After her rejection by the State Department, Virginia Hall became the most decorated American female civilian during World War II.
Virginia Hall
Virginia Hall, was savvy enough to anticipate the occupation of Vichy France and only days before the Germans stormed into the region, she made a daring escape by foot over fifty miles of the snowy, rugged Pyrenees Mountains. In Virginia’s case it actually was one foot, her other limb having been amputated at the knee after a hunting accident in her youth. But Virginia Hall’s exploits in France were far from over and she eventually returned to the continent as one of the first recruits of the famed American OSS becoming the most decorated civilian female of World War II.
Robert Alesch
In early August of 1942, a new courier appeared at the offices of the French doctor who was a link in the chain that communicated with Resistance members in Paris. Because he came with microfiche that was sure to contain valuable intelligence, knew the passwords and identifiers associated with other couriers from his Parisian network and was dressed in the robes of a priest, he was initially accepted as genuine. He also knew one of Virginia Hall’s pseudonyms, Marie Monin and he asked for the money that she typically doled out to support activities throughout France. Because he had not told anyone of his arrival, he was informed that the money was not available presently, but he could wait until it was available. Instead, he replied that he would return in a week. It was three weeks before he showed up again, but this time he was insistent that he meet with “Marie” personally. Summoned to the doctor’s office from her nearby location, Virginia was immediately put off by the newcomer’s German accented French and his immediate request for a wireless radio. Although he brought a personal letter of introduction from the previous courier and his arrival coincided with this individual’s request to be replaced, Virginia remained wary of the man who introduced himself as the Abbe Robert Alesch.
Pierre Laval, with SS officers, 1943
One of Petain’s ministers, Pierre Laval, exploited the General’s incipient senility by filling the vacuum at the head of the Vichy Government. Convinced that Nazi Germany would win World War II, he decided to ingratiate himself with the Nazi’s by constructing a harsh and repressive regime. French authorities conscripted French citizens by the millions for German slave labor and eventually cooperated with the roundup of Jews for transport to the death camps of Poland.
Virginia Hall, later in life, on her farm
There she and her husband would live a quiet life, her health deteriorating until she was virtually incapacitated by her amputated limb, most of her time spent at home, reading and no doubt reflecting on her multifaceted service and career. Her health necessitated hospitalization on many occasions and she passed away on July 8, 1982. Her husband died five years later.
After her rejection by the State Department, Virginia Hall became the most decorated American female civilian of World War II
Fake identity card for Virginia Hall
Still, two weeks after Virginia’s return, it was her mother who accompanied her to a private ceremony in Washington, where Wild Bill Donovan formally presented her with the Distinguished Service Cross. Donovan already knew that the OSS was about to be disbanded by President Truman, the organization victim of both politics as Donovan was a prominent Republican and undermining at the hands of J. Edgar Hoover. Virginia got a paltry check for vacation pay, Paul and thousands of others were cut loose without a dime.
Philippe Petain
Petain was viewed as the country’s savior during World War I but at 83 years of age, he was nothing more than a German puppet. His first act upon assuming control of the French government was to request an armistice which was officially signed on June 22, 1940. Germany occupied sixty per cent of the country, including all territory bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. Petain was allowed to select the site of his administrative capital and he settled on the small tourist destination of Vichy. A political conservative, Petain opposed what he considered the excesses of French Republican democracy. What was left of the French government voted to abolish the French Republic and grant Petain virtually dictatorial powers.
Petain and Hitler
Many of the members of the Vichy government suffered retribution. Pierre Laval and Henri Petain were condemned, although in light of his World War I heroics, Petain’s sentence was commuted to life. He was confined to a small island off of Brittany, and upon his death in 1951 was unceremoniously buried there instead of the magnificent resting place previously prepared at Verdun, before the Marshal’s Nazi collaboration. Laval was executed by firing squad.
Painting of Virginia that hangs in the CIA Museum
Within days she was on the move again to Cosnes-Sur-Loire, in central France, a territory with a willing populace but no armaments to engage in any sophisticated destruction. Again, she was able to obtain a cover as an elderly shepherd, her radio coordinating weapons drops into the region. It was the spring of 1944, France on edge as the country waited for the inevitable invasion from across the Channel.
Wild Bill Donovan awards Virginia the DSC
Two weeks after Virginia’s return, it was her mother who accompanied her to a private ceremony in Washington, where Wild Bill Donovan formally presented her with the Distinguished Service Cross. Donovan already knew that the OSS was about to be disbanded by President Truman, the organization victim of both politics as Donovan was a prominent Republican and undermining at the hands of J. Edgar Hoover. Virginia got a paltry check for vacation pay, Paul and thousands of others were cut loose without a dime.
The music used in part one was “Trickle of Water,” by Underbelly and Ty Mayer. Part Two featured “The Sound of a Dollar,” by DJ Williams and “Before I Go,” by RKVC.
Of Some Very Famous People You've Never Really Heard Of…In Less Than An Hour.
