ORIGINAL TEXT OF xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx INTREPID COMES TO CIA
Document Type:
Keywords:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
0005393014
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
2
Document Creation Date:
June 23, 2015
Document Release Date:
July 23, 2009
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
F-2009-00943
Publication Date:
May 2, 2000
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Intrepid Comes to CIA
On May 2, 2000 CIA Executive Director David W. Carey accepted on behalf of Director
Tenet and Deputy Director Gordon a replica of a larger than life statue of Sir William
Stephenson presented to CIA by the Intrepid Society of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The Intrepid Society, founded in 1994, is dedicated to honoring and sustaining the
memory of Canadian-born hero Sir William Stephenson, codenamed "Intrepid".
Presenting the statue on behalf of the Intrepid Society (IS) were Colonel Gary Chris
Solar, second Vice-President of the IS; John Gordon Makie, IS Treasurer who, in 1942,
served with the Combined Operations Force - Commando Unit under Intrepid and Lord
Mountbatten; Captain Michael Rozak, DND, the Canadian Air Force heritage Officer for
17th Wing in Winnipeg, and Dr. Collin Briggs, the IS historian.
Carey told the audience, "Sir William Stephenson played a key role in the creation of the
CIA. He realized early on that America needed a strong intelligence organization and
lobbied contacts close to President Roosevelt to appoint a US 'coordinator' to oversee FBI
and military intelligence. He urged that the job be given to William J. Wild Bill'
Donovan, who had recently toured British defenses and gained the confidence of Prime
Minister Winston Churchill. Although Roosevelt didn't establish exactly what Sir
William had in mind, the organization created represented a revolutionary step in the
history of American intelligence. Donovan's Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the
first 'central' US intelligence service. OSS worked closely with and learned from Sir
William and other Canadian and British officials during the war. A little later, these
OSS officers formed the core of the CIA. Intrepid may not have technically been the
father of CIA, but he's certainly in our lineage someplace."
In 1946, General Donovan pinned on Sir William Stephenson the "Medal for Merit", the
highest civilian decoration awarded by the United States. Sir William Stephenson was
the first non-US citizen to receive this award. The citation recognized his "invaluable
assistance to America in the fields of intelligence and special operations".
The original statue of Sir William, depicting him wearing his aviator's military clothes,
was unveiled on July 24, 1999, by H.R.H. Princess Anne in the presence of the artist,
world renowned sculptor Dr. Leo Mol, and Intrepid Society president Syd Davy. Leo
Mal (Leonid Molodoshanin) was born in 1915 in Polonne, near Shepetivka, Ukraine.
Mol studied at the Leningrad Academy of Arts from 1936-1941, in the Kunst Academy,
Berlin, Germany, and the Academy of Arts in The Hague, Netherlands. In 1948, he
made his home in Canada. His works in the Washington area include a monument to
Taras Shevchenko (1964) and a bust of Dwight D. Eisenhower at the National Portrait
Gallery (1965). Dr. Mol has executed many portrait busts of noted world figure]
including Winston Churchill, Pope Paul VI, Pope John XXII, Pope John Paul It
Elizabeth II and former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. His works
APPROVED FOR
RELEASED DATE:
21-J u I-2009
found in public, private, and corporate collections throughout the world. Apart from this
distinguished artist's accomplishments in the field of sculpture, he has designed and
executed more than 80 stained glass windows.
Photo
The 22" maquette of Sir William Stephenson (1896-1989) "The Man Called Intrepid"
will take a place of honor in the entryway of NHB as part of the Agency's growing
sculpture collection. The maquette is a limited edition replica of a larger than life bronze
placed at the Legislative grounds in Sir William's birthplace of Winnipeg, Canada.
Photo:
EXDIR David Carey presents the Agency Seal Medallion to the Intrepid Society Second
Vice President, Colonel Gary Chris Solar, accepting on behalf of the Intrepid Society.