ORIGINAL TEXT OF xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx INTREPID COMES TO CIA

Document Type: 
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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PDF icon DOC_0005393014.pdf72.13 KB
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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.