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William J. Donovan

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U.S. Army soldier during WWII, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat, head of the OSS (1883-1959)

United StatesPoliticiansLived 1883 to 1959 · aged 76
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William Joseph "Wild Bill" Donovan was an American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during World War II.

Also inDeutsch

Photos 9

Lieutenant Colonel William J. Donovan in uniform, September 6, 1918Lieutenant Colonel William J. Donovan in uniform, September 6, 1918General John J. Pershing decorates Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur (third from left) with the Distinguished Service Cross in late 1918. Major General Charles T. Menoher (furthest left) reads out the citation while Colonel George E. Leach (fourth from left) and Lieutenant Colonel William J. Donovan (right) await their decorations.General John J. Pershing decorates Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur (third from left) with the Distinguished Service Cross in late 1918. Major General Charles T. Menoher (furthest left) reads out the citation while Colonel George E. Leach (fourth from left) and Lieutenant Colonel William J. Donovan (right) await their decorations.Medal of Honor presented to Donovan, in the collection of the CIA MuseumMedal of Honor presented to Donovan, in the collection of the CIA MuseumDonovan in 1924, during his time with the Department of JusticeDonovan in 1924, during his time with the Department of JusticeDick Ellis, with whom Donovan met frequentlyDick Ellis, with whom Donovan met frequentlyDonovan (left), Director of the OSS, and Colonel William H. Jackson in April 1945Donovan (left), Director of the OSS, and Colonel William H. Jackson in April 1945Donovan, during his time as ambassadorDonovan, during his time as ambassador

Awards 12

1959Freedom Award
Medal of Honor
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Purple Heart
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Sylvester
Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav‎
Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold
Commander of the Legion of Honour
Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Croix de guerre 1914-1918
Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy‎

Connected to William 6

Vito VolterraAlso won Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy‎Walter HallsteinAlso won Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. SylvesterCyrus VanceAlso won Freedom AwardEugène YsaÿeAlso won Grand Officer of the Order of LeopoldRisto RytiAlso won Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-NassauKarl LuegerAlso won Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold

About this person

William Joseph "Wild Bill" Donovan was an American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during World War II. He is regarded as the founding father of the CIA, and a statue of him stands in the lobby of the CIA headquarters building in Langley, Virginia.

Country
United States
Category
Politicians
Type
Public Official
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1883 to 1959 · aged 76
Written about in
25 languages

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