LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001803480003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: May 12, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

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F,CUT. ''VE SECRETARIAT
,, s Routing Slip
.Please refer SA/DCI.'s note',"'.-,
attached, "an' a "greeting"
for DCI to: forward
, .4 A
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D/OEA
AO/DCI
SUSPENSE
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12 May 1983
3801 Nebraska Ave NW
Washington, DC 20390
The Honorable William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, DC 20505
Dear Mr. Casey,
I have the honor of acquainting you with a significant historical
event which will take place at the U. S. Naval Security Station, 3801
Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, DC on June 17, 1983 at 10:30 A. M. This
is the dedication of a memorial to the "On-the-Roof" Gang and the estab-
lishment of an annual "On-the-Roof" Gang award to the outstanding Navy
and Marine Corps Enlisted Cryptologists. The memorial and the award have
been made possible by the contributions of the original, associate and
honorary members of the "OTRG."
The "On-the-Roof" Gang is a unique group of former enlisted personnel
whose accomplishments as radio intercept operators, expert in copying the
Japanese Kata Kana telegraphic code, represent the best traditions of the
Naval service. In the years 1921 through 1927, several U. S. Navy and
U. S. -Marine Corps personnel taught themselves to copy the Japanese code
and passed these skills informally to many of their contemporaries. The
intelligence value of the information they collected was recognized and
under the auspices of Op-20G, the former Office of the Director of Naval
Communications, formal training was developed and implemented in 1928.
Until 1941, this training took place in a specially constructed blockhouse
on the roof of the old Main Navy building, hence the name the "On-the-Roof"
Gang. These personnel were posted throughout the Pacific area at various
stations and aboard ship. They were experts not only at copying Japanese
radio transmissions, but developed traffic analysis and direction finding
to a fine art. Some of these personnel developed their skills even further
and became expert cryptanalysts. They were the nucleus of what has become the
Naval Security Group.
These men are among the unsung heroes of the World War II era whose story
'could not be told because of security considerations. Considerable information
about their training and operational accomplishments has now been declassified
and made available for public review. Their stories, both official and personal,
are intriguing and varied, but, above all, serve as inspiring examples of initi-
ative, resourcefulness and dedication to duty in the service of their country.
In addition to high-ranking military officials, both active and retired, we
expect approximately 45 of the original "On-the-Roof" Gang members to.be present
at the dedication, as well as spouses and surviving next-of-kin and a large
attendance of military and civilian personnel of the Naval and Marine Corps
community. This will be an exciting and meaningful event for the "OTRG" members.
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I know that their experience would be even more enhanced by your presence
and, on behalf of the original members of the "OTRG", I extend a most
cordial invitation to attend the dedication.
Your schedule is undoubtedly crowded and, if you are unable to attend,
the "OTRG" members would be most pleased to receive a greeting from you. I
would be honored to work with your staff in preparing such a greeting and
would arrange for the greeting to be presented to the "OTRG" with appropriate
ceremony at the dedication.
In the hope of hearing from you and on behalf of the "On-the-Roof" Gang,
I remain,
Most sincerely.,
STAT
Board of Directors
"On-the-Roof ".Gang Association
Secretary/Treasurer
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THE "ON-THE-ROOF" GANG
The "OnThe-Roof" Gang (OTRG) is a group of 150 Navy and 26 Marine Corps,
enlisted men who, from 1928 until 1941, were trained as Japanese radio
intercepted operators. The training was conducted under the strictest
security conditions in a specially-constructed blockhouse "on the roof".of
the sixth wing of the former Navy Department building on Constitution Avenue
in Washington, D.C. These men went on to establish and operate radio inter-
cept stations in a variety of locations in the Pacific area before and during
World War II as part of the Navy's Communications Intelligence network.
Successful Communications Intelligence depends on.the close cooperation
of radio intercept operations to search for and record the communications of
actual or potential enemy forces, and cryptanalysts to read, decrypting as
necessary, and translate messages.
The accomplishments of the cryptanalysts are well-known.. The results of
their work during this. period has been-recognized as the most important single
factor in achieving victory in the Pacific Theatre.
The radio interceptors have gone unrecognized. They provided the crypt-
analysts with material to exploit, and were highly successful in identifying
the makeup and location of Japanese units and forces by applying and integrating
the techniques of direction finding, call sign analysis, traffic analysis, radio
fingerprinting, morse operator analysis, frequency analysis, etc.
The work of the men of the OTRG was characterized by great difficulty,-
loneliness and isolation, secrecy, and, in many cases, personal danger and
deprivation. Radio signals can be intercepted only where they can be heard
and intercept stations were often established in! locations where other Naval
and Marine Corps forces were not posted. They were off the beaten track and
normal supply lines were not available. Many were set up in tropical locations
where it was difficult to keep radio equipment operating reliably. ? Some were
located near enemy postings and there was often imminent danger of capture or
death. Strict secrecy was frustrating and often caused serious disruption
among family and friends.
The intercept operators were among the very last to be evacuated from
Corregidor. Some did not make.it from Guam and spent years as Japanese
prisoners-of-war. Others suffered from malnutrition and illness.- the effects
which they feel to this day.
Security has prevented their story from being made public. Only in recent
years had it been possible to identify and recognize these dedicated men. Their
qualities of self-reliance, self-motivation, and self-confidence are in the best
traditions of honor duty, and serve as an ideal for present and future cryptolo-
gists.
Recognition of their unique accomplishments and supreme contribution to
victory in the Pacific is long overdue and exceptionally well-deserved.
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