In case you haven’t noticed around these parts, I’m doing a lot of research on the CIA. My husband saw the word CIA in a recent headline and immediately tore out the article to give to me.
In the lobby of the CIA’s Langley headquarters, there is one wall dedicated as a memorial to those officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Last month, the marble wall received its 103rd star commemorating a CIA officer. Along with the stars carved into the marble, the Book of Honor is displayed, listing the names of those killed.
Well, some of the names. Because CIA officers in the Clandestine Service work with such sensitive and classified materials, sometimes even their names become national secrets, and for years after their death, they are only commemorated in the book with a gold star. More than a third of the entries in the book were blank like this.
Recently, the CIA has declassified 15 names to add to the Book of Honor (leaving 26 blank now). Dating back to the Beirut Embassy bombing in 1983, some of these names were already publicly known, but this marks the first official recognition of these individuals’ sacrifices from the agency that employed them.
The CIA is in a dirty business, but I think it’s only fitting to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifices these individuals made in trying to protect our liberties in whatever way the agency can.
Photo credit: employee work product of CIA; public domain; via Wikipedia
Wow – this is really interesting. I wonder if anyone out there was shocked when the latest names came out?
I’m curious what you’re doing CIA research for – what’s your story about? 🙂
LOL, good question!
My MC in my WIP is a CIA officer: Being an American spy in Ottawa, Canada, of all places, is pretty much the bottom rung of the ladder in terms of detecting threats and being in danger for CIA operative Talia Reynolds. But when the options are be careful or be killed, Talia has had “careful” drummed into her skull pretty hard—hard enough that she can’t tell her long-time boyfriend Danny about her top-secret occupation. Which becomes harder still when Talia finally catches a hot case and has to continually ditch Danny to seduce a Russian scientist/potential spy, all while juggling her hot-but-hapless coworker.
But when her datebook isn’t the only place her two lives collide, Talia will have to choose to protect her secrets and her country, or the man she loves.
Very cool! International intrigue and spies. I love spies and the CIA. My husband was FBI for a very short while when the kids were little. When they ask about that period of time, we joke around and tell them he was with the CIA and he can’t talk about it. LOL, they believe it. We should be ashamed of ourselves, but it’s so fun seeing their expressions when they think their dad was a spy.
I keep finding myself drawn to spy stories. I guess I think keeping secrets is great for conflict.
You’re hilarious!
Awesome details. I’ve heard about that wall before. I think your story sounds great! 🙂