT WITH LOADED REVOLVERS AND MORE THAN $100,000 IN CASH AND DIAMONDS. IN JANUARY 1945, THE FBI ANNOUNCED THE CAPTURE OF THE MEN AS SPIES IN NEW YORK. THEY WERE TRIED IN SECRET MILITARY TRIBUNALS AND SENTENCED TO HANGING BUT WERE SPARED BY THE PRESIDENT AS THE WAR WITH GERMANY WAS NEARING ITS END.