CIA Memorial Wall
38°57′06″N 77°08′48″W / 38.951796°N 77.146586°W
The Memorial Wall is a memorial at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia. It honors CIA employees who died in the line of service.[1]
Memorial
The Memorial Wall is located in the Original Headquarters Building lobby on the north wall. There are 117 stars carved into the white Alabama marble wall,[2] each one representing an employee who died in the line of service.[1] Paramilitary officers of the CIA's Special Activities Division comprise the majority of those memorialized.[3]
A black Moroccan goatskin-bound book, called the "Book of Honor," sits in a steel frame beneath the stars, its "slender case jutting out from the wall just below the field of stars," and is "framed in stainless steel and topped by an inch-thick plate of glass."[4] Inside it shows the stars, arranged by year of death and, when possible, lists the names of employees who died in CIA service alongside them.[1][4] The identities of the unnamed stars remain secret, even in death.[1] In 1997, there were 70 stars, 29 of which had names.[4] There were 79 stars in 2002, [5] 83 in 2004,[6] 90 in 2009,[7] 107 in 2013,[8] 111 in 2014[2] and 117 in 2016. 84 of the 117 entries in the book contain names,[9] while the other employees are represented only by a gold star followed by a blank space.[10][11]
The Wall bears the inscription IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY in gold block letters.[4] The Wall is flanked by the flag of the United States on the left and a flag bearing the CIA seal on the right.[4]
Adding new stars
When new names are added to the Book of Honor, stone carver Tim Johnston of the Carving and Restoration Team in Manassas, Virginia adds a new star to the Wall if that person's star is not already present.[1] Johnston learned the process of creating the stars from the original sculptor of the Wall, Harold Vogel, who created the first 31 stars[6] and the Memorial Wall inscription when the Wall was created in July 1974.[1] The wall was "first conceived as a small plaque to recognize those from the CIA who died in Southeast Asia, the idea quickly grew to a memorial for Agency employees who died in the line of duty."[6] The process used by Johnston to add a new star is as follows:
Johnston creates a star by first tracing the new star on the wall using a template. Each star measures 2¼ inches tall by 2¼ inches wide and half an inch deep; all the stars are six inches apart from each other, as are all the rows. Johnston uses both a pneumatic air hammer and a chisel to carve out the traced pattern. After he finishes carving the star, he cleans the dust and sprays the star black, which as the star ages, fades to gray.[1]
Candidates
The Honor and Merit Awards Board (HMAB) recommends approval of candidates to be listed on the wall to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[1] The CIA states that "Inclusion on the Memorial Wall is awarded posthumously to employees who lose their lives while serving their country in the field of intelligence. Death may occur in the foreign field or in the United States. Death must be of an inspirational or heroic character while in the performance of duty; or as the result of an act of terrorism while in the performance of duty; or as an act of premeditated violence targeted against an employee, motivated solely by that employee's Agency affiliation; or in the performance of duty while serving in areas of hostilities or other exceptionally hazardous conditions where the death is a direct result of such hostilities or hazards."[1] After approval by the director, the Office of Protocol arranges for a new star to be placed on the Wall.[1]
People honored on the Memorial Wall
Other fatalities
Civil Air Transport
On May 6, 1954, during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, two CIA pilots, James B. McGovern, Jr. and Wallace Buford, were killed when their C-119 Flying Boxcar cargo plane was shot down while on a resupply mission for the French military.[71] They worked for Civil Air Transport, which was later reorganized as Air America. Neither of them has a star on the Memorial Wall.
Air America
There were more than 30 pilots and other crew members of the CIA's Air America company that were killed during the Vietnam War that were not counted as part of the agency even though they worked for it.[72][73]
See also
- 1993 shootings at CIA Headquarters
- Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
- National Security Agency/Central Security Service Cryptologic Memorial
- Hugh Francis Redmond
- Dan Mitrione
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Stars on the Wall." Central Intelligence Agency 24 April 2008.
- ^ a b Shapira, Ian (2014-05-22). "CIA's Memorial Wall for Fallen Operatives Is Shaped by a Northern Virginia Stone Carver". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
- ^ Gup, Ted (2000). The Book of Honor: Cover Lives and Classified Deaths at the CIA.
- ^ a b c d e Gup, Ted. "Star Agents: The anonymous stars in the CIA's Book of Honor memorialize covert operatives lost in the field Archived April 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." Washington Post 7 September 1997.
- ^ a b "CIA Honors Slain Agency Officers at Annual Ceremony." Central Intelligence Agency 31 May 2002.
- ^ a b c d "CIA Remembers Employees Killed in the Line of Duty." Central Intelligence Agency 21 May 2004,
- ^ "[1]." Central Intelligence Agency 1 June 2009.
- ^ Remembering CIA's Heroes: Barbara A. Robbins
- ^ a b Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Nels “Benny” Benson
- ^ a b c d e f g CIA discloses names of 15 killed in line of duty
- ^ Rosenberg, Howard L. (January 5, 2010). "The CIA's Secret Grief". The Daily Beast. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
- ^ Amnesia to Anamnesis
- ^ CIA Ginley, Jerome P.
- ^ Cold War Missing In Action Aviator Identified
- ^ a b c d CIA Adds Names to Memorial Wall
- ^ "Remembering CIA's Heroes: Agency Pilots in the U-2 Program." Central Intelligence Agency 14 May 2008.
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 67
- ^ a b c "CIA Adds Four Stars to Memorial Wall." Central Intelligence Agency 20 May 2007.
- ^ Remembering CIA's Heroes: Chiyoki Ikeda
- ^ Remembering CIA's Heroes: Stephen Kasarda
- ^ Wallace, Robert Henry: "Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's spytechs from Communisim to Al Qaeda". Peguin, 2008. pg 273
- ^ Capt Thomas W "Pete" Ray
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 133
- ^ Director Leon E. Panetta Honors First Agency Officer Killed in Vietnam at Annual Memorial Ceremony
- ^ Shapira, Ian (May 6, 2012). "Barbara Robbins: A slain CIA secretary's life and death". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c Special Forces - Roll Of Honour
- ^ Remembering CIA’s Heroes: John W. Waltz
- ^ The CIA and the "Secret" War in Laos: The Battle for Skyline Ridge, 1971-72
- ^ Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Michael McPherson Deuel
Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Michael Arthur Maloney - ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 163
- ^ Arch: CIA to award Navy operative highest honor
- ^ Director Leon E. Panetta Honors First Agency Officer Killed in Vietnam War
- ^ Finding a Mission
- ^ Tribute to Jack W. Weeks, CIA A-12 Project Pilot for Operation
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 207
- ^ Davis, Paul C.
- ^ Remembering CIA's African American Heroes
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 221
- ^ Remembering CIA's Heroes: James A. Rawlings
- ^ "CIA Commemorates 78th Star at Memorial Ceremony." Central Intelligence Agency 8 June 2001.
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 237
- ^ "CIA Holds Ceremony to Honor Fallen Colleagues." Central Intelligence Agency 2 June 2008.
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 261
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 365
- ^ Remembering CIA's Heroes: William F. Buckley
- ^ SLAIN ADVISER THE SOLE AMERICAN AT SALVADOR BASE
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 318
- ^ Ted Gup, The Book of Honor : The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives, 338
- ^ "Lansing Bennett, Physician Slain Outside CIA", Washington Post, January 27, 1993.
- ^ Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Jacqueline K. Van Landingham
- ^ CRASH IN THE BALKANS;Passengers and Crew
- ^ Remembering CIA's Heroes: John Gregory Anthony Celli, III
- ^ CIA Operative Dies in Prison Riot
- ^ Osama raid avenged CIA deaths, a secret until now
- ^ After 13 years, CIA honors Green Beret killed on secret Afghanistan mission
- ^ Afghan Accident Kills CIA Agent
- ^ http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/thisweek/2008/11/24_mueller.asp
- ^ a b Jehl, Douglas (2003-10-29). "Two C.I.A. Operatives Killed In an Ambush in Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
- ^ a b https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/press-release-archive-2004/pr05212004.html
- ^ http://www.specialforcesroh.com/browse.php?mode=viewiroll&rollid=5099
- ^ Press Release
- ^ Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Greg Wright
- ^ In Memoriam of Gregory R. Wright, Jr.
- ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (July 15, 2014). "Legendary Marine Maj. Zembiec, the 'Lion of Fallujah,' died in the service of the CIA". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ Press Release
- ^ CIA employee ID'd as victim in Kabul shooting
- ^ Memorial for CIA’s Fallen Marks Somber 40-Year Anniversary
- ^ CIA rushed to save diplomats as Libya attack was underway
- ^ The 3 elite Green Berets killed in Jordan earlier this month were working for the CIA
- ^ Disturbing details emerge in deaths of 3 American soldiers in Jordan
- ^ "The Shootdown of "Earthquake McGoon"". Check-Six.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ THESE WE REMEMBER: SMOKEJUMPERS WHO DIED IN LAOS
- ^ Air America in Loas
External links
