World War II Honoree

Violet F. Davis Becker

Hometown

Carnegie, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, AND WORKED FOR THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES (OSS) DURING THE WAR. THE OSS WAS THE U.S. WARTIME INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, CREATED IN JUNE, 1942, AND ABOLISHED IN SEPTEMBER, 1945. IT WAS THE FORERUNNER OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA). OSS HEADQUARTERS WAS LOCATED IN TEMPORARY BUILDING Q, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., NEXT TO THE REFLECTING POOL BETWEEN THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. THE OSS WAS ORGANIZED INTO 5 BRANCHES: 1. SECRET INTELLIGENCE FOR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND ESPIONAGE; 2. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FOR PARACHUTING AGENTS INTO ENEMY TERRITORY, SABOTAGE, AND PROVIDING AID TO RESISTANCE FIGHTERS; 3. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS FOR DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALLIED BOMBING; 4. MORALE OPERATIONS FOR BROADCASTING ‘BLACK’ PROPAGANDA; AND 5. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FOR PROTECTING U.S. INTELLIGENCE.