The OSS Society
@osssociety.bsky.social
The OSS Society honors the historic accomplishments of the World War II predecessor to CIA, USSOCOM, and INR. It educates the American public about the importance of strategic intelligence and special operations to the preservation of freedom.
Georg Olden - a pioneering graphic designer who served in the OSS Presentation Branch, was born OTD 1920. He was appointed as the head of graphic design for CBS Television at the age of 25. He pioneered the field of broadcast graphics. In 2007, he received the AIGA Medal posthumously.
November 13, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Georg Olden - a pioneering graphic designer who served in the OSS Presentation Branch, was born OTD 1920. He was appointed as the head of graphic design for CBS Television at the age of 25. He pioneered the field of broadcast graphics. In 2007, he received the AIGA Medal posthumously.
If you are attending today’s ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery commemorating Veterans Day, the OSS Memorial is at the intersection of Roosevelt and Grant Drives in Section 2 near General Donovan’s grave.
November 11, 2025 at 10:46 AM
If you are attending today’s ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery commemorating Veterans Day, the OSS Memorial is at the intersection of Roosevelt and Grant Drives in Section 2 near General Donovan’s grave.
Happy 250th birthday to the US Marine Corps! To learn about the legendary Marines who served in OSS, watch our short documentary, “Call Sign CHAOS: Gen. Jim Mattis and the US Marine Corps.”
youtu.be/KzvYCIUhAt0?...
youtu.be/KzvYCIUhAt0?...
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Happy 250th birthday to the US Marine Corps! To learn about the legendary Marines who served in OSS, watch our short documentary, “Call Sign CHAOS: Gen. Jim Mattis and the US Marine Corps.”
youtu.be/KzvYCIUhAt0?...
youtu.be/KzvYCIUhAt0?...
As early as Oct. ‘43, OSS founder Gen. William Donovan was urging FDR to plan for post-war prosecution of the Nazi High Command. OSS gathered a vast amount of evidence. 200 OSS personnel served on the prosecution team. Donovan was an assistant to the chief prosecutor. OSS designed the courtroom.
November 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
As early as Oct. ‘43, OSS founder Gen. William Donovan was urging FDR to plan for post-war prosecution of the Nazi High Command. OSS gathered a vast amount of evidence. 200 OSS personnel served on the prosecution team. Donovan was an assistant to the chief prosecutor. OSS designed the courtroom.
Today’s NYT crossword puzzle
November 8, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Today’s NYT crossword puzzle
(L to R) Gen. Dan Caine, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Bryan Fenton, USA, the 13th Commander of the US Special Operations Command; and Charles Pinck, President of The OSS Society, at The OSS Society’s William J. Donovan Award Dinner in Washington, DC, on October 18, 2025.
November 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
(L to R) Gen. Dan Caine, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Bryan Fenton, USA, the 13th Commander of the US Special Operations Command; and Charles Pinck, President of The OSS Society, at The OSS Society’s William J. Donovan Award Dinner in Washington, DC, on October 18, 2025.
Our short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” received a Leo Award for Best Short Documentary from the DaVinci International Film Festival.
#davincifilmfestival #davinciinternationalfilmfestival
#davincifilmfestival #davinciinternationalfilmfestival
October 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Our short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” received a Leo Award for Best Short Documentary from the DaVinci International Film Festival.
#davincifilmfestival #davinciinternationalfilmfestival
#davincifilmfestival #davinciinternationalfilmfestival
Our short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s Field Photo Branch,” won Best Short Documentary - and a coveted Leo Award - at the DaVinci International Film Festival. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society “for preserving this history and keeping it in our conversations 80 years later.”
October 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Our short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s Field Photo Branch,” won Best Short Documentary - and a coveted Leo Award - at the DaVinci International Film Festival. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society “for preserving this history and keeping it in our conversations 80 years later.”
Our award-winning short documentary is being shown tomorrow at the DaVinci International Film Festival in Los Angeles. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society for “preserving this history and keeping it our conversations 80 years later.”
October 12, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Our award-winning short documentary is being shown tomorrow at the DaVinci International Film Festival in Los Angeles. Steven Spielberg thanked The OSS Society for “preserving this history and keeping it our conversations 80 years later.”
The OSS’s Julia Child was born OTD 1912. Although her encounters with OSS founder Gen. William Donovan were minor, Child recalled that his aura always remained with her.
August 16, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The OSS’s Julia Child was born OTD 1912. Although her encounters with OSS founder Gen. William Donovan were minor, Child recalled that his aura always remained with her.
Our award-winning short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” is an official selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival.
www.filmingunderfire.org
www.filmingunderfire.org
August 2, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Our award-winning short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” is an official selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival.
www.filmingunderfire.org
www.filmingunderfire.org
The OSS’s Virginia Hall, the only American civilian woman who received the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II, died OTD in 1982. General Donovan presented the decoration to her himself.
July 8, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The OSS’s Virginia Hall, the only American civilian woman who received the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II, died OTD in 1982. General Donovan presented the decoration to her himself.
“The Great Escape” was released 64 years ago today. Steve McQueen’s character was based on the OSS’s legendary Jerry Sage.
July 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
“The Great Escape” was released 64 years ago today. Steve McQueen’s character was based on the OSS’s legendary Jerry Sage.
Today is Indiana Jones Day. OSS recruited a number of archeologists who used their profession as cover. Indiana Jones was OSS, too, which he revealed in “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.”
July 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Today is Indiana Jones Day. OSS recruited a number of archeologists who used their profession as cover. Indiana Jones was OSS, too, which he revealed in “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.”
Our award-winning short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” is an official selection of the Bedford International Film Festival: bedfordfilmfest.com/about
June 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Our award-winning short documentary, “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” is an official selection of the Bedford International Film Festival: bedfordfilmfest.com/about
Happy 250th birthday to the U.S. Army that contributed the most personnel to OSS of all the armed services.
June 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Happy 250th birthday to the U.S. Army that contributed the most personnel to OSS of all the armed services.
On this anniversary of D-Day, we are honored to share our award-winning short documentary, “Operation Overlord: OSS and the Battle for France.” It tells the story of Allied special forces whose daring exploits changed the course of World War II. vimeo.com/1017308385/4...
June 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
On this anniversary of D-Day, we are honored to share our award-winning short documentary, “Operation Overlord: OSS and the Battle for France.” It tells the story of Allied special forces whose daring exploits changed the course of World War II. vimeo.com/1017308385/4...
OTD 1944, the first OSS Jedburgh team (HUGH) parachuted into France in advance of the Allied invasion. The “Jeds” were three-man, multinational teams whose purpose was to support local resistance movements and carry out military operations against the Germans. 93 teams were inserted into France.
June 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
OTD 1944, the first OSS Jedburgh team (HUGH) parachuted into France in advance of the Allied invasion. The “Jeds” were three-man, multinational teams whose purpose was to support local resistance movements and carry out military operations against the Germans. 93 teams were inserted into France.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” Spielberg’s first choice to play Quint was the OSS’s Sterling Hayden seen here in a still from “Dr. Strangelove.” Hayden served as a Marine in the OSS Maritime Unit, precursor to the Navy SEALs, and received the Silver Star.
June 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” Spielberg’s first choice to play Quint was the OSS’s Sterling Hayden seen here in a still from “Dr. Strangelove.” Hayden served as a Marine in the OSS Maritime Unit, precursor to the Navy SEALs, and received the Silver Star.
OTD 1945, the OSS’s Virginia Hall received the Distinguished Service Cross, the only American civilian woman who received this decoration in WWII.
When OSS received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2018, we inscribed CUTHBERT - the nickname Hall gave her prosthetic leg - on the medal to honor her.
When OSS received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2018, we inscribed CUTHBERT - the nickname Hall gave her prosthetic leg - on the medal to honor her.
May 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
OTD 1945, the OSS’s Virginia Hall received the Distinguished Service Cross, the only American civilian woman who received this decoration in WWII.
When OSS received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2018, we inscribed CUTHBERT - the nickname Hall gave her prosthetic leg - on the medal to honor her.
When OSS received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2018, we inscribed CUTHBERT - the nickname Hall gave her prosthetic leg - on the medal to honor her.
A ceremony was held in Castres, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. CyrilPefaure - a French Special Forces veteran - and MeredithWheeler hold the floral tribute from The OSS Society. Cyril's son, Alexy, carried the OSS flag.
May 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A ceremony was held in Castres, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. CyrilPefaure - a French Special Forces veteran - and MeredithWheeler hold the floral tribute from The OSS Society. Cyril's son, Alexy, carried the OSS flag.
To commemorate #StarWarsDay, here's a picture of OSS Jedburgh Team Frederick. The Jedburghs, or Jeds, were predecessors to U.S. Special Forces. Could they have been the inspiration for the Jedi Knights?
May 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
To commemorate #StarWarsDay, here's a picture of OSS Jedburgh Team Frederick. The Jedburghs, or Jeds, were predecessors to U.S. Special Forces. Could they have been the inspiration for the Jedi Knights?