National Archives
Just because I haven’t posted lately doesn’t mean I haven’t been diligently working on my research! Last week I spent two days at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. It was an amazing, exciting, high security experience. I am now a registered researcher!
The staff helped me a lot, but it is evident that before I go back I need to have assistance from an Archivist who specializes in the OSS.
The OSS records from the 1940′s are filed in individual boxes. I haven’t quite grasped the organizational strategy. I tried to order only boxes from Stockholm, but that’s not what showed up. Out of about 40 boxes that I had pulled, only about 10 were significant.
However from these @ 10 boxes, I found evidence that both my parents were involved in espionage activities. My Mother was on staff with the OSS. She researched, typed, organized records about the activities of spies … spies for the Allies and spies for the Nazi’s. The OSS kept detailed files on anyone and everyone who might have clandestine connections.
Hedvig E. Johnson's handwriting on OSS memo
The first time I turned a page and saw a memo with her handwriting I gasped. Proof!
I also found memos written by Herman F. Allen when he was describing his activities spying on Nazi spies!
Tomorrow I am traveling to Ashland, Mississippi to visit and interview Don Courson, the left waist gunner of the Liberty Lady.
More to come!
Pat,
Did your mother and dad discuss these things with you while growing up, or in your late adult life? All of this is so interesting. Very impressed with your research!
Marilyn
They never discussed anything in detail. My mother always said, “I could never talk about what we did.” I am sure they had to swear they never would. My deepest regret is that I never questioned Mother while she was alive … nor my Dad when he could remember.